1 Kings 6

1 Kings 6:1

IT came to passe] 2 Chron. 3. 1. four hundred and fourscore] Fourty in the wildernesse, Numbers 14:33. Seventeen under Joshua: Fourty under Othniel, Judg. 3. 11. Fourscore under Ehud and Shamgar, Judg. 3. 30. Fourty under Deborah, Judg. 5. 31. Fourty under Gideon, Judg. 8. 28. Three under Abimelech, Judg. 9. 22. Three and twenty under Tola, two and twenty under Jair, Judg. 10. 2, 3. Six under Jephthah, seven under Ibzan, ten under Elon, eight under Abdon, Judg. 12. 7, 9, 11, 14. Twenty under Samson, Judg. 15. 20. Fourty under Eli, 1 Samuel 4. 18. Fourty under Samuel and Saul, Acts 13:21. Fourty under David, 2 Samuel 5:4. Four under Solomon.

Egypt] Then the Israelites began to be a free people, and a nation of themselves; therefore the computation of times in that state began from thence.

fourth] In the former yeers of his reign he prepared and fitted all manner of materialls for the work.

Zif] They began the yeer about the spring equinoctiall: Their first moneth was Abib, Exodus 12:2. and Exodus 13:4. their second, Zif; their seventh, Ethanim, Chap. 8. 2. their eighth, Bul, v. 38. their ninth, Chisleu (Zechariah 7:1. Nehemiah 1:1.) their eleventh, Sebat, Zechariah 1:7. Other Hebrew names of moneths we find none in sacred Scripture; but numerall distinctions, as, the first, second, third, &c. We finde also sundry Persian names of moneths, in those books which were written after their captivity. The Hebrew names import thus much: Abib, the spring: Zif, brightnesse; then are plants in their chiefest splendour: Ethanim, ripenesse, or strength; then they are at their full ripenesse and strength: Bul, fading; then is the fall of leaves: Chisleu, variable, or tempestuous; so is the weather in that moneth: Chesil is also put for Orion (Job 9:9. and Job 38:31. Amos 5:8.) a star, which, rising in this moneth, causeth great tempests: Sebat, a drie stick, or staff; for in this moneth are trees very drie.

second] For in the first moneth the passeover was celebrated, Exodus 12:3. in the very beginning of this moneth, even the second day, he set upon this great work, 2 Chronicles 2:2.

began] Heb. built; Laid the foundation, v. 37. Of the place where this house was built, see 2 Chronicles 3:1.

1 Kings 6:2

length] From east to west: the breadth, from north to south.

cubits] A cubit is in length, from the elbow to the top of the middle finger; which, of an ordinary mans stature, is eighteen inches. It is supposed, that the sacred cubit, stiled, A great cubit, Ezekiel 41:8. and the first, or chief measure, 2 Chronicles 3:3. after which the tabernacle and temple were built, was one and twenty inches, or two foot long at the most; for it was a cubit and an hand-breadth, Ezekiel 43:13. See the Notes on Deuteronomy 3:11.

1 Kings 6:3

porch] This was no part of the fore-mentioned house, but added to the open end thereof: it is called Solomons porch (John 10:23.) here the people used to stand, while the priests were offering sacrifices or incense within the temple: here they prayed and heard the law read and expounded, Luke 1:10. Act. 3. 11, 12. and 5. 12.

length] From north to south, all along the end of the temple.

breadth] Thorow which was the passage into the temple: the height far exceeded the height of the temple, even ninety cubits higher, 2 Chronicles 3:4. It hath been the manner of building fair edifices, to make the entrance much higher then the rest of the building.

1 Kings 6:4

windows of narrow lights] Or, windows broad within, and narrow without; or, skewed and closed. Without narrow, to keep out the weather; within broad, to diffuse the light.

1 Kings 6:5

against the wall] Or, upon, or joyning to. There were two thick walls that compassed the house about, for the greater strength thereof: betwixt these walls were chambers built for the priests and Levites use, and for the treasury of the temple, as first-fruits, tythes, free-offerings, and the like, 1 Chron. 2. 11. 2 Chron. 31. 11, 12. Ezr. 8. 29. Neh. 10. 37, 38, 39. and 13. 5. Ezekiel 42:13.

chambers] Heb. floors.

temple] The outer and larger part of the house, where all sorts of priests and Levites did their services, v. 17.

oracle] The innermost part, whereinto the high priest, and that but once a yeer, might enter: called the oracle, because there God delivered divine answers or oracles, Leviticus 16:2. Exodus 30:6.

chambers] Heb. ribs.

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neithermost] The chambers were three stories high one over another: and as they were higher, they were also wider; for the walls were thickest at the bottom; the higher they ascended, the thinner they were, and the space betwixt them the wider. Every chamber was of one height, namely, five cubits, verse 10.

narrowed rests] Heb. narrowings, or rebatements. At the floor of the middle chamber there was a rebatement in the wall, a cubit thick; and at the floor of the highest chambers such another rebatement: on these rebatements the beams of the chambers were laid.

1 Kings 6:7

stone] And wood too, Chap. 5. 18.

tool] Used to hew; square, polish and fit materialls for the building.

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middle chamber] Middle story.

right side] Heb. shoulder; As they went thorow the temple to the oracle.

third] Story.

1 Kings 6:9

covered] The top or roof.

with beams and boards of cedar] Or, the vault-beams and the cielings with cedar.

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against all the house] On both sides thereof; yea, and about the oracle, whereinto there was no entrance from without.

the word of the Lord] By some prophet; for God himself appeared to him but twice, chap. 9. 2. and 11. 9.

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statutes, &c.] See the difference betwixt these, chap. 2. v. 3.

which I spake unto David thy father] 2 Samuel 7:13. 1 Chronicles 22:10.

1 Kings 6:13

I will dwell] As a tender father, and provident master, I will abide among them, and they shall have assured evidence of my gracious presence, Levit. 26. 11, 12. 2. Cor. 6. 16.

1 Kings 6:14

the house] The main fabrick thereof with stone and timber.

1 Kings 6:15

built] Cieled.

both the flor of the house, and the walls of the cieling] Or, from the floor of the house, unto the walls, &c. and so v. 16.

walls of cieling] From the floor to the uppermost part of the walls, whereon the cicling or roof rested, or from the bottom to the top.

1 Kings 6:16

built] He ciled and floored the most holy place with cedar.

most holy place] Heb. holy of holies.

1 Kings 6:17

fourty cubits long] Vers. 2.

1 Kings 6:18

knops] These are translated gourds, 2 Kings 4:39.

open flowers] Heb. openings of flowers.

1 Kings 6:19

in the house within] In the innermost part of the house.

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in the height thereof] The oracle might be but twenty cubits high, because, as they ascended out of the porch into the temple by steps, so they ascended out of the temple into the oracle, Ezek. 40. 34, 37.

overlaid] With plates of gold, not gilt onely.

pure gold] Heb. shut up; That which was thorowly refined, and laid up especially for that purpose, 1 Chron. 28. 18. and 29. 3, 4. 2 Chronicles 3:6. See the Notes on chap. 9. 28.

altar] For incense, v. 22.

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chains of gold] Whereupon the vail did hang, 2 Chron. 3. 14, 16.

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cherubims] A cherub was a representation of a young man with wings: cherubims set out angels, Genesis 3:24. These here were carved statues: As in the tabernacle there were two cherubims of massie gold, and sundry other cherubims wrought in the curtains and vail (Exod. 36. 8, 35.) so in the temple many cherubims graven on the walls, on the doors (1 King. 6. 29, 32, 35.) and on the bases (1 King. 7. 29, 36.) All these set out the multitudes of angels in churches, as Eph. 3. 10. See the Notes on Exodus 25:18.

of olive-trees] Or, oilie. Heb. trees of oil; Because they were so great, like giants. The cherubims which Moses made were of beaten gold, Exodus 25:18. for they were farre lesse then these: these covered those, 2 Chronicles 3:10-13.

1 Kings 6:24

ten cubits] The body of the cherub was comprehended under the wings, so as the two wings stretched out together with the thicknesse of the body made ten full cubits.

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they stretched forth the wines of the cherubims] Exodus 25:20. Or, the cherubims stretched forth their wings.

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figures of cherubims] See the Notes on v. 23.

open flowers] Heb. openings of flowers.

within and without] In the oracle within, and temple without.

1 Kings 6:31

a fifth part] Or, five-square: Four cubits, which is the fifth part of twenty cubits. See v. 20. Each side was four cubits, so as the entrance was twelve cubits wide: the door had two leaves, and each leaf had two foldings, as v. 34. Ezek. 41. 23, 24.

1 Kings 6:32

two doors] Or, leaves of the doors.

open flowers] Heb. openings of flowers.

1 Kings 6:33

a fourth part] Or, four-square.

1 Kings 6:35

fitted] So as the covered works might distinctly be discerned thorow the plates of gold.

1 Kings 6:36

inner court] Where the priests and Levites did their daily service; that being the outer court where the people were. The former is called, The court of the priests: The later, The great court, 2 Chron. 4. 9. See the Notes on v. 3.

1 Kings 6:37

fourth yeer, &c.] Verse 1.

1 Kings 6:38

Bul] See v. 1.

thorowout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it] Or, with all the appurtenances thereof, and with all the ordinances thereof.

seven yeers] And six moneths; for he began in the second, and ended in the eighth moneth. Compare the first and last verses of this chapter together.