1 Kings 6

The time of the building of Salomons Temple, ver.1, &c. The form and Largeness thereof, 2. The Windows, Chambers, and Materials, 4. The Promise pronounced by God concerning the Temple, 11. The covering of the Walls and Floor, 14. The Oracles place, 16. The Cherubims, 23. Divers Ornaments, 28. Doors, 31. The inner Court, 36. The time how long the Temple was in building, 37.

1. Now it came to pass in the four hundred and fourscore year, [Some count these years thus; the children of Israel were fourty year under Moseh in the Wilderness, seventeen under Josua, and two hundred ninety nine under the Judges, eighty under Eli, Samuel and Saul, fourty under David. These being summed up together, with four years of Salomons Reign, make in all four hundred and eighty years] after the departure of the children of Israel out of Egypt, in the fourth year of Salomons reign over Israel [see 2 Chron.2.2.] in the month Zihu, [almost agreeing with our April, and partly with our May. See of this month also below v.37. Item, Numb.1.on v.1.] (this is the second month) [according to Gods appointment, Exod.12.2.] that he built [i.e. begun to build: so Gen.5.22. See hereof further below v.37.38. 2 Chron.3.1.] the house of the LORD. [see Acts 7:47.]

2. And that house which King Solomon built unto the LORD, was threescore ells (or cubits) [viz. of the sanctuary. See of this measure, Gen.6.on ver.15.] in the length thereof, [this extended from the East to the West] and twenty in the breadth thereof, [this was from the South to the North] and of thirty ells in the height thereof.

3. And the Porch before the Temple of that house, [See Jos.10.23. Acts 3:11.and 5.12.] was twenty ells in the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house, [i.e. this porch was just as long as the LORDS house, or the Temple was broad. Compare the foregoing verse] ten ells in the breadth thereof, before the house. [here is only spoken of the length and breadth thereof: but 2 Chron.3.4. we find also the height thereof, which was of a hundred and twenty ells.]

4. And he made windows to the house of close lookings out. [i.e. which were partly narrow, and as it were shut against the looking in and inconveniency of the weather, partly broad, and so consequently sit to let in the sunbeams, and to look out. Thus according to the opinion of some, the windows in the wall, (which was very thick) were narrow without, and wide within. Others think that they were wide without, and narrow within: others, that they were wide both without and within, but by degrees narrow on both sides, entring to the middle of the wall, where they were shut close with glass, against foul weather. Oth. which might be opened and shut.]

5. And round about, [viz. on the South, West and North-side of the house, and not on the East-side, which was filled up with the entry or porch] at the wall of the house [i.e. at the wall of the Temple; and that so, as that the beames of the chambers here mentioned, were not wrought into the wall of the Temple, but lay upon the buttresses of the same wall, where it was narrowed from without. This narrowing happened three times at each, with the raising of it five ells or cubits, and then upon those sticking out were buttresses laid and sitted for the beams of the chambers, which were three stories high] he built chambers. [Heb. floors, i.e. chamber-buildings and with-drawings, rooms without the Temple for the Priests use, when they executed their office, and to look up in them the first fruits, tenths, Priest garments, offerings and other things appertaining to the service of God, &c. See 2 Kings 11:2. and 1 Chron.28.12. and Ezek.42.13, 144.] against the walls of the house round about (both) of the Temple, [understand the foremost part of the Temple, otherwise called the holy place, into which the Priest daily entered to burn incense, and to dress the Lamps] and oracles-place: [or answering-place. The Hebrew word hath its name from communing, or speaking to. Understand the innermost place of the Temple, otherwise called the holy of holies, from whence God gave his oracle and answer. Compare below ver.16. and 20.] So he made side-chambers [Heb. ribs. Understand the same chambers, whereof was spoken in the beginning of this verse, or certain passages of galleries, which were before, all along the second and third story of these chambers] round about.

6. The lowermost chamber was five ells in the breadth thereof, and the middlemost six ells in the breadth thereof, and the third seven ells in the breadth thereof: [The wall of the Temple having three narrowing’s, the lowermost, the middlemost and the uppermost, the lowermost story of the chambers was an ell narrower then the middlemost, and the middlemost was again so much narrower then the uppermost] for he had made narrowed rests round about at the house, [he each time had made the thickness of the wall an ell narrower, to lay the beams of the chambers without upon the rests. This narrowing or shortning was in the top of the wall of 5 and 10 and 15 ells] that they [viz. the chambers] should not be fastened in the walls of the house. [i.e. that they might not with their beams be fastned in the wall of the temple by boring thorough or breaking the wall. Compare Ezek.41.6.]

7. Now the house when it was built with perfect stone, [i.e. which was before perfectly prepared and sitted for the work, which is likewise affirmed of the wood or timber, above chap.5.18.] as it was brought thither [Heb.or bringing thither, i.e. as it came (being brought) thither] so that no hammers, nor axe (or iron tool was heard in the house, when it was built.

8. The door of the middlemost side-chamber, [i.e. thorough which they went up to the middlemost side-chamber] was on the right side of the house: [Hebr.shoulder, etc. The right side of the Temple as they went forth, was the south, for the entrance of the Temple stood in the Eats, and the most holy place in the West] and they went by winding stirs to the middlemost (side-chamber) and from the middlemost to the third. [viz. side-chambers. By the plural number here may be understood that every story had divers chambers and corners. See 2 Kings 11:2.]

9. So he built the house, and perfected it: and covered the house [viz. within on its roof] with arches, [Heb. according to the opinion of some, backs] and rowes of Cedars, [Hebr. orderings in, or with Cedars, i.e. with orderly fastening or joying together of Cedar-beams, planks or boards.]

10. He built also the chambers against all the house, five ells in the height thereof: and joined them fast to the house, [i.e. he joined and sitted them on the narrowings of the wall of the Temple. See ab.v.6.] with Cedar-wood.

11. Then came the word of the LORD unto Salomon, saying;

12. Concerning this house that thou buildest, if thou walkest in my statutes, and executes my judgements, and keepest all my commandments, [How these three words, statutes, judgements, and commandments are distinguished, see above chap.2.on v.3.] walking in the same: then will I confirm my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy Fathers. [see 1 Kings 2:4. and 9.4. 2 Sam.7.13. 1 Chron.22.10, 19.]

13. And I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel: [See Lev.26.on v.12.] and I will forsake my people of Israel.

14. So Solomon built that house, [i.e. he went on in the building of the Temple, to perfect and adorn the same within] and finished it.

15. He also built the walls of the house within with Cedar-planks; [Heb. sides, and so in the following verse, i.e. he covered the walls with Cedar-planks, etc. so in the following word] from the floor of the house to the roof of the walls, [Heb. to the walls of the roof; i.e. to the uppermost part of the wall, on which the rooftesteth] he covered it within with wood: and covered over the floor of the house [understand this not of the innermost part of the house, but of the fore most, called the holy place] with planks of fir.

16. Besides he built twenty ells [The length of the Temple was threescore ells, above v.2. whereof the foremost part had forty, and consequently the innermost twenty] with planks of Cedar, on the sides of the house, [the meaning is, that he covered the partition-wall (whereby the holy place was distinguished or divided from the holy of holies) with planks Cedar] from the floor to the walls: [i.e. the whole floor from one wall to another] he built this for him [viz. for the Lord, of whom was spoken immediately before ver.13.] within for an oracles-place for the holy of holies.

17. Now that house was fourty ells; (namely) the Temple, [Called, the holy place. This was as long again as the holy of holies, which had but twenty ells in length below v.20.] that was before it.

18. And the Cedar on the house within was carved with knops, [Others, wild gourds, so below chap.7.24.] and open flowers: [Heb. opening of flowers. So in the sequel] it was all Cedar, (there) was no stone seen.

19. And the Oracles-place he prepared in the house [Heb. in the midst of the house. The word house signifieth here the whole fabric or building of the Temple] within [viz. the place where the holy of holies was in the outermost part of the Temple] to set there the Ark of the covenant of the LORD.

20. And the Oracles-place in the forepart [i.e. which as a man entered in from the East to the West, lay before him in the end of the holy place. Oth. the space, (or the faces) of the Oracles-place] was twenty ells in length, and twenty ells in breadth, and twenty ells in the height thereof, [indeed above v.2. is mentioned concerning the whole house that it was thirty ells high: but seeing they were to go up by steps or stairs from the first court into the second, and from the second into the holy place, and from this into the holy of holies, as may be gathered from Ezek.49.6. Its no wonder that the floor was certain ells higher, and nigher to the roof] and he over-laid it with close gold; [i.e. plate-gold, fine, pure gold. See 2 Chron.3.4. or so called, (as others conceive) because it was locket up; and kept by David for the building of the Temple, 1 Chron.29.3, 4. where it is also called gold of Ophir, which for its worth and value was ever held in great esteem, Job 22:24. but the costliest and most precious gold was likewise generally so called, be cause they were wont to lock it up very close, Job 28:15.] he likewise over-laid the Cedar-altar. [Meaning the altar of incense; of which also mention is made below v.2. and 23. This Solomon likewise over-laid with gold, and is therefore called the Golden altar, below Chap.7.48.]

21. And Solomon over-laid the house [Meaning, the holy of holies, as is expounded in the end this verse] within with close gold: and he drew (a vail) thorough it with golden chains before the Oracle-place, [the meaning is, that Salomon caused a veil to be made, which he drew all along to the partition, which divided the holy from the most holy place, hanging on golden chains. See of this veil, Exod chap.26. vers.31, 32, 33.] and over laid it with gold.

22. So he over-laid the whole house with gold, until all the house was finished: besides, he over-laid with gold the whole altar, [See above on ver.20.] which was before the Oracles-place.

23. Now in the Oracles-place he made two Cherubims [See Gen.3.on v.24.] of oily wood: [The Cherubims which Moses caused to be made, were of beaten-gold, Exod.25.18. Now some hold these oily trees not to be olive-trees, but some other trees, that also yield oil, as Cedar-trees, and Pine-trees, etc. for the Olive-trees are sometimes distinguished from the oily-trees, as Neh.8.16.] the height of each was ten ells.

24. And five ells was the one wing of the Cherub, and five ells the other wing of the Cherub: from the end of his one wing, to the end of his other wing, [Heb. from the ends of his wings to the ends of his wings] were ten ells.

25. So the other Cherub was ten ells: both Cherubims had one kind of measure, and one kind of cutting. [i.e. shape.]

26. The height of the Cherub was of ten ells, and so of the other Cherub.

27. And he set these Cherubims in the midst of the innermost house, [i.e. the holy of holies, so the holy place is called the Temple, which was before it, above v.17.] and the Cherubims spread forth the wings, so that the wing of the one touched this wall, and the wing of the other Cherub touched the other wall, and their wings in the midst of the house reached wing to wing. [the meaning is, that the two Cherubims ending the wall, the one the wall that was on the South side; the other, on the North-side; and that they then touched one another with their other wings: so that with the same they reached over the whole breadth of the place: fro as this was twenty ells broad, above ver.20. so was every wing five ells long, above ver.24. and consenquently both the Cherubims stood ten ells distant one from another, and each five ells distant from the wall of his side, making together twenty ells. Compare 2 Chron.3.11, etc.]

28. And he overlaid these Cherubims with gold.

29. And carved all the walls of the house round about, with carved engravings of Cherubims, and of Palm-trees, and of open flowers; within and without. [Some understand by this the wall which parted the holy of holies from the holy place, which he adorned not only within, on the side, which was in the most holy place, but also without on the side, which stood in the holy place. Others understand it of the walls in general both of the most holy and holy place.]

30. He also overlaid the floor of the house with gold within and without. [i.e. in the most holy and in the holy place.]

31. And at the entering of the Oracles-place he made doors of oily wood; the lintel, (with) the posts was the fifth part (of the wall). [i.e. it was as broad and high, as the fifth part of the wall; to wit, four ells: for the wall of the Oracles-place was twenty ells broad and high. See above v.16. Others interpret this thus, that the lintel and post were five square, or five-cornered.]

32. The two doors also were of oil-trees, and he carved upon them carvings of Cherubims, and of Palm-trees, and of open flowers, which he overlaid with gold: he also spread gold upon the Cherubims, and upon the Palm-trees. [Hereby the making might ever be discerned from the carved work.]

33. And he also made at the door of the Temple posts of oily trees: out of the fourth part (of the wall). [For the posts (the door being also counted) were five ells broad, and high, which is the fourth part of twenty. Others understand this of the posts, that they were foursquare, or four-cornered. Compare above the 31 verse with the annotat.]

34. And the two doors were of fir-wood, [See above chap.5.on v.8.] the two sides of the one door were turning about, so the two carved (sides) of the other door were turning about.

35. And he carved them with Cherubims, and Palm-trees, and open flowers; which he overlaid with gold; sited to the carved work.

36. Then he built the innermost Court [Meaning the Court that was next to the Temple, and was called the Priests court, 2 Chron.4.9. because none but they and the Levites might enter into it, and because the Priests offered there upon the Altar of burnt-offering, and observed the worship of God] of three rowes of hewed stones, and a row of Cedar-beams.

37. In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the LORD laid in the month Ziu: [See above on ver.1.]

38. And in the eleventh year the in month Bul, which is the eight month, [This month answereth partly to our October, and partly to our November] was this house finished according to all its parts, [Heb. things, or words, i.e. according to all that was said and ordered concerning it] and according to all its appurtenances; so was he seven years in building it.