Commentary - 1 Kings 6:31-32

Bird's-eye view

In these two verses, we are given a detailed glimpse into the entrance of the Holy of Holies, the very heart of Solomon's Temple. This is not merely an architectural blueprint; it is a rich tapestry of theological symbolism. Every material, every carving, and every dimension is saturated with meaning, pointing forward to a greater reality. The construction of this doorway is the construction of a barrier and a portal simultaneously. It guards the awesome and unapproachable holiness of God's immediate presence, yet it is also the designated point of access for the high priest on the Day of Atonement. The olive wood, the intricate carvings of heavenly and earthly flourishing, and the lavish overlay of gold all speak of peace with God, the restoration of Eden, and the divine glory that is the source of all true life and beauty. This entrance is a gospel statement in wood and gold, a foreshadowing of the One who would later declare, "I am the door."

What Solomon builds here with immense cost and craftsmanship is a temporary, physical representation of a spiritual reality. The cherubim guard the way to the tree of life, the palm trees speak of the righteous flourishing in God's courts, and the flowers recall the lost paradise. Gold signifies the purity and majesty of the divine realm. All of it is a magnificent shadow, a glorious type, designed to make Israel long for the substance. And that substance, as the New Testament makes clear, is Christ Himself. He is the true Temple, the true door, and the one who, through His own blood, has permanently opened the way into the true Holy of Holies.

Outline

Context In 1 Kings

This passage is situated in the middle of a detailed, six-chapter account of Solomon's massive building projects, with the Temple being the centerpiece (1 Kings 5-9). Chapter 6 is dedicated almost entirely to the specifics of the Temple's construction. This follows the establishment of Solomon's kingdom in wisdom and peace, a peace secured by his father David's wars. David, a man of blood, was forbidden from building the Temple, but Solomon, whose name means "peace," was tasked with the work. The construction of the Temple is therefore the crowning achievement of this peaceful reign and the fulfillment of God's promise to David. The meticulous detail provided by the narrator is intended to convey the immense value, divine wisdom, and covenantal significance of the structure. These verses (31-32) describe the final and most crucial entryway, the one leading into the inner sanctuary, the earthly throne room of Yahweh. The glory of the whole structure finds its focal point here.

Key Issues

The Gospel Carved in Wood

It is a profound mistake to read a passage like this as though it were simply an excerpt from an ancient construction manual. The Bible is not interested in architecture for architecture's sake. Every detail here is freighted with theological weight. This is revelation. God is teaching His people about Himself, about His holiness, about sin, and about the way of salvation. The entrance to the Holy of Holies is, in a very real sense, a summary of the entire biblical story.

The story begins in a garden, Eden, where man walked with God. Access was free. After the fall, God placed cherubim with a flaming sword to guard the way back to the tree of life (Gen. 3:24). Access was barred. The history of redemption is the story of God making a way for man to come back into His presence. The Tabernacle, and now the Temple, are elaborate, God-designed structures that teach this story. There are barriers, courts, and veils, all emphasizing the separation caused by sin. But there are also prescribed ways of approach, sacrifices, and priests, all teaching that God Himself has provided a way back. This door, with its cherubim guards, its Edenic imagery, and its glorious gold, is a picture of that way. It is a formidable, guarded entrance, but it is an entrance nonetheless. It preaches the severity and the goodness of God all at once.

Verse by Verse Commentary

31 For the entrance of the inner sanctuary he made doors of olive wood, the lintel, and five-sided doorposts.

We begin with the material: doors of olive wood. Throughout Scripture, the olive tree is a symbol of peace, fruitfulness, and covenantal blessing. An olive branch was the sign of peace Noah received after the flood. In Romans 11, Paul uses the olive tree as a metaphor for the covenant people of God, into which believing Gentiles are grafted. To make the doors to God's presence out of olive wood is to declare that the way in is a way of peace, a peace established by God's covenant promise. This is not a peace we achieve, but a peace we enter into through the door He provides. The description of the doorposts as "five-sided" is unique and has puzzled commentators, but it certainly speaks to the solidity and complexity of the craftsmanship. This was no ordinary door; it was a work of masterful art, fitting for the entrance to the throne room of the King of the universe.

32a So he made two doors of olive wood, and he carved on them carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers...

Here the symbolism deepens. The doors are not left plain; they become a canvas for depicting the central themes of redemption. First, there are cherubim. These are the very angelic beings God posted at the entrance to Eden to block sinful man's return. Here, they are not barring the way but are carved into the very doors that provide access. Their presence signifies that this is a guarded holiness, a place of awesome power that cannot be trifled with. Yet, because they are part of the door, they also signify that the conditions for entry, which they enforce, have been met. Next, we have palm trees. The psalmist tells us that "the righteous shall flourish like the palm tree" (Ps. 92:12). The palm is a symbol of victory, righteousness, and eternal life, often associated with the righteous dwelling in God's presence. Finally, there are open flowers. This imagery hearkens back to the lush, vibrant life of the Garden of Eden. It is a picture of creation in full, unblighted bloom. Taken together, these carvings on the door to God's presence are a picture of paradise restored. The way is guarded by angels, but it leads to a place where the righteous flourish like palm trees in a new Eden.

32b ...and overlaid them with gold; and he spread the gold on the cherubim and on the palm trees.

The final touch is the gold. Everything is overlaid with pure gold. Gold in the Bible consistently represents what is divine, pure, precious, and eternal. It is the metal of heaven (Rev. 21:21). By covering the olive wood doors and all their carvings with gold, Solomon is making a clear statement. The peace of the covenant (olive wood) and the hope of a restored paradise (carvings) are not ultimately earthly realities. They find their source, their value, and their permanence in the divine glory of God Himself. The gold doesn't obliterate the carvings but rather elevates them. The cherubim are heavenly cherubim. The palms are the palms of a celestial city. The flowers are from the garden of God. The gold transforms the earthly symbols into a vision of heavenly reality. It is a declaration that the way into God's presence is a way into His own glorious, pure, and eternal life.

Application

For the Christian, it is impossible to read about this door without thinking of the Lord Jesus. He is the fulfillment of all this rich typology. Jesus said, "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture" (John 10:9). He is the door made of olive wood, for He is our peace, who has made peace by the blood of His cross. He is the door carved with cherubim, for in Him the demands of divine justice are satisfied, and the guardians of holiness now welcome us in. He is the door carved with palm trees and flowers, for He is the firstfruits of a new creation, and through Him we are restored to a better paradise than Adam ever knew. He is the door overlaid with gold, for He is divine, the very radiance of God's glory.

Solomon's temple was magnificent, but it was also temporary. Its door could only be entered by one man, once a year, and not without blood. But when Christ died, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, signifying that the way into the true Holy of Holies was now thrown open to all who come by faith in Him. We no longer approach a physical building in Jerusalem; we approach God through a living person, Jesus Christ. The application for us is to enter in. The door is open. We are invited to "draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith" (Heb. 10:22). We are not to stand outside admiring the architecture of salvation; we are to walk through the door and enjoy the fellowship with God that Christ has purchased for us.