{"id":39882,"date":"2026-01-17T07:00:39","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T12:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/?p=39882"},"modified":"2026-01-20T09:07:34","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T14:07:34","slug":"the-doorways-of-solomons-temple","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/biblical-artifacts\/artifacts-and-the-bible\/the-doorways-of-solomons-temple\/","title":{"rendered":"The Doorways of Solomon\u2019s Temple"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Solomon's<\/a>

A reconstruction of Solomon\u2019s Temple in Jerusalem. Drawing: Leen Ritmeyer.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

King Solomon\u2019s Temple was resplendent. Described in 1 Kings 6\u20137, the temple was divided into three parts: the forecourt (ulam<\/em>), the outer sanctum (heikhal<\/em>) and the inner shrine (devir<\/em>), also known as the Holy of Holies. Built of stone and roofed with wooden beams, Solomon\u2019s Temple was intricately ornamented. Its interior walls and floors were lined with wooden boards and covered in gold. It took seven years to complete the temple and its furnishings.<\/p>\n

Despite the Biblical description and archaeological parallels, there are still some mysteries about Solomon\u2019s Temple. For example, 1 Kings 6:31 describes the doorways of Solomon’s temple between the outer sanctum and the inner shrine as having five mezuzot<\/em> (the plural form of mezuzah<\/em>).<\/p>\n

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\"A<\/a>

This is an example of a modern mezuzah<\/em> secured to a doorframe. However, this is not what is meant by a mezuzah<\/em> in the Bible\u2014and not how we should envision the doorways of Solomon\u2019s Temple. Photo: \u201cMezuzah at Chesed-El Synagogue, Singapore \u2013 20100815,\u201d by SMUConLaw is licensed under CC-BY-SA-3.0.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\"Doorway<\/a>

This building model from Khirbet Qeiyafa depicts an elaborate doorframe surrounding an opening. With three\u2014or maybe four\u2014interlocking frames, the recessed doorframe sets apart the inner room as sacred space. This model may unlock the meaning of a mezuzah<\/em> in the Bible regarding the description of Solomon\u2019s Temple. Photo: G. Laron\/Courtesy of the Khirbet Qeiyafa Expedition.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

What is a mezuzah<\/em>? In the Bible, mezuzah<\/em> is normally translated as \u201cdoorpost.\u201d However, in the context of Solomon\u2019s Temple, doors with five doorposts do not make sense.<\/p>\n

Madeleine Mumcuoglu and Yosef Garfinkel explore this enigma in \u201cThe Puzzling Doorways of Solomon\u2019s Temple\u201d<\/a><\/strong> in the July\/August 2015 issue of BAR<\/strong>. They contend that a recent discovery from Khirbet Qeiyafa<\/a> may hold the answer to unlocking the meaning of a mezuzah<\/em> in the Bible regarding Solomon\u2019s Temple<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Located 20 miles from Jerusalem, Khirbet Qeiyafa was occupied in the 11th\u201310th centuries B.C.E.<\/a> It is noteworthy as being a fortified site in Judah<\/a> from the time of King David<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Madeleine Mumcuoglu and Yosef Garfinkel present a building model from Khirbet Qeiyafa that depicts a doorframe with three\u2014or maybe four\u2014interlocking doorframes surrounding an opening. They suggest that these interlocking frames are what is meant by mezuzot<\/em> in the description of Solomon\u2019s Temple. According to their interpretation, then, the doors to the inner shrine (devir<\/em>) of Solomon\u2019s Temple did not have five doorposts\u2014but rather five recessed doorframes.<\/p>\n

Temples with recessed doorways have been uncovered throughout the ancient Near East, and Madeleine Mumcuoglu and Yosef Garfinkel further note that recessed doorframes set apart inner rooms and spaces as being sacred. In the case of Solomon\u2019s Temple, the more recessed the doorframes, the holier the space:<\/p>\n

There is a gradual increase in the number of recessed doorframes from the entrance to the forecourt (three) to the outer sanctum (four) and finally to the entrance from the outer sanctum to the devir<\/em> (five). It is as if the devir<\/em> had the highest number of mezuzot<\/em> because it was the most sacred part of the Temple.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For a full description of the doorways of Solomon\u2019s Temple\u2014and parallels throughout the ancient Near East\u2014read the article \u201cThe Puzzling Doorways of Solomon\u2019s Temple\u201d<\/a><\/strong> by Madeleine Mumcuoglu and Yosef Garfinkel in the July\/August 2015 issue of BAR<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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BAS Library Members:<\/strong> Read the full article \u201cThe Puzzling Doorways of Solomon\u2019s Temple\u201d<\/a><\/strong> by Madeleine Mumcuoglu and Yosef Garfinkel in the July\/August 2015 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Not a BAS<\/em> Library or All-Access Member yet? Join today.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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This Bible History Daily feature was originally published on June 15, 2015.<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n

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Related reading in Bible History Daily<\/em><\/h4>\n

Solomon’s Temple Destruction Gives Clues to Modern Science<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n