1 Kings 7

Vcr. 5. And all the doors and posts were square ivith the windows. The figures of the doors and of the windows were one and tho same; viz. square. And light ivas against light in three ranks.] This is meant of the smaller windows that were over the doors; which, it is likely, were also square. Ver. C. And he made a porch of pillar^; the length thereof was fifty cubits, anil the breadth thereof thirty cubits J] This was for his guard, and for people to walk in who came about business (as well as for state and ornament), and therefore was covered to keep them dry in rainy weather. And the porch teas before them.’] That is, before tho pillars of the great house, before spoken of. And the other pillars and tlie thick beams were before them.] That is, they were directly opppsite one to the other. Or, if we follow the marginal translation (according to them), the sense is, that it had its pillars and beams just like the great house; and, it is likely, rooms built upon those beams for his servants.

1 Kings 7:1

mStJT Solomonwas building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house. He did not begin $o build his own house till he had finished the house of God; that nothing might hinder that holy work. This appears from ix. 10. where we read he was twenty years in building both.

1 Kings 7:2

And he built also the house of the forest of Lebanon. The forenamed house was in Jerusalem: near to which he built another, in a cool, shady mountain; which made it resemble Mount Lebanon. And here he dwelt in summer, as in the other in winter. But it is not likely it was in. Mount Lebanon; for that was in the very extremity of his kingdom, where he would not have set his throne; (as he seems to have done in this hQuse, ver. 7.) for thg,t was too far distant from the usual place of his residence. And for the same reason he would not have there placed the golden shields that he made; as \ye find he did, x. 17. It was therefore near to Jerusalem, (appears from xiv. 25, 26.) and called by the name of the Forest of Lebanon: just as many pleasant and delightful places in that country were called Carmcl. Because it was in a lofty place like Lebanon; and the trees which grew there made it very shady and cool. • The length thereof was a hundred cubits J] Which was not longer than the house of God, if we take in all the courts belonging to it. And the height thereof thirty cubits.] The height of the first story was so many cubits: upon which, in all likelihood, there was another of the like height. Upon four rows of cedar pillars.] Which supported the building; and made four walks under it. With cedar-beams upon the pillars.’] Upon which was laid the floor of the next story.

1 Kings 7:3

And it was covered with cedar above upon tlte beams, that lay on forty-five pillars, fifteen in a row. So there were but three rows of pillars in the second story, which were sufficient for the support of the roof. And we rriay guess from hence that there were threescore pillars below.

1 Kings 7:4

And there were tvindows in three rows, and light was against light. Directly opposite one against the other, which we call thorough lights. In three ranks. ~] Or, on three sides of the house, the south, the north, and the cast; that it might have the freer air. On the west side was the porch, and so no windows were there. Others interpret it, the windows were exactly " one under another in three rows.

1 Kings 7:7

Tlienhe made a porch for the throne where he might judge, even the porch of judgment. So it was called; because here he sat to hear and determine the causes that people brought before him. With whom he would not have his house cumbered; but made this porch without the house, where he dispatched such business. And it teas covered with cedar from one side to the other.] In the Hebrew T,/rom^oor to floor: that is, from tho ground to the roof of the porch.

1 Kings 7:8

And his house where he dwelt had another court within the porch, which was of the like work. There was a court between the porch and the house, which may be called the inner court; and then another beyond the porch, which may be called the outward. So that it stood between two courts, which were both alike. Solomon also built a house for Pharaohs daughter.] Near, I suppose, to his own house; she being a person of the highest quality,* and his first wife. (Which he had taken to wife).] See iii. 1. Like unto this porch.] Not for figure, or bigness; but for the materials of which it was built -

1 Kings 7:9

All these were of costly stones, according to the measure of hewed stones, sawed with saws, within and without. All the forementioned buildings were polished on both sides: so that they appeared both within and without; that is, both on the inside which was towards the palace of Solomon, and on the outside which was towards the great court. Even from the foundation unto the coping.] From the bottom of the building to the top of it. And so on the outside toiuards the great court.] Not only on the front of the house, but on the back side of it, towards the great court.

1 Kings 7:10

And the foundation was of costly stones, even great stones; often cubits, and stones of eight cubits. By costly stories (mentioned here and in the foregoing and following verses) arc not to be understood precious stones; but stones that being bigger and firmer, and better polished than others, were of greater price: as Bochartus explains it, both here and v. 17. Vcr. 11. And above were costly stones (after the measure of hewed stones), and cedars.] -Tho roof was finished after the same manner; with stones and cedar-beams.

1 Kings 7:12

And the great court rovnd about. viz. Of Solomon’s palace. Was with three rows of hetoed stone, and a row of cedarbeams?] Just like the inner court of the house of the Lord; (vi. 36.) and so the following w T ords are to be understood. Both for the inner court of the house of the Lord.] Or rather, as for the inner court of the Lord’s house; for so the particle vau sometimes signifies. And for the porch of the house.] Of Solomon’s own house.

1 Kings 7:13

And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre. For though ho was an Israelite by birth, yet ho dwelt at Tyre: and it is likely had the privileges of that city, and so was one of king Hiram’s subjects. And therefore in 2 Chron. ii. 13. that king saith ho sent him to Solonion: that is, granted his request, that this man might come and serve him. And accordingly Solomon sent for him, and fetched him to Jerusalem.'

1 Kings 7:14

He was a widow’s son of the tribe of Naphtali. She herself was of tho tribe of Dan, (2 Chron. ii. 14.) but her first husband was of the tribe of Naphtali; by whom she had this son. And his father was’ a man of Tyre.] When she was a widow she married a man of Tyre; who is called Hiram’s father, because he bred him up, and was the husband of his mother. A worker in brass.] And in stone, and purple, and a great many other things, as we read in the place abovementioned But brass is only mentioned here; because he is going to speak only of such works. And he was filled with wisdom and understanding, mid cunning to work all work in brass.] He had an excellent genius to this work; and besides the instructions of his father, it is not improbable that God endued him with great skill in contriving, and also working all manner of work of this sort. Andhe came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work.] He presently found him to be an excellent artist; and so employed him in all his business.'

1 Kings 7:15

And he cast two pillars of bi-ass, of eighteen cubits high a-piece. In 2 Chron. iii. 15. it is said, he made two pillars of thirty-five cubits high: which doth not contradict these words, it being evident that there" he speaks of both the pillars (as Abarbinel observes), which were thirty-five cubits. But here he speaks of them singly, which were each but eighteen cubits. Both of them, indeed, made thirty-six cubits; but one cubit must be allowed for the basis of each; wiiich is not considered in the book of Chronicles. This seems a better solution of this small difficulty than that of I/Empcreur, in his preface to Codex Middoth, where he saith, one of these wTiters speaks of the common cubit, and the other of the sacred, which" was double to the common. Each pillar, therefore, he thinks, was eighteen sacred cubits, but thirty-five common; to w T hichone common cubit must be added for the basis. But this distinction of common and sacred cubits is not allowed by every body.’ And a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about.] So they were four cubits in thickness. (See Dr. Lightfoot, of the Temple, p. 61 — G3. and L’Empereur’s preface to Benjamin Tudelensis.) Eupolemus, a* heathen writer, takes notice of these pillars, and says they w T ere as M+yn tized by Microsoft ® CHAP. VII.] THE FIRST BOOK OF THE KINGS. high as the temple. (Eusebius, lib. ix. Preepar. Evang. cap. 34.)

1 Kings 7:16

And he made tivo chapiters of molten brass, to s$t upon the top of the pillars: the height of the one chapiter teas five cubits, and the Height of the other was five cubits. This account of them Ezra also gives, 2 Chron. iii. 15. Yet in 2 Kings xxv. 17. they are said to be but three cubits. But it is to be observed, that it immediately follows in that place, there was a wreathen work, and pomegranates upon the chapiters; which in all made five cubits; and are all here comprehended in the word chapiter.

1 Kings 7:17

And nets of checker-work, and wreaths of chainwork, for the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars.~. This curious work encompassed the chapiter, and contained, as it were, the pomegranates afterward mentioned; which might be seen through these nets. Seven for the one chapiter’, and seven for the other chapiter.] Some think that each chapiter was adorned with leaves, and flowers, and fruit, in four orders; which were bound about with three chains. But it is very hard to explain this work, which is so very briefly described. (See- Dr. Lightfoot, in the forenamed place.)

1 Kings 7:18

And he made the pillars. That is, he finished them in this manner. (See the same author, p. 63.) And two rows round about upon the one net-work, to cover the chapiters that were upon the top with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter,] There were two rows of pomegranates; which took up one of the five cubits, whereof the chapiter consisted.

1 Kings 7:19

And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily-work. In imitation of lilies. - > - In the porch.] Such as were in the porch of the temple. Four cubits.] The other four cubits were of lily-work, except the middle.

1 Kings 7:20

And the chapiters upon the tzvo pillars had pomegranates also above, over against the belly which was by the net-ivork. This is very obscure, because shortly delivered. But the meaning seems to be, that the lily-work being above and below, at the top and the bottom of the chapiters, the middle cubit (called the belly) was all covered with pomegranates. And the pomegranates were two hundred, round about upon the other chapiter*] In the book of Jeremiah, lii. 23. it is said that there were ninety-six on a side; but all of them, upon the net-work, were a hundred in all; which Abarbinel thus explains: The pomegranates on the network were towards the four quarters of the w T orId, being twenty-four towards each quarter; which in all made ninety-six. And in each angle there being one great pomegranate, they made up the number a hundred.

1 Kings 7:21

And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name of itJachin; and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz.] It is generally thought, that these pillaTS were made and erected only for ornament; because they supported no building. But Abarbincl’s conjecture is not improbable, that Solomon had respect to the pillar of the cloud, and the pillar of fire, that went before them and conducted them in the wilderness, and was the token of the Divine providence over them. These he set at the porch or entrance of the temple (Jachin representing the pillar of the cloud, and Boaz the pillar of fire), praying VOL.,,. and hoping that the Divine Light, and the cloud of his glory would vouchsafe to enter in there; and by them God and his providence would. dwell among them in this housed

1 Kings 7:22

And upon the top of the pillars was lily-work. This seems to have been said before, (ver N 19.) but the next words, So was the work of the pillars finished, shew that this was “a new addition, to crown all, after the pillars were erected, as Abarbinel observes.

1 Kings 7:23

And he made a molten sea. The Hebrews call any great collection of waters by the name of a sea. So the lake of Gennesaret, and others, are called in the gospel; and here it signifies a great vessel, containing abundance of water. Which served for the washing of the sacrifices, and of the priests and Levites 3 who washed their hands and their feet; not in it, but with water drawn out of it by pipes or conduits. Ten cubits from the one brim to the other: and it was round about.] Of a circular figure. And its height was five cubits.] Beside the height of the oxen whereon it stood. And a line of thirty cubits did compass it about.] For the diameter being ten cubits, this must be the compass of it. This sea was filled with water by the Gibeonites; who were afterward called Nethinims…; *

1 Kings 7:24

And under the brim round about there were knops compassing it. -They were in the shape of an egg; on the top of every one of which was an ox head; from whose mouth water gushed out: so Abarbinel gathers from 2 Chron. ii. 3. where they are called oxen, from the figure’ of their head. Ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about.] So there were three hundred of these knops in all; the sea being thirty cubits round… •* •• The knops were cast in two rows when it was cast.] They were not carved afterward, but cast at first, when the sea was molten. And there being two rovys of them, Abarbinel thence concludes there were six hundred in all, one under another. From whence water might flow out of the sea, to wash a great number at a time..1

1 Kings 7:25

And t it stood upon twelve oxen. Oxen were used not only for drawing the plough, but for carrying burdens upon their backs; as. they are still employed among the Indians. Whence Solomon placed the figure of these creatures under his molten, sea, as the supporters of it; There was so little danger of their being, worshipped, that the meanness of the use to which they served, had made some believe that Solomon made them in contempt of the golden calf, which the Israelites worshipped in the wilderness; and placed them under the sea, that the people might see there was nothing worthy of adoration in these figures; Josophus, indeed, thinks Solomon offended in making these images: but this is confuted by the glory of the Lord filling the temple after it was finished. Which shewed that he approved of all this work; which it is likely was done by his in-* struction 1 but some great men think Josephus is in the right. TJiree looking towards the north, and three looking towards the west, and three looking towards the south, and three looking towards the east.] This seems to import that this sea was square (the oxen looking towards the four quar– ters of the world), whereas it is said before, (ver. 25.) that it was round all about. And so it was (as the Jewish interpreters, particularly Abarbinel and Ralba#, expound y Microsoft® 3G A COMMENTARY UPON [chap, VII. this) in the brim of it, it was perfectly jound, and So it continued in the two upper cubits: but below the brim (in the three lower cubits) it was square. And, as Kimchi thinks, in the two upper cubits there were no knops;.but in the three lower, just above the oxen that supported the,sca. i. And the sea tvas set above upon thtm, and all their hinder parts were inward.’] Under the sea, that they might not be seen. Vcr. 20. And it was a hand-breadth thick, and the brim thereof tvas wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies.] In the shape of lilies: that is, not plain and straight, but bending downwards, after the manner of those flowers. (See Dr. Lightfoot, of the Temple, p. 230, &c.) It contained two thousand baths,] A bath, being. of the same bigness with an ephah, (Ezck. xlv. 11.) is thought to contain eight gallons: so that this sea contained five hundred barrels; that is, it had thus much water constantly iii it. But if it had been filled up to the brim, it would have held three thousand baths, as we read 2 Chron. iv. 5. which quantity they were not wont to put into it, lest with the wiud it should run over. Or, as the most learned of the Jews reconcile these two places, these words in the book of the Kings are to be understood of moist things; but those in the Chronicles of dry; which being heaped up, it would contain a third part more than of things liquid. With which some compare those words of our Saviour, (Luke vi. 38.) " Good measure heaped up, shaken together, and running over/'

1 Kings 7:27

And he made ten bases of brass. Tables or stands upon which the lavcrs (mentioned below, ver. 38.) were to rest. (Sec Dr. Lightfoot, of the.Temple, p. 228, &c.) Four cubits was the length of one base, and four cubits the breadth, and three cubits the height thereof] They were made so broad that the lavcrs might stand more firmly, being each four cubits; but not so high, that the priests might more easily reach to wash the sacrifices in them, (2 Chron. iv. 6.).'

1 Kings 7:28

And the work of the bases was in this manner: they had borders. To keep up the lavcrs from falling. And the borders were between the ledges.] It is not easy to apprehend what he means by ledges; because, as P. Martyr observcs,we have no such work in these days. Vcr. 29. And on the borders that wer s c between the ledges were lions, and oxen, and cherubims.] Oxen are called cherubims in Ezek. x. 14. Therefore the meaning here is, that, besides lions and oxen, there were other cherubims (the figures of eagles perhaps) which adorned these borders. And upon the ledges there was a base above.] This is so darkly expressed, that I do not apprehend the meaning; unless it be this, that the upper ledge. was over the heads of these animals; and the under ledge was that upon which their feet rested, as the next words signify. And beneath the lions and oxen were certain additions of thin work.] Under these figures there was some other work added (which was not cast together with them), and drawn very thin. Vcr. 30. And every base had four brazen wheels.] They run upon wheels like a coach, or chariot; so might easily be removed from place to place, as the convenience of the. priests required. And plates of brass.] Between the wheels and the bases. (See Dr. Lightfoot in the same book, p. 22G.) And the four corners thereof] For they were square, (ver. 27.) Had under setters.] In the Hebrew, shoulders. Which were fitly so called, because, as burdens are bprnc upon men’s shoulders, so were the lavers upon these; which supported them, when set upon the bases, aud kept them from falling when they run upon (he wheels. Under the laver were undersetters molten, at the side of every addition.] These were molten with the bases, when they. wcrci cast.

1 Kings 7:31

And the mouth of it. The bases seem to have been hollow at the top; that the feet of the lavers might enter in, and be fastened there: and this he calls the mouth of it. Within the chapiter and above.] Nothing of a chapiter is mentioned until now: therefore it is hard to know what is meant by it. Many take it for a smaller basis, rising out of tho greater; in. which was the mouth, or hollow place before spoken of. Was a cubit.] In height. See vcr. 35. where it is said, on the top of the base was a round compass half a cubit high. Which seems to bo meant of this chapiter, which rose bxit half a cubit above the base, the other half being below it. But the mouth thereof was round, after the work of the base, a cubit and a half] This was the widencss of it. And also upon, the mouth of it.ivere gravings with their borders, four-square,?iot round.] Though this hollow place, called the mouth, was round within; yet on the outside it was square, and had borders which were engraved.

1 Kings 7:32

And under the borders were four ivheeh; and tlie axle-trees of the wheels were joined to the base.; and the height ofawJieel tvas a cubit and half a cubit. So that the bottom of the base was not far from the ground.

1 Kings 7:33

And the work of the wheels tvas like the work of a chariot-wheel. Only the hinder-wheels and the fore-w T hcels were all of a height. Tlieir axle-trees, and their naves, and their felloes, and their spokes, were allmolten.] Cast together with the wheels.

1 Kings 7:34

And there were four undersetters to the four corners of one base: and the undersetters were of the very base itself. He mentioned the undersetters before, (ver. 30.) Now he relates the number of them; and that they were of the same piece with the base itself; being cast together with it, and not made afterward.

1 Kings 7:35

And on the top of the base there was around compass of half a cuiit high. See ver. 31. And on the top of the base, the ledges thereof, and the borders thereof, were the same.] Cast altogether at the same time.

1 Kings 7:36

For on the plates of the ledges thereof, and on the borders thereof, he graved cherubims, lions, and palm-trees, according to the proportion of every one, and additions round about. In the Hebrew, According to the nakednessot every one: which seems to signify that these figures were as big as the void spaces in the plates would admit.

1 Kings 7:37

After this manner he made the ten bases; all of them had one casting, one measure, and one size. They were cast in the same. mould; and all of the same bigness and shape.

1 Kings 7:38

Then made he ten lavers of brass. Which were to stand upon tho bases forcraentioned. One laver cgntained forty baths.] Sec ver. 2G. From Microsoft ® CHAP. VII.] THE FIRST BOOK OF THE KINGS. whence it will appear that each of these lavers contained ten barrels of water. And every laver xvas four cubits.]. Some think that they were of this height. But these words rather relate to the diameter of them, which was four cubits: and then their compass was twelve cubits. Upon every one of the ten bases one laver.] The bases being exactly fitted to receive them: for they were each four cubits in length and breadth/(ver. 27.)

1 Kings 7:39

And Tie put five on the right side. That is, on the south side, (see vi. 8.) Of the house.] That is, of the court where the priests ministered. And five on the left side of the house.] That is, on the north side of that court… And he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward, over against the south.] That is, in the south-east: so that as soon as the priests entered (which they did at the east gate)* they might have water to wash their hands and their feet..i,r<?r ),o

1 Kings 7:40

And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, and the basons: so Hiram made an end of all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of the Lord. These seem to have been the last things that he made: and so he finished all the work, whfch he recapitulates, with the addition of some other not mentioned before. Shovels, for instance, or besoms, wherewith* they cleansed the altar from the ashes, that they might not hinder the fire from burning: and basons, wherein the, priests received the blood of the sacrifices that were offered. H

1 Kings 7:41

The two pillars, and two bowls of the chapiters that were on the top of the two pillars; and the two net* works, to cover the bowls qf the chapiters that were on the top of the pillars.,.,’, «

1 Kings 7:42

And four Hundred pomegranat&s for the two networks, even tivo rows of pomegranates for one net-work, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters that were upon the pillars. Being to sum up all the works he had finished, he now adds the number of pomegranates that were upon the pillars: which had not been mentioned before.

1 Kings 7:43

And ten bases, and ten lavers upon th& bases. And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained unto the house of the Lord. He made them all new, except the ark, the mercy-seat, and the cherubims annexed to it. The altar of gold.] That is, the altar’ of incense, which stood in the holy place before the oracle. And the table of gold, whereon the shew-bread was.] That is, all the table-work: there beingnoless than ten, (2 Chron. iv.‘7, 8.) Upon one of which, in all probability, which was more noble than the Test, the shew-bread was placed. Unless we suppose the table which Moses made was preserved for that use; and Solomon added the rest for the greater ornament of the place. And (as Josephus writes) the gold and silver basons were set upon them; together with a vast number of phials.

1 Kings 7:44

And one sea, and twelve oxen under the sea.. "

1 Kings 7:45

And the pots. Pots or caldrons were those vessels, wherein they boiled those sacrifices which were divided between the priest and the people that offered them: that is, peace-offerings, that they might eat them before the Lord, and feast with him upon his own meat. Shovels, and basons.] They are mentioned before, but here I suppose have a different signification (though in the Hebrew the words are the same) from what they had in ver. 40. And the first word signifies flesh-hooks, wherewith they took the meat out of the pots: and the second the platters, or dishes, into which it was put, to be set before them. And all these vessels, which Hiram made to king Solomon for the house of the Lord, were of bright brass.] Or polished brass: or, the purest and finest that could be got. The Syriac and Arabic translators render it, Corinthian brass. But it is not credible, that it was known in the days of Solomon. Ver. 4G. In the plain of Jordan did the king cast tltem, in tlie clay-ground between Succoth and Zarthan.] In the He- Digitized b\ brew the words for clay-ground arc, in the thickness of the ground. That is, the earth was stiff and glutinous, and upon that account more fit to make moulds of all kinds. And in a plain country, such moulds were more easily fixed than on the sides of hills, or steep plac.es.

1 Kings 7:47

And Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because they were exceeding many: neither was the weight, of the brass found out. In the Hebrew, it was not searched, or inquired into; because it would have been very troublesome to take an exact account of it.

1 Kings 7:49

And the catidlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle. He made ten candlesticks instead of one which was in the tabernacle of Moses: because the place was more capacious; and the.vessels were not to be removed from place to place as they were before: and therefore there might well be moreof them.’ • Tlie flowers.] Which were wrought upon the candlesticks. The lamps, and the tongs, of gold.] Wherewith to take coals from the altar of burnt-offering. * c.”

1 Kings 7:50

Avid. the bowls, and the snuffers, and. (he basons, and the spoons, and the censers, of pure gold. The use of these is visible. The first being to keep oil for the lamps; the next to trim them: the basons (which were a hundred, as we learn from the book of Chronicles) were to receive the water of sprinkling, and the blood of the sacrifices which was sometimes brought intothe most holy place: the spoons served to take up the oil: the. censers were for offering incense; though some translate this word dish-pans, wherein the incense was kept. There Were other censers of silver, which received the coals from the altar upon all days but the tenth of Tisri (which was the great day of expiation), when the golden censer received them, and by it the most holy place was incensed. On other days it was not employed, but at the altar of incense; where the coals were poured’out of the silver censer (which received them from the altar of burnt-offering) into the golden, to burn the incense: as the Talmudists say, both in Codex Joma and Tamid. Where they also say, that the foregoing word capoth, which we translate spoons, signifies a vessel which contained the incense that was to be offered upon the coals in the golden censer. Sec Braunius, in his Sclecta 1 Sacra, lib. ii. cap. 5. where he hath learnedly explained both these words, caph and machtah, which we translate spoons and censers, where he hath demonstrated the latter signifies the instrument that received the coals from the altar of burntoffering, and the former that which had; the incense in it to be poured upon them. /Microsoft® 8G3 A COMMENTARY UPON [chap. viii. And the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the house, to wit, of the temple.’] •This shews the vast riches of Solomon, and his great piety: which made him spare no cost to beautify the house of God, and the meanest thing belonging to it. Whereby the people, who were much taken with outward splendour, wore preserved from idolatry: for they could go no where and see a place comparable to this of Solomon; there being then nothing in the whole world like to it for riches and glory. Vcr. 51, So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the Lord. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated; even the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, did he put among the treasures of the house of the Lord.] I observed upon vi. 1. that Abarbinel thinks he would use none of the things that were dedicated by his father; but do all at his own cost and chargesl Yet others think these words mean no more, but that all the remaining silver and gold, which David left, and was not spent in this work, Solomon would not employ to his own uses; but religiously preserved in the treasury of the temple. Where the altar of burnt-offering, which Moses made, and some other things, which were now of no use (far better and larger being made), were also laid up, as the tabernacle itself was. For the temple being built, there was no further occasion for the tabernacle; and yet it was fit to preserve it, as a place that had been holy to the Lord.