1The place of the temple, and the time when the building was begun. 3The dimensions and ornaments of the house. 8The dimensions and ornaments of the most holy house; the cherubims that were therein. 14The vail. 15The two great pillars.
1THEN Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount 1Moriah, where the LORD 2appeared unto David hisa father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of 3Ornan the Jebusite.
1 That is, the mount of vision, upon which Abraham, somewhat less than nine hundred years before, was commanded to offer up his son Isaac. Concerning the reason and the origin of this appellation see Gen. 22:2, 8, 14, and the annotations thereon.
2 Namely, by the prophet Gad, 2 Sam. 24:18; 1 Chron. 21:18, etc. Other, where the LORD appeared unto David his father, namely, by the fire which fell from heaven upon the altar and the offering, of which see 1 Chron. 21:26.
a 1 Chron. 21:24, 26.
3 Of whom David had bought this place to build the temple thereon, 2 Sam. 24:24; 1 Chron. 21:24, 25.
2And he beganb to build in the 4second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign.
b 1 Kings 6:1.
4 Called Zif. See of this month 1 Kings 6 on verse 1.
3¶Now these are the 5things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God. The length by cubitsc after the 6first measure was threescore cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.
5 That is, according to which Solomon has laid the foundation of the temple.
c royal cubit: ordinary cubit plus a handbreadth; 20.5 inches or 521 millimeters*
6 Some understand this of the measure that is used in holy buildings; 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, perceive the first measure to be that which was in use in Moses’ time. Some also understand the first to be meant of the first delineation or measuring of the groundwork, or place of the temple, namely, of its length and breadth, without the distinction of parts, and the addition of those courts and chambers, which were designed and made afterward. Here is no mention made of the height, because here is only spoken of the foundation. See of the height 1 Kings 6:2.
47And the porch that was in the 8front of the house, the 9length of it was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and 10the height was an hundred and twenty: and he overlaid it within with pure gold.
7 Other, And the porch that was before the length, was, etc.
8 Namely, of the house of the Lord. See 1 Kings 6 on verse 3.
9 That is, it was as long as the temple was broad.
10 Of the breadth, which was ten cubits, see 1 Kings 6:3.
5And the 11greater house he 12cieledd with fir tree, which he overlaid with fine gold, and set thereon palm trees and 13chains.
11 That is, the fore part of the temple, called the holy place; which is here said to be greater in respect of the holy of holies. See 1 Kings 6 on verse 17.
12 Namely, the floor of it, but the walls were covered over with cedar wood, 1 Kings 6:15.
d paneled, overlaid
13 Or, chain-work. Hebr. chains.
6And he garnished 14the house with 15precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of 16Parvaim.
14 Namely, the rest of the floor of the temple which was not yet covered over with fir wood.
15 As marble, or some other stone suitable to make a pavement.
16 Of Havilah, as is perceived, 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 in 1 Kings 6:20 pure gold; see the annotation there. Others understand this gold to be meant of the gold of Ophir, or Peru.
7He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubims on the walls.
8And he made 17the most holy house, the length whereof was according to the breadth of the 18house, twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits: and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred 19talents.
17 Hebr. holiness of holinesses, that is, the 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 oracle, because God uttered a voice there, and gave answer, 1 Kings 6:5, 19, 20.
18 Namely, of the greater house, a little before mentioned in verse 5.
19 Of the weight of a talent of gold, see Exod. 25 on verse 39.
9And the weight of the nails was fifty 20shekels of gold. And he overlaid the 21upper chambers with gold.
20 Of the value hereof, see Gen. 24 on verse 22.
21 These were placed on high over the porch; of which see 1 Chron. 28:11.
10And in the most holy house he made two 22cherubims of 23image work, and overlaid them with gold.
22 See Gen. 3 on verse 24; 1 Kings 6 on verse 23.
23 Hebr. a work of drawing out or lifting out, that is, according to the opinion of some, a work, which 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. Other, a work according to the shape of young men, or of image work.
11¶And the wings of the cherubims were twenty cubits long: 24one wing of the one cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was likewise five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub.
24 See the exposition hereof, 1 Kings 6 on verse 27.
12And one wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was five cubits also, joining to the wing of the other cherub.
13The wings of these cherubims spread themselves forth twenty cubits: and they stood on their feet, and their faces were 25inward.
25 Other, homeward. Compare Exod. 25:20.
14¶And he made thee26vail of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon.
e Mat. 27:51.
26 Which parted or distinguished the holy place from the most holy place. See of this Exod. 26:31; 1 Kings 6:21, and the annotations thereon.
15Also he made before the house twof pillars of 27thirty and five cubits high, and the chapiter that was on the top of each of them was five cubits.
f 1 Kings 7:15; Jer. 52:21.
27 See 1 Kings 7 on verse 15.
16And he made 28chains, as in the 29oracle, and put them on the heads of the pillars; and made an 30hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains.
28 Understand golden chains or garlands. See of those on which the vail hung, 1 Kings 6:21, and the annotation thereon.
29 See 1 Kings 6 on verse 5.
30 Namely, in each row. And since there were two rows, it is said in 1 Kings 7:20 that there were two hundred pomegranates.
17And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand 31Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz.
31 See the exposition hereof 1 Kings 7 on verse 21.