Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Kings 6:16-17

"And he built twenty cubits on the hinder part of the house with boards of cedar from the floor unto the walls [of the ceiling]: he built [them] for it within, for an oracle, even for the most holy place. And the house, that is, the temple before [the oracle], was forty cubits [long]." — 1 Kings 6:16-17 (ASV)

These verses describe the division of the Temple, by a partition from floor to ceiling of cedar wood, into “the Oracle,” or Holy of Holies, occupying twenty cubits of the length, and the rest of the house, exclusive of the porch, occupying forty cubits. The cedar panelling was carved throughout with gourds and open flowers, probably festooned, as usual in ancient architecture. In all this the influence of the Tyrian architects was probably felt.