1 Kings 6:37

“In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the Lord laid, etc.] The fourth year of Solomon’s reign: in the month Zif; (see Gill on “<110601>1 Kings 6:1”).”

“THE TIME TAKEN TO BUILD IT. (Kg1 6:37-38) In the fourth year was the foundation laid--The building was begun in the second month of the fourth year and completed in the eighth month of the eleventh year of Solomon's reign, comprising a period of seven and a half years, which is reckoned here in round numbers. It was not a very large, but a very splendid building, requiring great care, and ingenuity, and division of labor. The immense number of workmen employed, together with the previous preparation of the materials, serves to account for the short time occupied in the process of building. Next: 1 Kings Chapter 7”

“Kg1 6:1; Ch2 3:2; Among chronologists there is a great diversity of opinion respecting the time of the building of the temple. Building the Temple Chronologist Years Septuagint 440 Glycas 330 Josephus and Moeslinus1Kings 6 592 Melchius Canus 590 Sulpicius Severus 588 Clemens Alexandrinus 570 Cedrenus 672 Codomus 598 Vossius and Capellus 580 Serarius 680 Nicholas Abraham 527 Petavius and Valtherus 520 After all, that in the common Hebrew Text is more likely to the true one, than any of the others. 3 Kings (1 Kings) 6:38”

“The time consumed in building. - The foundation was laid in the fourth year in the month Ziv (see Kg1 6:1), and it was finished in the eleventh year in the month Bul, i.e., the eighth month, so that it was built in seven years, or, more precisely, seven years and a half, "according to all its matters and all its due." בּוּל for יבוּל signifies proventus; בּוּל ירח is therefore the fruit month, the month of tree fruits. The name probably originated with the Phoenicians, with whom the fruit ripened later; and it is said to be found upon the great Sidonian inscription (compare Dietrich on Ges. Lex. s. v.). For the other explanations see Ges. Thes. p. 560. In comparison with other large…”