מלכים א, פרק ז׳, פסוק ט׳

King Solomon’s magnificent building projects were defined by uniformity, rare material quality, and incredibly precise stonework. This grand scale of construction encompassed all the central structures in Jerusalem, including the House of God, the royal palace, the House of the Forest of Lebanon, the Hall of Judgment, and the house of Pharaoh’s daughter, along with their surrounding courtyards [רד״ק, רלב״ג, אברבנאל].

These structures were built using heavy, solid, and highly valued stones brought directly from the quarry [רש״י, מצודת ציון, רד״ק]. According to one perspective, these were blocks of pure, high-quality marble [אברבנאל]. The stones were cut to uniform, standard measurements that were well-known and customary for building materials in the country at that time [רש״י, רלב״ג].

To achieve a flawless finish, the stones were cut and smoothed using an iron saw with teeth, which sliced through the rock through a dragging motion [מצודת ציון]. This sawing process left the stones far smoother and straighter than traditional hammer strikes ever could [רד״ק]. The builders took great care to smooth both sides of every stone, ensuring that the walls were completely flat on both the inside and the outside of the buildings [מצודת דוד, רלב״ג]. This commitment to perfection extended not only to the visible walls but even to the hidden stones buried deep underground as part of the foundations [אברבנאל].

This meticulous construction covered the entire height of the buildings, rising from the very foundation [רש״י, מצודת דוד] all the way to the top. Regarding the upper sections of the walls, commentators offer different explanations. One approach suggests this simply refers to the ceiling level [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. However, a primary approach among commentators suggests a unique architectural design. In this view, the highest layer of the wall, upon which the ceiling rested, was built with stones that protruded inward or outward by a handbreadth, adding an elegant layer of beauty and grandeur to the craftsmanship [מצודת דוד, רלב״ג, רד״ק, אברבנאל].

This luxurious and uniform building style extended outward to the great courtyard. Every structure and wall beyond the main buildings was constructed with the same exacting methods until they reached the great courtyard. The great courtyard itself, however, was built in a distinctly different style [מצודת דוד, רד״ק].