לִפְנָ֑י 1 Kings 6:17, Ew§ 164 a Ke as adjective, anterior, but read, with ᵐ5, לִפְנֵי הַדְּבִיד Th Sta Kit and others
From the prepositional prefix (to or for) and paniym; anterior -- before.
see HEBREW paniym