1Ki 6, 7:13-15, 2Ch 2-4, Ezr 5:11 | TSK | STEP | The building of Solomon's temple. The chambers thereof. God's promise unto it. The ceiling and adorning of it. The cherubims. The doors. The court. The time of building it. A.M. 2993. B.C. 1011. An. Ex. Is. 480. And it came. in the month Zif. began. Heb. built. build.

the length.According to Bp. Cumberland's estimation of the cubit, its length was 36 yds. 1 ft. 5/28 inch; its breadth 12 yds. 5/76 inch; and its height, 18 yds. 8/64 inch. This constituted what is properly called the temple; but, besides this, there were the courts and colonnades, where the people might assemble to perform their devotions, without being exposed to the open air.

threescore.

Ezr 6:3,4; Eze 41:1-15; Re 21:16,17

1Ch 28:11; 2Ch 3:3,4; Eze 41:15; Mt 4:5; Joh 10:23; Ac 3:10,11

windows of narrow lights. or, windows broad within, andnarrow without; or, skewed and closed.

4; So 2:9; Eze 40:16; 41:26

against. or, upon, or joining to. built.

1Ch 9:26; 23:28; 28:11; 2Ch 31:11; Ne 10:37; 12:44; 13:5-9; So 1:4

Jer 35:4; Eze 40:44; 41:5-11; 42:3-12

chambers. Heb. floors.These appear to have been what we should now call corridors or galleries; in which were apartments for the use of the priests. They consisted of three stories, and increased one cubit in breadth in every story, the wall of the temple being two cubits thicker at the bottom than at the top; and where the wall diminished, a rest was thus formed for the beams of the chambers to lodge upon.

oracle.

16,19-21,31; Ex 25:22; Le 16:2; Nu 7:89; 2Ch 4:20; 5:7,9; Ps 28:2

chambers. Heb. ribs.

narrowed rests. or, narrowings, or rebatements.

built of stone.

5:17,18; De 27:5,6; Pr 24:27; Ro 9:23; 2Co 5:5; Col 1:12; 1Pe 2:5

neither hammer.

Isa 42:2; Ac 9:31; Jas 1:20; 3:17,18

side. Heb. shoulder. went up.

Eze 41:6,7

he built.

14,38

with beams and boards of cedar. or, the vault beams and theceilings with cedar.

if thou wilt.

2:3,4; 3:14; 8:25; 9:3-6; 1Sa 12:14,15; 1Ch 28:9; 2Ch 7:17,18

Ps 132:12; Zec 3:7; Col 1:23

then will I perform.

2Sa 7:13; 1Ch 22:10

I will dwell.

8:27; Ex 25:8; Le 26:11; Ps 68:18; 132:12,13; Isa 57:15

Eze 37:26-28; 2Co 6:16; Re 21:3

will not forsake.

De 31:6,8; 1Sa 12:22; 1Ch 28:9,20; Heb 13:5

A.M. 2993-3000. B.C. 1011-1004.

9,38; Ac 7:47,48

he built.That is, he lined or wainscoted the walls with cedar, the floor being covered with planks of fir: the marginal reading in this verse is preferable, as it removes every difficulty and obscurity.

both the floor of the house, and the walls. or, from thefloor of the house, unto the walls, etc. and so ver.

built them.

5,19,20; 8:6; Ex 25:21,22; 26:23; Le 16:2; 2Ch 3:8; Eze 45:3

Heb 9:3

the oracle.The oracle was the sanctuary, or holy of holies, in which there was nothing but the ark of the covenant, including the tables of the law, and into which the high priest alone was to enter but once a year.

knops. or, gourds.{Pekaïm,} "artificial knops," in the shape of {colocynths,} or wild gourds, as the word denotes. (See note on 2 Ki 4:39;) the full-blown flowers of which must have been very ornamental.

open flowers. or, openings of flowers.

the oracle.

5,16; 2Ch 4:20; Ps 28:2

to set.

8:6-10; Ex 40:20,21; 2Ch 5:7; Heb 9:3,4

twenty cubits.

2,3

pure. Heb. shut up. the altar.

22; 7:48; Ex 30:1-3

overlaid.

Ex 26:29,32; 36:34; 2Ch 3:7-9

by the chains.

5; Ex 26:32,33; 2Ch 3:14-16

the whole house.It is impossible to calculate this expense, or the quantity of gold employed in this sacred building; but both must have been immense.

also.

20; Ex 30:1,3,5,6; 2Ch 3:7-14

the whole altar.This was the altar of incense without the vail, in the holy place, which was twice the length of the most holy place.

two cherubims.These were distinct from, and much larger than those which covered the mercy-seat.

Ge 3:24; Ex 25:18-22; 37:7-9; 2Ch 3:10-13; Ps 18:10; 80:1

Isa 37:16; Eze 10:2-22; Heb 1:14; 1Pe 1:12

olive tree. or, oily trees. Heb. trees of oil.

they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims. or, thecherubims stretched forth their wings.

Ex 25:20; 37:9; 2Ch 3:11; 5:8

carved figures.

Ex 36:8; 2Ch 3:14; 4:2-5; Ps 103:20; 148:2; Lu 2:13,14; Eph 3:10

Re 5:11-14

palm trees.{Tamar,} in Ethiopic, {tamart,} the palm tree, is so called, says Parkhurst, from its straight, upright growth, for which it seems more remarkable than any other tree; and it sometimes rises to the height of more than 100 feet. The trunk is remarkably straight and lofty; and it is crowned at the top with a large tuft of spiring leaves, about four feet long, which never fall off, but always continue in the same flourishing verdure. The stalks are generally full of rugged knots, which are vestiges of decayed leaves: for the trunk of the tree is not solid, but its centre is filled with pith, round which is a tough bark full of strong fibres when young, which, as the tree becomes old, hardens and becomes ligneous. To this bark the leaves are closely joined, which, as the tree becomes old, hardens and becomes ligneous. To this bark the leaves are closely joined, which in the centre rise erect, but after they are advanced above the vagina which surrounds them, they expand very wide on every side of the stem, and as the older leaves decay, the stalk advances in height. The leaves, when the tree has grown to a size for bearing fruit, are six or eight feet long, and very broad when expanded. The fruit, called the date, grows below the leaves in clusters.

Ps 92:12-15; Re 7:9

open flowers. Heb. openings of flowers.

18,32

Isa 54:11,12; 60:17; Re 21:18-21

doors.

Joh 10:9; 14:6; Eph 3:18; Heb 10:19,20

a fifth part. or, five square.

two doors. or, leaves of the doors. open flowers. Heb.openings of flowers.

18,29

a fourth part. or, four square.

fir tree.

5:8

the two leaves.

Eze 41:23-25

the inner.

Ex 27:9-19; 38:9-20; 2Ch 4:9; 7:7; Re 11:2

1; 2Ch 3:2Among chronologists there is a great diversity of opinion respecting the time of the building of the temple. The Septuagint has 440 years; Glycas, 330; Josephus and Moeslinus, 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.

finished.

Ezr 6:14,15; Zec 4:9; 6:13-15

throughout, etc. or, with all the appurtenances thereof, andwith all the ordinances thereof. seven years.

1,9; 7:1; Ezr 3:8-13; 6:15; Joh 2:20

1 Kings 7:13-15

Hiram.

40; 2Ch 2:13; 4:11

Huram.

a widow's son. Heb. the son of a widow woman. tribe.The mother of Hiram (not the Tyrian king mentioned before, but an intelligent coppersmith, of Jewish extraction by his mother's side) in Chronicles, is said to have been of "the daughters of Dan;" and she might have been of Naphtali by her father, and of Dan by her mother; or she might originally be of the tribe of Dan, and have been first married to a man of the tribe of Naphtali; and, in either case, she might be indifferently called "of the tribe of Naphtali," or of "the daughters of Dan."

Naphtali.

2Ch 2:14

his father.

2Ch 4:16

he was filled.

Ex 31:2-6; 35:30-35; 36:1,2,8; Isa 28:26

cast. Heb. fashioned. two pillars.

21; 2Ki 25:16,17; 2Ch 3:15-17; 4:12-22; Jer 52:21-13

eighteen cubits.That is, nearly thirty feet, English measure. But in the parallel place in Chronicles, these pillars are said to thirty-five cubits high. Tremellius reconciles this difference by observing, that the common cubit was but one-half of the cubit of the sanctuary; so that eighteen of the one would make thirty-six of the other; from which, if we deduct one cubit for the base, there will remain thirty-five. Notwithstanding the names of these pillars, they seem to have supported no part of the building, and appear to have been formed for ornament; and were no doubt also emblematical. The right pillar was called {Jachin,} which signifies, "He will establish;" while that on the left was named {Boaz,} "In it is strength." Some think they were intended for memorials of the pillars and cloud of fire, which led Israel through the wilderness; but Henry supposes them designed for memorandums to the priests and others that came to worship at God's door. 1st. To depend upon God only, and not upon any sufficiency of their own, for strength and establishment in all their religious exercises. 2nd. It was a memorandum to them of the strength and establishment of the temple of God among them. When the temple was destroyed, particular notice is taken of the breaking up and carrying away of these brazen pillars, 2 Ki 25:13, 17, which had been the tokens of its establishment, and would have been still so, if they had not forsaken God.

2 Chronicles 2

1 Solomon's labourers for the building of the temple.

3 His embassage to Huram for workmen and provision of stuff.

11 Huram sends him a kind answer.

17 Solomon employs strangers, as labourers, and overseers.

determined.

1Ki 5:5

for the name.

De 12:5,11; 28:58; 1Ki 8:18,20; 1Ch 22:10; Mt 6:9,10

an house.

told out threescore.

Huram.

Hiram.As thou didst.

build.

to dedicate.

to burn.

sweet incense. Heb. incense of spices. the continual.

Ex 25:30; Le 24:5-9

the burnt.

Ex 29:38-42; Nu 28:3,4,9-11

the solemn feasts.

Le 23:1-17; Nu 28:1-29:40

great.

9; 1Ki 9:8; 1Ch 29:1; Eze 7:20

great is our God.

Ex 15:11; 1Ch 16:25; Ps 86:8,9; 135:5; 145:3; Jer 10:6; 1Ti 6:15

But who.

6:18; 1Ki 8:27; Isa 66:1; Ac 7:48,49

is able. Heb. hath returned, or obtained strength. who am Ithen.

1:10; Ex 3:11; 2Sa 7:18; 1Ch 29:14; 2Co 2:16; Eph 3:8

save only.

De 12:5,6,11,14,26

cunning.

Ex 31:3-5; 1Ki 7:14; Isa 28:26,29; 60:10

to grave. Heb. to grave gravings. whom David.

1Ch 22:15,16

Send me also.

1Ki 5:6

algum trees. or, algummim.Called in the parallel passage, by a transposition of letters, {almuggim,} or "almug-trees;" which is rendered by the Vulgate, {ligna thyina,} the thya or lignum vitæ wood. Theophrastus say that "the thyon of thya tree grows near the temple of Jupiter Ammon (in Africa), and in the Cyrenaica; that it resembles the cypress in its boughs, leaves, stalk, and fruit; and that its wood (from its close texture) never rots." The LXX. render here [peukina;] and Josephus calls it [xyla peukina,] torch or pine-trees; but cautions us against supposing that the wood was like what was known in his time by that name; for these "were to the sight like the wood of the fig-tree, but more white and shining." The Syriac version has {kaiso dekee-sotho,} probably cypress wood; and Dr. Shaw supposes it denotes the cypress. Several critics understand it to mean gummy wood; and Celsius queries whether it may not be the sandal-tree, as the Rabbins and Dr. Geddes suppose.

1Ki 10:11

almug-trees.

wonderful great. Heb. great and wonderful.

5; 7:21; 1Ki 9:8

I will give.

1Ki 5:11; Lu 10:7; Ro 13:7,8

baths of wine.

1Ki 7:26,38; Ezr 7:22

Because.

9:8; De 7:7,8; 1Ki 10:9; Ps 72:17

Huram.

1Ki 5:7; 1Ch 29:20; Ps 72:18,19; Lu 1:68; 1Pe 1:3

that made heaven.

Ge 1:1-2:25; Ps 33:6; 102:5; 124:8; 136:5,6; 146:5,6; Jer 10:10

Ac 4:24; 14:15; Col 1:16,17; Re 4:11; 10:6

endued, etc. Heb. knowing prudence and understanding.

1:10-12

an house.

of Huram.

4:16

The son.

skilful.

which my lord.

we will cut.

as much as thou shalt need. Heb. according to all thy need.Joppa. Heb. Japho.

Jos 19:46; Ezr 3:7; Joh 1:3; Ac 9:36; 10:32

numbered.

2; 8:7,8; 1Ki 5:13-16; 9:20,21

the strangers. Heb. the men the strangers. after thenumbering.

1Ch 22:2

threescore."As it is ver. 2."

2 Chronicles 3

1 The place and time of building the temple.

3 The measure and ornaments of the house.

11 The cherubims.

14 The vail and pillars.

A.M. 2993. B.C. 1011. An. Ex. Is. 480. Solomon.

1Ki 6:1-14

in mount Moriah.

Ge 22:2,14

where the Lord appeared unto David. or, which was seen ofDavid. Ornan.

2Sa 24:18-25

Araunah.

1Ch 21:18; 22:1

in the second.

1Ki 6:1

A.M. 2993-3000. B.C. 1011-1004. Solomon.

1Ch 28:11-19

instructed. Heb. founded. The length.

1Ki 6:2,3

the first measure.It is supposed, with much probability, that the first measure means the cubit used in the time of Moses, contradistinguished from that used in Babylon, and which the Israelites used after their return from captivity: and, as these Books were written after the captivity, it was necessary for the writer to make this remark, lest it should be thought that the measurement was by the Babylonish cubit, which was a palm or one-sixth shorter than the cubit of Moses; which may serve to reconcile some variations in the historical books, with respect to numbers when applied to measures.

the porch.

Joh 10:23; Ac 3:11; 5:12

an hundred and twenty.As the height of the temple was only thirty cubits, 120 seems too great a height for the porch; but the Syriac, Arabic, and the LXX. in the codex Alexandrinus, have only twenty, probably reading, instead of {maiah weesrim,} "one hundred and twenty," {ammoth esrim,} "twenty cubits;" which brings it within the proportion of the other measures.

the greater.

1Ki 6:15-17,21,22

garnished. Heb. covered. precious.

1Ch 29:2,8; Isa 54:11,12; Re 21:18-21

Parvaim.Parvaim is supposed by Calmet to be the same as Sepharvaim in Armenia or Media; Bochart is of opinion that it is Taprobanes, now the island of Ceylon, which he drives from {taph,} a border, and Parvan, i.e., "the coast of Parvan;" but the late Editor of Calmet thinks it the same as the Parvatoi mountains of Ptolemy, at the head of the Indus.

overlaid.

Ex 26:29; 1Ki 6:20-22,30; Eze 7:20

graved cherubims.

Ex 26:1; 1Ki 6:35

the most holy.

Ex 26:33; 1Ki 6:19,20; Heb 9:3,9; 10:19

two cherubims.

1Ki 6:23-28

image work. or, as some think, of movable work.

inward. or, toward the house.

Ex 25:20

the vail.

Ex 26:31-35; Mt 27:51; Heb 9:3; 10:20

wrought. Heb. caused to ascend.

two pillars.

1Ki 7:15-24; Jer 52:20-23

thirty.The Syriac and Arabic have, agreeably to the parallel passage, "eighteen cubits high;" but the Septuagint, Chaldee, and Vulgate have "thirty and five cubits high." See the Note on 1 Ki 7:15.

high. Heb. long.

chains.

1Ki 6:21

an hundred.

1Ki 7:20

reared up.

1Ki 7:21

Jachin. that is, He shall establish. Boaz. that is, In itis strength.

2 Chronicles 4

1 The altar of brass.

2 The molten sea upon twelve oxen.

6 The ten lavers, candlesticks, and tables.

9 The courts, and the instruments of brass.

19 The instruments of gold.

an altar.

1:5; Ex 27:1-8; 1Ki 8:22,64; 9:25; 2Ki 16:14,15; Eze 43:13-17

a molten sea.

Ex 30:18-21; 1Ki 7:23; Zec 13:1; Tit 3:5; Re 7:14

brim to brim. Heb. his brim to his brim.

And under.

1Ki 7:24-26; Eze 1:10; 10:14; 1Co 9:9,10; Re 4:7

oxen.In the parallel passage of Kings, instead of {bekarim,} "oxen," we have {pekaïm,} "knops," in the form of colocynths. (See on 1 Ki 6:18, and 2 Ki 4:39;) which last is supposed by able critics to be the reading which ought to received be here; {bekarim,} "oxen," being a mistake for {pekaïm,} "knops." Houbigant, however, contends that the words in both places are right; but that {bakar} does not signify an ox here, but a large kind of grape, according to its meaning in Arabic. But Dr. A. Clarke states that {bakar,} or {bakarat,} has no such meaning in Arabic, though the phrase {aino 'lbikri,} or "ox-eye," signifies a species of black grape, very large, and of incredible sweetness; that consequently the criticism of this great man is not solid; and that the likeliest method of reconciling the two places is to suppose a change in the letters as above.

It stood.

Mt 16:18; Eph 2:20; Re 21:14

three.

Mt 28:19,20; Mr 16:15; Lu 24:46,47; Ac 9:15

with flowers of lilies. or, like a lily flower. threethousand baths. In the parallel passage, it is said to hold only two thousand baths; which some think may be reconciled by supposing that the quantity of water which was commonly in it was 2,000 baths, but that, if filled up to the top, it would hold 3,000. But, as we have already seen that the Babylonish cubit was less than that of the ancient Hebrews, it might be the same with measures of capacity; so that 2,000 of the ancient Jewish baths might have been equal to 3,000 of those used after the captivity. The Targum cuts the knot: "It received 3,000 baths of dry measure, and held 2,000 of liquid measure." See 1 Ki 7:26.

1Ki 7:26

ten lavers.

Ex 30:18-21; 1Ki 7:38,40; Ps 51:2; 1Co 6:11; 1Jo 1:7

such things as they offered for the burnt offering. Heb. thework of burnt offering.

Le 1:9,13; Eze 40:38

but the sea.

2; Ex 29:4; Heb 9:14,23; Re 1:5,6; 7:14

ten candlesticks.

1Ki 7:49; 1Ch 28:15; Zec 4:2,3,11-14; Mt 5:14-16; Joh 8:12

Re 1:20

according to.

Ex 25:31-40; 1Ch 28:12,19; Heb 8:5

ten tables.

Ex 25:23-30; 37:10-16; 1Ki 7:48; Isa 25:6; Eze 44:16; Mal 1:12

1Co 10:21

basons. or, bowls.

Jer 52:18,19; Zec 14:20

the court.

1Ki 6:36; 7:12

1Ki 7:39

the pots.

1Ki 7:40,45

basons. or, bowls. finished. Heb. finished to make.

To wit.

3:15-17

the pommels.

1Ki 7:41

four hundred.

Ex 28:33,34; 1Ki 7:20,42; So 4:13; Jer 52:23

pillars. Heb. face of the pillars.

bases.

1Ki 7:27-43

lavers. or, caldrons.

2-5

pots also.

11; Ex 27:3; 38:3; Zec 14:20,21

flesh-hooks.

1Sa 2:13,14; 1Ch 28:17

Huram.

1Ki 7:13,14,45

Hiram. his father.

2:13

bright. Heb. made bright, or scoured.

clay ground. Heb. thicknesses of the ground. Zeredathah.

1Ki 7:46

Zarthan.

the weight.

1Ki 7:47; 1Ch 22:3,14; Jer 52:20

all the vessels.

36:10,18; 1Ki 7:48-50; 2Ki 24:13; 25:13-15; Ezr 1:7-11; Jer 28:3

Jer 52:18,19; Da 5:2,3,23

the golden.

26:16-18; Ex 30:1-10; 37:25-29; Re 8:3; 9:13

the tables.

Ex 25:23-30; Le 24:5-8; 1Ch 28:16

the candlesticks.

7; Ex 25:31-37

burn after.

Ex 27:20,21

the oracle.

1Ki 6:5,16,17; 8:6; Ps 28:2

the flowers.Probably each branch of the chandelier was made like a plant in flower; and the opening of the flower was either the lamp, or served to support it.

5; Ex 25:31-40; 37:20; 1Ki 6:18,29,35

perfect gold. Heb. perfections of gold.That is, the purest and best gold.

snuffers.

Ex 37:23; 1Ki 7:50; 2Ki 12:13; 25:14; Jer 52:18

basons. or, bowls. the entry.Capellus and others suppose we should read, agreeably to 1 Ki 7:50, "The hinges also of the doors of the inner house," etc.; the word {pothoth,} "hinges," being mistaken for {paithach,} "an entry" or "door-way."

1Ki 6:31,32

Ezra 5:11

We are.

Jos 24:15; Ps 119:46; Da 3:26; Jon 1:9; Mt 10:32; Lu 12:8; Ac 27:23

Ro 1:16; 6:16; Ga 6:14

which a great.

1Ki 6:1-7:51; 2Ch 3:1-5:14