was laid in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign
Solomon's reign is marked by peace and prosperity, allowing him to undertake such a monumental project. The fourth year indicates a period of preparation and planning before the actual construction began. This timing also reflects Solomon's commitment to fulfilling his father David's vision for the temple. The number four in biblical numerology often signifies completeness and universality, suggesting the temple's role in unifying the nation under God's covenant.

in the month of Ziv
Ziv is the second month of the ancient Hebrew calendar, corresponding to April-May in the Gregorian calendar. This timing is significant as it falls in the spring, a season associated with new beginnings and renewal. The choice of this month for laying the foundation may symbolize a new era for Israel, with the temple serving as a focal point for religious and national identity. The month of Ziv is also mentioned in 1 Kings 6:1, linking the start of the temple's construction to the Exodus, as it marks 480 years since the Israelites left Egypt, highlighting God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises.

• “The foundation” signals the very first visible step of construction, a point of no return. Once the base is set, the entire structure is committed to stand or fall on what has been laid.

• Scripture consistently treats foundations as vital (Matthew 7:24-25; 1 Corinthians 3:11). Just as a life must rest on Christ, the future temple had to rest on a solid, prepared footing.

• By highlighting the foundation, the text reminds every reader that genuine worship begins with what is hidden under the surface—true obedience and reverence rather than outward show (Psalm 11:3).

• This is not merely “Solomon’s temple” but “the house of the LORD.” Ownership and purpose belong to God, not to the king or the nation (Exodus 25:8; 2 Chronicles 2:5-6).

• Calling it “house” underscores God’s desire to dwell among His people (Leviticus 26:11-12; John 1:14). The temple foreshadows the greater reality of God living with His people in Christ and, ultimately, in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:3).

• Because the house is the LORD’s, every detail carries weight. Reverence governs the choice of site (2 Chronicles 3:1), the materials (1 Kings 5:17-18), and even the timing.

• “Was laid” marks completion of a crucial milestone. What had been planned (1 Chronicles 28:12) now becomes tangible.

• Laying the foundation required unity among craftsmen, officials, and worshipers (1 Kings 5:13-18). God often works through cooperative obedience to advance His purposes (Nehemiah 4:6).

• The verb tense points to a historic fact, anchoring faith in real time and space. Zechariah 4:9 similarly stresses that what God begins He brings to completion.

• The verse provides a precise timestamp, echoing 1 Kings 6:1. Biblical faith is rooted in verifiable history, not myth.

• Solomon’s fourth year links the construction to God’s faithfulness two generations earlier. David had gathered materials (1 Chronicles 22:5), and now his son acts. God’s promises endure across decades (2 Samuel 7:12-13).

• The fourth year also suggests that Solomon prioritized God’s house early in his reign, placing worship before domestic or military expansion (Matthew 6:33).

• Ziv (roughly April-May) is springtime, when earth and crops awaken. The temple’s foundation rose during a season of renewal, hinting at new spiritual life for Israel (Songs 2:11-13).

• Later, the temple would be completed in Bul, the autumn month (1 Kings 6:38), showing steady, ordered progress—six months begun, seven years finished.

• Mentioning Ziv again underlines the accuracy of the biblical record and invites readers to remember God’s acts at specific moments (Joshua 4:7).

1 Kings 6:37 anchors the entire temple narrative: God’s dwelling place started with a solid, purposeful foundation, built for Him alone, set at a definite point in Solomon’s rule, and begun in the spring month of Ziv. The verse underscores God’s faithfulness, the importance of ordered obedience, and the necessity of a sound foundation—both for the physical temple then and for every believer’s life today.