The throne had six steps, and the throne had a round top, and on each side of the seat were armrests and two lions standing beside the armrests,
Scripture measures out Solomon's throne in detail, and commentators treat every part of it as deliberate. They ask why the steps number six, and what the lions guarding the seat say about a greater King still to come.
Where the throne stood
This was not furniture for display. Commentators place it in the hall where the king heard cases.
Leslie M. GrantSolomon also had a great throne of ivory overlaid with gold. This was in the House of the Forest of Lebanon, placed in a special Hall made for it, called the Hall of Judgment. A footstool of gold was fastened to the throne.
Correction on that link — the citation is:
Solomon had once sat on a throne he inherited. Here he sits on one he made.
H. L. RossierDavid himself gave the order: when Solomon rose to royal dignity, he sat on his father's throne. Now we see him on his own throne, in this marvellous "house of the forest" decorated with six hundred shields of gold. There he judges in righteousness.
A throne of righteousness and power
The throne carried emblems, not just decoration. One writer names what they stood for.
H. L. RossierGold stands out everywhere under Solomon's reign, from the temple to the throne. It is the emblem of divine righteousness. The throne was marvellous: "Nothing like it was ever made for any kingdom." It was the throne of righteousness and of power, and it bore the emblems of these.
Scripture gives the lion a settled meaning, and ties it to the tribe that held the sceptre.
Morrish Bible DictionaryScripture declares the lion "mightiest among beasts and does not turn back before any" (Proverbs 30:30). This shows that the lion may be taken as a symbol of strength. As such the Lord is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Royalty belongs to that title too, for Judah held the sceptre.
Twelve on the steps
Verse 20 puts a lion at each end of every step. The total is not a random number.
Leslie M. GrantOn each side of the six steps a lion stood, so there were 12 lions on the steps, no doubt representing the 12 tribes of Israel.
Why six steps
Six keeps turning up in the account of Solomon's wealth.
W. W. FeredayThe use of the number six in the description of Solomon's glories is noticeable. His ivory throne had six steps. In a single year he brought in 666 talents of gold. Each of his 200 shields took 600 shekels of gold. Six is the number of man, and expresses incompleteness and imperfection. The superman of the last days, who will win the world's admiration, has 666 as the number of his name (Revelation 13:18). Seven signifies completeness and perfection. Earth will never know that until the Man of God's eternal choice comes forth in His might.
Another writer turns that number against the king himself.
Morrish Bible DictionarySolomon had six steps to his great throne, but it was not high enough to save him from idolatry.
The throne it points to
The gold on this throne points past Solomon to another reign.
Leslie M. GrantNothing like this was true of any other kingdom. The gold speaks of the glory of God. That glory will be supreme in the glorious high throne of the Lord Jesus in His kingdom. His reign of great prosperity will be altogether for God's glory.
Solomon's throne had a footstool of gold. One writer pictures Christ waiting for His own footstool, and for a throne still to be made.
H. L. RossierAt present He is seated on His Father's throne, at His right hand, as this word says: "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool." By these words God the Father expressed His complete satisfaction with the work accomplished by the Son of Man. It is as though He were saying to Him: Take this supreme and glorious place, my Son, until I have prepared a throne for you. It must surpass every other throne. No throne like it will ever be made in any kingdom. Your victory over your enemies will be the first step by which you climb to that throne.
Summary
- Step one — the climb. Six steps raised Solomon above the court. Six is the number of man, and no stairs kept him from idolatry.
- Step two — the seat. The throne stood in the hall of judgment. There the king judged in righteousness, and its gold was the emblem of that righteousness.
- Step three — the lions. Two lions guard the seat. They stand for strength and royalty, the emblem of Judah, the tribe that held the sceptre.
- Step four — the twelve. Lions on every step stand for the twelve tribes, the whole nation lined up along the king's climb.
- Step five — the greater throne. Christ waits at His Father's right hand. His victory over His enemies is the first step up to a throne greater than any other.