1 Kings 7

Chap. VII. ver. 1. — was building his own house thirteen years.] It appears that he did not begin to build his own house till he had finished the house of God; for it is stated at chap. ix. 10, that he was twenty years in building the two. The house here mentioned was in Jerusalem. It appears from the next verse, that he also built another house for himself, called “the house of the forest of Lebanon.” We are not to suppose from this name that it was built in the forest of Lebanon, which was in the very extremity of Solomon’s kingdom; it was probably built in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem, and derived its name, perhaps, from being built on a

Before CHRIST 1006. against eight. spaces and pillars were square in prospect. Hiram’s work of the two pillars. Of the molten sea. Before CHRIST 1005. b Chap. 3. 1. daughter, b whom he had taken to wife, like unto this porch.

1 Kings 7:3

3. — the priests took up the ark.] The ark had been carried by the priests three times before this; when they went over Jordan, when they encompassed the walls of Jericho, and when David sent it back at the time that he fled from Absalom, 2 Sam. xv. 29, 30. It was the office of the Levites to carry the ark upon their shoulders, except on special occasions; but now they could not, because it was not lawful for them to enter into the holy place, into which it was to be carried, and then into the most holy. It is said indeed at 2 Chron. v. 4, that “the Levites took it up;” but the meaning is, that they took it up and carried it to the temple, and then the priests took it up, ver. 7, and carried it into the most holy place. Bp. Patrick.

1 Kings 7:4

4. — the tabernacle of the congregation.] It has been made a question what tabernacle is here meant, whether that made by Moses, which was now at Gibeon, (2 Chron. i. 3,) or that made by David, which was at Jerusalem, 2 Sam. vi. 17. But, as the tabernacle made by David was only a plain tent set up for temporary convenience, it seems to admit of little doubt that the Mosaick tabernacle is that here intended: this, for the prevention of all schism, and to make the temple the centre of devotion, was now taken down, and laid by in the treasury or storehouse; there it remained until the taking of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans, when Jeremiah, as Josephus informs us, was admonished by God to take it, the ark and the altar of incense, and hide them in some secret places, for fear of profanation; and it is doubted whether they were ever removed from thence. Calmet, Stackhouse. They brought the ark from mount Zion, the tabernacle from Gibeon. Dr. Wall.

1 Kings 7:5

5. — that could not be told — for multitude.] Meaning, that the number was very great.

1 Kings 7:9

9. — nothing — save the two tables of stone.] The passage in Hebrews ix. 4, appears to be inconsistent with this, where it is affirmed, that in this ark “was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded,” as well as “the tables of the covenant.” To explain this, some learned persons understand, in the passage in the Hebrews, that the golden pot, &c. were not placed in the ark, but by it, or near it; which the word in the original language warrants. Others understand, that, before the ark had any fixed and settled abode, all these things were placed in it; but that, at the time when it was carried to the temple, the two tables only were left in it, every thing else being carried to the treasury of the temple. Bp. Patrick, Calmet.

1 Kings 7:10

10. — stones of ten cubits, &c.] The size of these stones has been justly deemed matter of surprise, their measure being from seventeen to eighteen feet. All surprise, however, at these will cease, on the mention of what is related by Volney, concerning the ruins of Balbec, that there are stones amongst them of fifty-eight feet in length and twelve feet in thickness. What means the ancients had of moving such enormous masses, is wholly unknown. Fragments to Calmet.

11. — the cloud filled the house] The cloud of glory which formerly resided in the tabernacle, descended now into the temple, filling the whole house, first with inexpressible darkness, out of which afterwards brake

1 Kings 7:15

15. — he cast two pillars &c.] The first piece of workmanship, in which the new artist was engaged, was the construction of two brass pillars of large dimensions at the entrance of the temple porch, with a fine wrought chapter or bead border on the top of each, the whole being covered all over with artificial wreathings, flower-

two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the chapiters that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapter.

1 Kings 7:26

26. — it contained two thousand baths.] A bath (the same as the ephah) is thought to have contained eight gallons, so that this sea contained about five hundred barrels. At 2 Chron. iv. 5, it is stated that “it received and held three thousand baths;” it is probably meant, that it would contain this quantity, although the former quantity was that which was usually put into it. The use of this “brazen sea” was for the priests to wash their hands and feet at their first entrance into the temple, 2 Chron. iv. 6. Bp. Patrick, Pyle.

Before CHRIST 1005. c 2 Chron. 2. 17. ¶ That is, He shall establish. ¶ That is, In it is strength. his brim to his brim. d 2 Chron. 4. 3. Of the ten bases, and all the vessels. Before CHRIST 1005.

1 Kings 7:46

46. — did the king cast them.] He had them cast in moulds of clay, in a part of the country where the soil was fit for the purpose. Pyle.

brass: one laver contained forty baths: and every laver was four cubits: and upon every one of the ten bases one laver.

1 Kings 7:48

48. — the altar of gold.] That is, the altar of incense which stood in the holy place before the oracle. — and the table of gold.] He made ten tables ac-

Before CHRIST 1005. shoulder. upon the face of the pillars. bright, or, scoured. thickness of the ground. sacceeding multitude. sacched. pans. The feast of the dedication of the temple. Bodine CHRIST 1000. things of David. 1. n 2 Chron. 5. 2. primes. 1004. and for the doors of the house, to wit, of the temple.

1 Kings 7:51

51. — and Solomon brought in &c.] It is probably meant, that all the remaining silver and gold which David had prepared, and which was not spent in this work, Solomon did not employ to his own uses, but religiously preserved in the treasury of the temple. Bp. Patrick. Chap. VIII. This chapter is to be compared with