Palaces

Fortified, luxurious residences for kings. They normally served as the seat and symbol of royal authority.

David's palace on Mount Zion

1 Chronicles 14:1 See also 2 Samuel 5:6–11 parallel 1 Chronicles 11:4–8; 2 Samuel 7:1–2 parallel 1 Chronicles 17:1

Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons, and carpenters, to build a palace for him.

Solomon's palace in Jerusalem

1 Kings 10:4–5 parallel 2 Chronicles 9:3–4 See also 1 Kings 7:1–12, 1 Kings 10:16–21 parallel 2 Chronicles 9:15–20; 2 Chronicles 8:11

When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon, the palace he had built, the food at his table, the seating of his servants, the service and attire of his attendants, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he presented at the house of the LORD, it took her breath away.

Gold and valuable items were stored in the palace in Jerusalem

1 Kings 15:18–19 parallel 2 Chronicles 16:2–3 See also 1 Kings 14:25–26 parallel 2 Chronicles 12:9; 2 Kings 12:17–18, 2 Kings 14:13–14 parallel 2 Chronicles 25:23–24; 2 Kings 16:7–8 parallel 2 Chronicles 28:20–21; 2 Kings 18:14–15, 2 Kings 24:13; 2 Chronicles 21:16–17; Jeremiah 27:18–22

So Asa withdrew all the silver and gold that remained in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the royal palace. He entrusted it to his servants and sent them with this message to Ben-hadad son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, the king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus: “Let there be a treaty between me and you as there was between my father and your father. See, I have sent you a gift of silver and gold. Now go and break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.”

The royal palace in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians

2 Kings 25:9 parallels 2 Chronicles 36:19, Jeremiah 52:13 See also Jeremiah 22:1–6, Jeremiah 39:8

He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem — every significant building.

Other palaces

The kings of Israel had palaces in Samaria

1 Kings 21:1 See also 1 Kings 16:18, 1 Kings 20:5–6, 1 Kings 20:43; 2 Kings 15:25

Some time after these events, Naboth the Jezreelite owned a vineyard in Jezreel next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.

Foreign palaces

Pharaoh's palace in Egypt: Genesis 12:15, Genesis 41:40, Genesis 47:14; Exodus 8:3; Daniel 4:29–30, Daniel 5:5; Esther 1:9 King Xerxes' palace in Persia and Media

Summer palaces

Judges 3:20–21

Palaces in NT times

Matthew 26:3–4; John 18:28; Acts 23:35; Philippians 1:12–13

Features of palaces

Palace gardens

2 Kings 21:18 See also 2 Kings 21:25–26; Esther 1:5–6

And Manasseh rested with his fathers and was buried in his palace garden, the garden of Uzza. And his son Amon reigned in his place.

The luxury of palaces

1 Kings 22:39 See also Numbers 22:18; Psalm 45:8–9; Isaiah 13:22; Jeremiah 22:13–17; Matthew 11:8 parallel Luke 7:25

As for the rest of the acts of Ahab, along with all his accomplishments and the ivory palace and all the cities he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

Palaces were administered by royal officials

2 Kings 10:5 See also 1 Kings 4:6, 1 Kings 18:3; 2 Kings 15:5; 2 Chronicles 28:7; Isaiah 22:15

So the palace administrator, the overseer of the city, the elders, and the guardians sent a message to Jehu: “We are your servants, and we will do whatever you say. We will not make anyone king. Do whatever is good in your sight.”