1 Kings 6

A COMMENTARY UPON [chap, vk altar: which yms in the upper end of the sanctuary, near the entrance in the oracle. This he covered with cedar, (vcr. 20.) and now overlaid with gold. Vcr. 23. And within the orach he made tico chembimsof olive-tree, each ten cubits high.] These were different from those mado by Moses, which were of solid gold: and arose out of each end of the mercy-scat; being of one piece with it, and looking one upon the other, (Exod. xxv. 18, 19.) But these were made of olive-wood; or, as it is in the Hebrew, of tree of oil. For many such soTts of wood there were besides olive; as pine, cedar, &c. And these two are plainly distinguished; olive and oily-wood, in Nchcm. viii. 15. Here it may be proper to note, that the word debir (which wo constantly translate oracle) comes from debar, which signifies to speak; because God, who dwelt between the chcrubims, declared his mind from hence, when he was consulted by the high-priest with ulrim and thummim: and it still retained this name (though we never read of any answer by urim and thummim while this temple stood), because it had been the place from whence God had been wont to speak to the high-priest. I have observed elsewhere, that there might be the use of urim and thummim in this temple, though it be not recorded: but it is highly probable, that upon their rejecting the government of God, and turning the theocracy into a human government by kings, God ceased to direct and govern them by that Divine oracle. During the reign of David, indeed, there is some footsteps of it, their new government by kings being not yet well established: so that we may think there was a mixture of the theocracy still with it, as’may be gathered from 2 Sam. ii. 1. iii. 19. 23. xxi. 1. But after that, there is not the least glimpse of it; but they inquired of God by the prophets, 1 Kings xxii. 3. 2 Kings iii. 11. 29. xxii. 14. where the high-priest himself, being sent by king Josiah to inquire of God, went t6 Huldah the prophetess. Which is a demonstration, that the answer by urim and thummim ceased, when God’s government was cast off by them: to whjch that oracle properly appertained. The two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.] Whereby they took up less room, when they were opened.

1 Kings 6:1

xjLND it came to pass, in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out dwelt in the land of Canaan three hundred years. Unto which if we add the forty years wherein they wandered in the wilderness, * there were three hundred and forty years past at that time, sinOe they came out of Egypt. And so the other interval from thence unto the building of the temple was a hundred and forty years: which is not hard to make out, according to Sir John Marsham’s computation. (Sec my annotations on that place of the book of Judges.) In the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel.] But why did he not begin the work sooner, according to the command of his father David, who left him all things necessary, gold, silver, brass, &c. foT the building of it; and also a draught of it: so that he might have begun when he began to reign? To which Abarbinel answers, that Solomon would not make use of what his father had prepared, but resolved to build the house at his own cost and charge; and put into the treasury of the Lord’s house, that which David had dedicated to this work; (vii. 51.) and therefore he stood in need of four years’ time, to gather so much gold and silver as was necessary to defray the charges of this work. In the month Zif which is the second month, that he began to buiMthe house of the Lord.] Either to lay the foundation of it, or to build upon the foundation beforementioned.

1 Kings 6:2

And the house which king Solomon built for the Lord. For his worship and service: and wherein his Divine presence might dwell among them, (ver. 13.) The length of it was sixty cubits.’] Forty of which belonged to the holy place; and twenty to the most holy. And the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits.] The length and breadth of it was twice as big (Abarbinel and others observe) as the tabernacle of Moses; which was in length but thirty cubits, and in breadth but ten. Whereas the temple was twenty cubits wide through the whole, and sixty long: besides the porch. When it is said the height was thirty cubits, it must be understood of the holy place: for the holy of holies was only twenty. (See ver. 20.) And so the height of the holy place was three times more than it was in the tabernacle: for his temple was to resemble a high tower; having chambers above it, in three stories one above another, as the Jewish doctors observe. (Seo 1 Chron. xxviii. 11.)

1 Kings 6:3

And the porch before the temple of the house 9 twenty cubits was the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house; and ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the house. He gives no account of the height of it: but in 2 Chron. iii. 4. Ezra seems to say, it was a hundred and twenty cubits. Which words Kimchi imagines relate to the porch alone: but Abarbinel wonders how this could come into his head; when this height belongs to the whole house. For if it belonged only to the porch, then nothing is there said of the house itself: and besides, it immediately follows that he overlaid it with pure gold. Which is not true of the porch (for that was not overlaid with gold) but only of the house of God. Whidh, from the foundation to jy Microsoft® 3F2 A COMMENTARY UPON [chap; vi. " the covering of it, was thirty cubits high; and above that covering were three stories of chambers, which were ninety cubits: and so in all the height of the house was a hundred and twenty,

1 Kings 6:4

And for the house he made windows of narrow lights. Or, as it is in the margin, broad within and narrow without. By which means the house was better secured from the weather; and yet had lights enough. See Casaubon upon Athcnaeus, p. 363. where he observes, the Greeks call such windows ro^iKag, " fenestras longas et angustas, ad emitlenda tela, quam ad lucem admittendam •factas;" long and narrow windows made to shoot out weapons, than to let in light. And he translates these Hebrew words, fenestras, prospect u clausas,riz. from the outward -part.

1 Kings 6:5

And against the wall of the house. Or, joining to it, as it is in the margin: for the beams were not fastened in the walls of the house, as we read in the next verse; but a wooden wall, some think, went round the house, unto which these chambers were fastened.’ He built chambers round about, against the walls of the house round about, both of the temple and of the oracle.] But not of the porch where the entrance into the house was. It appears out of Ezekiel and Josephus, as Peter Martyr observes, that there were twelve of these chambers on the south side, and as many on the north; and six on the west. And he made chambers round about.] In the Hebrew, he made ribs: by which someunderstand galleries. Which encompassed all the forenamed chambers, as our ribs do the entrails of our bodies. Without which there could not have been a convenient passage to the several chambers: which were made to serve the priests to lay their garments.in, and wherein they rested, and ate of the sacrifices, and other uses. Ver. G. TJte nethermost chamber ivas five cubits broad,. and the middle ivas six cubits broad, and the third ivas seven cubits broad.’] It appears by ver. 10. that they were but five cubits high, and built over one another three stories, increasing in breadth, every story, one cubit, by the contrivance which follows. For without in the wall of the house he made narrowed rests round about.] In the margin we translate it, narrowings or rebatements. By which seem to be meant, that the.wall to which they were adjoined was thicker below and above narrower: so that there was more space to make the upper chambers wider.,t Tfiat the beams should not be fastened to the tvalls of the house.] But in that outward wall which I mentioned before, made of wood: for he would’have no holes made in the wall of the temple. (See L’Empereur upon Codex Mid- • doth/ p. 147, 148. and Dr. Lightfoot of the Temple, p. 40.)

1 Kings 6:7

And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it ivas brought thither. So fitted /for their several uses and places, that they might be joined together, without any other labour, by putting them one by, or upon, another. So that there tvas neither hammer, nor axe, nor any tool of iron, heard in the house while it ivas in building.] The sense is plain, that the stones.were laid without any noise, there being nothing to he done but to join them together. But the Jews are so foolish as to fancy, that they were not hewn nor planed by any instrumcn f before they came thither; but a worm called samir, which God created on purpose, did the business: and that the stones of their own accord came to the temple; and there the angels laid them in their place and order. (See L’Empereur upon Codex Middoth, p. 183.) Which fable arose from somebody that did not understand the word samir, which signifies a very hard stone called smiris (as Bochartus hath observed), with which stones might be cut and polished as diamonds are. (See Hierozoicon, par. ii. lib. vi. cap. 11.) An emblem this was, as all interpreters note, of that peace and quiet which should be in the Christian church, where all things should be done without contention.’ " Utinam Deus hoc tandem aliquando elargiatur, ut omnes in domo suo idem dicamus ct sentiamus," as P. Martyr prays upon this place.

1 Kings 6:8

The door of the middle chamber. By which they were to go into the middle row of chambers. Was in the right side of the house.] On the south side, which in -Hebrew is called the right side, because, when men look towards the east, the south is on their right hand. Some think there was the like door in the north; but it is more likely, that one door served to carry them round to all the chambers. *". And they went up tvith winding stairs into the middle chamber.] That they might take up the less room..: And out of the middle into the third.] There was the-like’pair of stairs into the third story.

1 Kings 6:9

So he built the house, and finished it. That is, the walls of the house. < A7td also’ covered the -house.] He also covered the top of it.. With beams and boards of cedar.] In the margin, the’.vaultings and the ceilings of cedar. That is, the roof was an arch within, which made it look more noble, though without it was flat. -

1 Kings 6:10

And then he built chambers against all the house five cubits high. The word then is not in the Hebrew; and being omitted the sense is plain, that he gives an account of the height of these chambers, as before (ver. 6.) of-the * breadth. But it is very briefly; and we are to understand that those below, and those in the middle, and those above, were every one ofan equal height; viz. five cubits: So they \xctq fifteen cubits in all: which was five less than the height of the house, for that was twenly cubits. Otherwise there would, have been no room for the windows: which, I suppose, were above all these chambers, in the top of the house.’ -Ver. 11. And the word of the Lord came to Solomon, sayingi] By the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite, as the Jews say, in Seder Olam Rabba, cap. 20. For it is not said that God -appeared to him now, as he did iii. 5. and ix. 2, 3., In which latter place it is said God appeared to him, these- * cond time: which is a proof (as Abarbinel notes) that now God did not appear to him, but spake to him by a prophet.

1 Kings 6:12

Concerning this house which thou art [in building, if thou tviltu-alk in my’statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will Iperfotm my word with thee, tvhich I spake unto David thy father.] See 2 Sam. vii. 13. Here Abarbinel makes a query, why this prophecy is inserted in the middle of the work, which might seem to have been more, proper in the beginning, or after it.was ended: but Solomon laying the founda- CHAP; VI.] THE FIRST BOOK OF THE KINGS. tion, and raising the building very firm and strong, which might last to many generations, God would not have him presume upon its duration, unless he and the* people of Israel were obedient to him: and therefore told him he had better not proceed, nor be at any further charge, unless he intended to be a good man, and observe all his laws. And the continuance of this house, and of God’s presence among them, depending on this, plainly signified, that let him build it ever so strong it should be demolished, if he proved disobedient.

1 Kings 6:13

And I will dwell among the children of Israel. As he had done in the tabernacle, (Exod. xxv. 8.) And I will not forsake my people Israel.] But protect them in the good land he had given them.

1 Kings 6:14

Andsent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses; a month they were in Lebanon, and two montlis at home. That they might not be tired with their labour; nor neglect their own families while they were employed abroad. And Adoniram was over the levy.’] Took care to raise them, and to see them disposed according to Solomon’s order. (Seeiv. 6.) So Solomon built the house, and finished it J] God spake the foregoing words, while he was building it, that he might desist, if he did not intend to be obedient to him. But these words import, that notwithstanding this admonition, he went on to build the house, as magnificent.and durable as he intended; resolving to keep God’s commandments.

1 Kings 6:15

And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens. viz. Porters, carters, seamen, and suchlike,’ And fourscore thousand that were hewers in the mountains.] That is, hewers of stone, for timber was hewed by Hiram’s servants in Lebanon. And these hundred and fifty thousand were not Israelites, as the thirty thousand beforcmentioned were; but strangers of other nations, as may be gathered from ix. 21, 22. It may seem strange to some, that so many men should be employed about the building of so small a place as the temple was: but they must consider that there were many other w r orks besides which Solomon designed, and which he finished; (ix. 15.) for which we read of no other preparation of materials but what was now made. And he built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar.] He wainscotted, Us we now speak, the whole house with cedar. Both the floor of the house, and the walls of the ceiling.] Or, as we translate it in the margin, From the floor of the house, unto the walls of the ceiling. That is, from the bottom to the top. And he covered them on the inside with wood.] The word them is not in the Hebrew. Which if we retain, it relates to the walls of the ceiling: that is, to the top of the house, which in the inside was covered with wocjd, (ver. 9.) And covered the floor of the house withplanks of fir.] Or, with another sort of cedar, which was a’ great deal firmer and more lasting than fir. (Sec chap. v. 8.)

1 Kings 6:16

Besides thechief of Solomon’s officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work. In 2 Chron. ii. 18. they are said to have been three thousand and six hundred: for three hundred were overseers even of the three thousand three hundred, who were to oversee the rest. That is, superior officers, who surveyed the whole, as Kimchi observes. Or, as Abarbinel takes it, there were three hundred supernumeraries, who were employed in the more exquisite sort of work: or w T hcn any of the other failed, were ready to supply their places. And he built twenty cubits on the sides of the house.] The house here meant is the most holy place: for he had spoken of the other part of the house, called the sanctuary, in the foregoing words. Both the floor and the walls with boards of cedar.] Or, as. the foregoing verse, from the floor to the walls of the ceiling. He even built them for it within, even for the oracle^ even for the most holy place.] Here he explains what he meant by the house in the beginning of the verse. And this wa£ most properly the house of all the parts of the temple: because here the Divine Glory inhabited, and from hence God gave answer, when he was consulted. It is called Debir: as the outward house is called Hechal.

1 Kings 6:17

And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house. All things being now prepared, Solomon himself seems to have been present at the laying of the foundation of the house; which was not only very strong, but also very magnificent. For he caused stones of great bigness to be laid for the foundation, and some of great price, (such as marble, some think, see vii. 10.) and those also hewn and polished, not rough, that they might lie more regularly and even: which shews the nobleness of his mind, in making that which was not exposed to open view suitable to that which was seen. And the house.] That is, the holy place, as the next words explain it. That is, the temple before it.] The part of the house. which was before the most holy place. In the Hebrew the. words arc before my face: that is, before the place where. the Diyine Glory appeared. Was forty cubits long.] As long again as the most hofy place. (See ver. 2. 1G.)

1 Kings 6:18

And Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders did hew them,. It seems Solomon’s servants learned of Hiram’s; or atlcastwere directed by them to assist in the work. And the stone-squarers.] Or the Giblitcs, as it is in the margin, who are mentioned in Josh. xiii. 5. being Phoenicians, inhabitants of Gabala, a promontory mentioned by Pliny, (see Psal. lxxxiiL 7.) who were the most excellent artists in those parts. So they prepared timber and stones to build the house.] Made all ready not only to lay the foundation, but to build the house. of the land of Egypt.] These years are variously computed by the Jewisli doctors; with which I shall not trouble the reader: but only observe, that they are plainly divided into two intervals, by the words of Jephthah to the Ammonites, Judg. xi. 26. where he tells them the Israelites had Anil the cedar of the house ivithin was carved with knops.] Of an oblong figure, like an egg^ as Forstcrus thinks, comparing this place with 2 Kings iv. where there is the like word, and there translated gourds. And open flowers.] Not buds, but flowers, spread and full-blown. All was cedar; there was no stone seen.] This relates, I suppose, to the knops arid flowers, which were all of cedar: and so doth not contradict 2 Chron. iii. 5.

1 Kings 6:19

And the oracle he prepared in the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of the Lord. In the innermost part of the house he fitted the most holy place to receive the ark of God. It seems to be called the innermost part, because it was furthest from the entrance into the building. The Jewish doctors have a conceit, that this signifies a room which he made under ground (under, the floor of the oracle), where the ark might be hid, in case the house should be lead desolate. And he made this cave in very deep and winding burrows, putting a stone upon the mouth of it, upon which the ark stood. Here Josiah they fancy hid the ark, and the pot of manna, and the rod of Aaron, and the holy oil, where they were found after their return from Babylon. For which story there is no foundation; and it contradicts what they all acknowledge, that there was no ark in the second temple. It is far more reasonable to think, that by debir, which we translate oracle, is here meant the partition which separated the, holy place from the most holy: which Solomon is here said to have prepared or established, in the midst of the house, as the words are in the Hebrew. This Gousset hath made probable: though it appears from ver. 23. (where the cherubims are said to be within the oracle), that this word signifies not only the partition which made the separation, but the place itself, which was separated thereby from the sanctuary, to be God’s dwelling-place.

1 Kings 6:20

And the oracle hu the fore-part. That is, in the innermost part beforementioned: which is als6 called the fore-part, because it was before him that’eritered into, the house. Was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof] It was a perfect square, r And he overlaid it with pure gold.] Not merely gilt it, but covered it with plates of gold: for the gold amounted to six hundred talents, as Ezra saith, 2 Chron.’ iii. 8.’ - And so covered the altar.] Of incense, which was before. it in the holy place. Which was of cedar.] Or, he covered the altar with cedar, that the gold might the better lie upon it.

1 Kings 6:21

So Solomon overlaid the house with pure gold. That is, the most holy place (called the oracle in the foregoing verse), which he made as sumptuous as he could for the Divine residence. And he made a partition by the chains of gold.] The most holy place was separated from the sanctuary by a partition: before which there was a veil also, which hung upon golden chains. Thus this passage is to be understood, for the partition itself did not depend upon’chains. And he overlaid it with gold.] That is, overlaid the partition.

1 Kings 6:22

And the ivhole house he overlaid with gold. This is meant of the sanctuary, which was overlaid with gold, as well as the oracle. Until he had finished all the house.] Some think* the very chambers, which were without the house, were likewise made thus splendid. But I sec no ground to affirm it. Also the altar, that was before the oracle, he covered ivith gold.] That is, the altar of incense; thence called the golden

1 Kings 6:24

And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, andfivt cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing to the uttermost part of the other wing was ten cubits.] Whereas those of Moses Were only so long as to cover the mercy-scat; which was but two cubits and a half in length, (Exod. xxv. 17.) Vcr. 25. And the other cherub teas ten cubits: both the clierubims were of one measure and one size.] So that they filled the whole breadth of the house, which was twenty cubits.

1 Kings 6:26

The height of one cherub was ten cubits, and so was it of the other cherub. They stood upon their feet, upon the floor of tho house, (2 Chron. iii. 13.) eacb being ten cubits high, as was said at the first, (ver. 23.) that is, half as high as the house.

1 Kings 6:27

And he set the cherubims within the inner house. With their faces towards the sanctuary: so that they looked upon him that entered into the oracle. And tltey stretched forth the wings of the cherubims.] Or rather (as in the margin) the cherubims stretched for th their wings. So tltat the wings of the one touched the one wall, arid the wings of the other touched the other wall.] That is, the south and the north walls of the house. Whereas the wings of those cherubims that Moses made stretched froni east to west: for they looked one upon the other over the mercyseat. And their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.] Where they must needs meet, being five cubits long on each side, (ver. 24.) and the house twenty cubits wide.

1 Kings 6:28

And he overlaid the cherubims with gold. So that there were four chcrubims in the most holy place of Solomon’s temple. Two lesser made by Moses of massy gold; and two larger made by Solomon, overlaid with gold. Those made by Moses were part of the mercy-scat, and inseparable from it; these of Solomon seem to have spread their wings over it, being added only for tho greater ornament and glory of God’s house. So Abarbincl observes, that Solomon did not make a new ark, Which was the only thing niadc by Moses, which Solomon did not imitate and make more glorious. But this he durst not presume to open, and to take out the book of the law, and put it into an aTk of his own making. It being unlawful for him to touch it, and therefore he let it remain, with its cover, the mercy-seat, and the cherubims belonging to it; and only placed these new cherubims over it, as a covering to it, for the greater beauty of the house.

1 Kings 6:29

And he carved all the xOalls of the house round about with carveid figures of cherubims, and palm-trees, and opeit flowers, within and without. Both in the most holy place, and in the sanctuary.

1 Kings 6:30

And the floor of the house he overlaid with gold, both within tindtvithout. This hath the same meaning with the foregoing words: that thcflooY of the whole house, both the inner and outward part, was overlaid with gold, which made it wonderfully splendid and magnificent.

1 Kings 6:31

And for the entrance of the oracle lie made doors’ of olive-tree. Or some tree that was oily. (See Dr. Lightfoot of tho Temple, p. 87.) TJie lintel and side-posts were a fifth part of the wall.] These words are very obscure; for the words of the wall are not in -the Hebrew, but only a fifth. Which may be understood to signify, that they held the proportion of a fifth part of the doors. But there arc those who think the meaning is, that this gate was the fifth in number belonging to the house. The first they make account was -that which let into the court of the people; the second, into the court of the priests; the third, was the door of the porch; the fourth, of the holy place; and this fifth of the oracle. And accordingly they interpret these words, ver. 33. the fourth.

1 Kings 6:32

The two doors also were of olive-tree. Or, as it is in the margin, the leaves of the doors: explaining what sort of doors they were, viz. folding-doors; as it follows, vcr; 34. And he carved upon them carvings of cherubims, and palmtrees, and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubims and palm-trees.] The meaning seems to be, that he laid plates of gold upon the doors of the house, and gilt the cherubims, trees, and flowers.

1 Kings 6:33

So also lie made for the doors of the temple.* That is, of the holy place. Posts of olive-tree, a fourth part of the wall.] Sec vcr. 31. Ver.‘34. And the two doors -were of fir* tree.] Or, of a kind of cedar; as was before observed.

1 Kings 6:35

And lie carved thereon cherubims, and palmtrees, and open flowers; and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved [ivori. This was said before, ver. 32. therefore repeated* I suppose, to signify that both sides of the doors were thus carved and covered with gold. I have not meddled with the mystical signification of any of these things: in which men’s fancies differ very much; though in one thing they all agree: that by the cherubims, which were so plentiful in every part of the house, the hosts of angels are represented, there attending upon the Divine Majesty, as his ministers to execute his pleasure.

1 Kings 6:36

And he built the inner court.) Which was that therein the priests officiated. With three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedarbeams. That the people who were in the outward court might sec what the priests did: the wall which separated the priests from the court of the people being but three cubits high (as most understand these words); for the cedar was not laid upon the top of the wall, but was the facing of it within side. The priests likewise from hence might speak and deliver any message from God to the, people. I conclude, this account of Solomon’s,M r orks with an observation of Abarbincl: That this Divine writer doth not mention several things belonging to the house of God, as the altar of burnt-offering, thei candlestick, the table, the faver, (though they were ten times as many as Moses made, see 2 Chron. iii.) because his intention was only to explain the great things which he did, and such as wrought in men admiration: not things in which there w r as no majesty, nor any great cost bestowed upon them. Therefore he takes notice of the great and precious stones (that is, stones of great price) wherewith he laid the foundation of the house, (ver. 17.) and the rest of the things mentioned in this chapter; which.were very chargeable, and which shewed the greatness of his mind, his wisdom, prophecy (as his words are), and riches: but other things, as the court of the temple, &c. he passes over compendiously. Put this observation is not altogether true; for though this Divine writer does not take notice of every thing made by Solomon in this chapter; yet in the next, I think, he omits nothing, save only the brazen altar of burnt-offering, which is not mentioned in this book among Solomon’s works; but taken particular notice of in 2 Chron. iv. 1. where its large dimensions are described. All other things, as the lavers, the candlestick, the table, &c.,arc here mentioned in the following chapter.

1 Kings 6:37

In the fourth year was the foundation of the house laid, in the month Zif. He repeats this (which was said ver. 1.) to subjoin in the next words, how long the house was in building. •.

1 Kings 6:38

And in the eleventh year, in the month Bui (ivhichis the eighth month). As Zif was the second. Was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it.] Every thing was completely finished, according to his design; without any need of addition or alteration. So was he seven years in building it.] And a half: but the lesser number is omitted, as is usual in these books, and in other authors: particularly half a year is omitted in the reign of David, who is only said to have reigned forty years. (See the second chapter of this book, ver. 11.) And considering the curiosity of the work, and the scarcity of men of skill, it is no wonder that it was so long before it was perfected: but rather the alacrity and diligence of Solomon (as Abarbinel notes) is to be adrhired; who finished this work with all the speed he could make; when he was almost as many more years in building his own house* which was not so costly and sumptuous. An ac T count of which is given us, in the beginning of the next chapter: where the author tells us he built two houses, and sets down the dimensions of one of them.