2 Chronicles 3

The place where, and the time when the temple was built, v.1. etc. The measure and ornaments thereof, 3. The Cheribims, 11. The vail, and the pillars, 14.

1. And Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem on mount Merija, [That is, the mount of vision upon which Abraham somewhat less then nine hundred years before was commanded to offer up his son Isaac. Concerning the reason and original of this appellation, see Genes.22. verse 2, 8, 14. And the annotate. Thereon] which was shewed to David his father: [namely. By the prophet Gad, 2 Sam.24, 18. 1 Chron.21.18. &c. oth. Where (the LORD) appeared unto David his father: to wit, by the fire, which fell from heaven upon the altar, and the offering, of which see 1 Chron.21.26.] in the place that David had prepared in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite. [of whom David had bought this place to build the temple thereon, 2 Sam.24.24. I Chron.21. verse 24,25.]

2. Now he began to build in the second month, [Called Zin. See of this month, 1 Kings 6.on verse 1.] on the second (day) in the fourtieth year of his reign.

3. And these are the foundations Solomon to build the house of God: [That is, according to which Solomon laid the foundation of the temple,] the length in ells (or cubits) according to the first measure [some understand this of the measure that is, used in holy building: Others, of the measure of the temple, which David had left behind to his son Solomon in writing: Some, because measures are sometimes changed through length of time, conceive the first measure to be that which was in use in Moses time. Some also understand the first measure to be meant of the first raw draught, or measuring of the ground-work or place of the temple, to wit, of its length and breadth, without the distinction of parts, and the addition of those courts and chambers, which were designed and made afterward] was threescore ells, and the breadth twenty ells. [here is no mention made of the house, because here is onely spoken of the foundation, see of the height, 1 Kings 6:2.]

4. And the porch that was in the front, [To wit, of the house of the Lord, see 1 Kings 6.on verse 3.] was in the length according to the breadth of the house, [that is, it was as long as the temple was broad. Oth. And the porch that was before the length, was etc.] twenty ells, and the length, was etc.] twenty ells, and the length an hundred and twenty; [of the breath which was ten ells, see 1 Kings 6:3.] which he overlaid within with pure gold.

5. Now the great house [That is, the fore part of the temple, called the holy place; which is here said to be great, in respect of the holy of holies, see 1 Kings 6.on verse 17.] he covered over with fir-wood; [to wit, the floor of it, but the walls were covered over with cedar-wood, 1 Kings 6:15.] then he overlaid that with good gold: and he made thereon palm-trees, and chain-work. [Heb. Chains.]

6. He also overlaid the house [To wit, the rest of the floor of the temple, which was not yet covered over with fir-wood] with precious stones [as marble, or some other stone sit to make a pavement] for ornament: now the gold was gold of Parvaim. [of Havila, as is conceived, where the gold was very precious, Gen.2 12. Which David had gotten from the spoil of the kings that dwelt thereabout, and had laid it up for the building of the temple, and is likewise called close gold, 1 Kings 6 20. See the annotate. There; others understand this gold to be meant of the gold of Ophir, or Peru.]

7. Besides, he overlaid at the house the beams, the posts and the walls thereof, and the doors thereof with gold, and he granted cherubims on the walls.

8. Moreover, he made the house of the holy of holies, [Heb. Holiness of holinesses; That is, that most holy place of the temple which was the hinder and innermost part thereof: where the ark of the covenant and the cherubims stood, otherwise called the oracles place, because God there uttered a voice, and gave answer 1 Kings 6:5.19,20.] the length whereof according to the breadth of the house; [to wit, of the great house a little before mentioned verse 5.] was twenty ells, and the breadth thereof twenty ells: and he overlaid it with good gold, (amounting) to six hundred talents. [of the weight of a talent of gold, see Exod.25.on verse 39.]

9. And the weight of the nails was unto fifty shekels of gold: [Of the value hereof, see Gen.24.on verse 22.] and he overlaid the upper chambers [these were placed on high over the porch; of which see 1 Chron.28.11.] with gold.

10. He also made in the house of the holy of holies two cherubims [see Gen. 3. On verse 24. And 1 Kings 6. On verse 23] of forth-drawing work; [Heb. A work of drawing out, or lifting out; that is according to the opinion of some, a work, whose parts or pieces, or members could be taken, lifted, or drawn out one from another, which was needful to be done in respect of the greatness, and heaviness of the work: oth. A work (according to the shape) of young men, or of image-work] and he overlaid them with gold.

11. Concerning the wings of the cherubims, the length thereof was twenty ells: the wing of one was five ells, reaching to the wall of the house, and the other wing five ells, reaching to the wing of the other cherub.

12. Likewise the wing of the other cherub was five ell, reaching to the wall of the house; and the other wing was five ells reaching to the wing of the other cherub. [See the exposition hereof, 1 Kings 6. On verse 27.]

13. The wings of these cherubims spread themselves forth twenty ells: and they stood on their feet, and their faces were toward the house. [oth. Inward. Compare Exod.25.20.]

14. He made also the vail [which parted or distinguished the holy place from the most holy place. See of this Exod.26.31. 1 Kings 6:21. and the annotate. Thereon] of skie-colour, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and he made cherubims thereon.

15. Moreover he made for the house two pillars of five and thirty ells in length: [See 1 Kings 7.on v.15.] And the chapter that was on the head of them, was five ells.

16. He also made chains, [Understand golden chains, or fillets. See of those, by which the vail hung, 1 Kin.6.21. and the annotate. Thereon] (as) in the oracle-place, [see 1 Kings 6.on v.5.] and he put them on the heads of the pillars: Besides he made an hundred pomegranates, [to wit, in each row. And there being two rows, its said, 1 Kings 7:20. that there were two hundred pomegranates] and put them between the chains.

17. And he reared up the pillars before the Temple, one on the right hand, and one on the left hand; and he called the name of the right-(hand pillar) Jachin, and the name of the left-(hand pillar) Boaz. [See the exposition hereof, 1 Kings 7.on v.21.]