1 Kings 7
Explanation and Bible story for toddlers and preschoolers (ages 3-6)
The Explanation
Listen. King Solomon was building. Building and building. He had many workers. They sawed big stones. They chopped tall trees. The trees were from Lebanon. Big cedar trees. They smelled so good.
Solomon built a house for himself first. A very big house. And then he built something even more special. A house for God. That took a long, long time.
There was a man who helped. His name was Hiram. Hiram was very clever with his hands. He could work with metal. Shiny, orange metal. That is called bronze.
Hiram made two big, big pillars. Higher than a tree! One pillar stood on the right. One pillar stood on the left. They were at the front of God's house. Hiram gave the pillars names. The right one was called Jachin. The left one was called Boaz.
And then Hiram made something amazing. A giant round bowl. So big, so big! It stood on twelve oxen made of bronze. Three oxen looked north. Three looked south. Three looked east. Three looked west. The big bowl was full of water. It was called the sea.
Hiram made ten little wagons too. With wheels! And on top of each wagon was a bowl of water. He put lions on them, and oxen, and palm trees. All in bronze.
Inside God's house, everything shone. There were lamp stands of gold. Ten of them. Five on one side, five on the other. There was a table of gold. There were little cups and spoons, all of gold. Even the door hinges were gold.
When everything was finished, Solomon smiled. God's house was ready.
What Does This Mean?
Solomon did his very best for God. Nothing was too costly. Nothing was too much work. He gave the most beautiful things he had.
Because God is great. And when you love God, you want to give Him the most beautiful you have.
The Common Thread
That beautiful house was for God. People could come there and meet Him. That was very special.
But later, Jesus came. And Jesus said, "Now you can come to Me." You do not need a golden house. You can come to Jesus wherever you are. In your bed. In the garden. In the car. Jesus is close by.
For You
Look at your hands. What can your hands do? Draw a picture? Stack blocks? Sing a song?
You can also give God something beautiful. Not gold. Not a big pillar. But a song. Or a drawing. Or a smile. Or a "thank you, God."
That makes God happy. Just as happy as with Solomon's shiny gold.
Talk About It
What is the most beautiful thing you can give to God?
Would you like to sing a song for God, or draw something for Him?
Praying Together
Dear God, Solomon built You a beautiful house. I want to give You something too. Here is my song. Here is my heart. Thank You that You see me. Amen.
Questions about 1 Kings 7
Short answers for anyone reading about this for the first time.
What is 1 Kings 7 about?
What does 1 Kings 7 say?
What does 1 Kings 7 teach us about God?
What can toddlers learn from 1 Kings 7?
Why is 1 Kings 7 an important Bible story?
What others discovered
Solomon finishes the temple and brings in "the things which David his father had dedicated." Years earlier, David had set aside silver and gold he would never use. He gave to a house he would never see completed.
What are you setting aside today for something your children, or their children, will finish? Some offerings take generations to arrive at the altar.
Looking for something for slightly older children?
We also have dedicated versions for elementary age (7-12) and teens (12 and up).
Open in the Children's Bible tool
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