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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>F I R S T K I N G S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. VII.</FONT>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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As, in the story of David, one chapter of wars and victories follows
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another, so, in the story of Solomon, one chapter concerning his
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buildings follows another. In this chapter we have,
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I. His fitting up several buildings for himself and his own use,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:1-12">ver. 1-12</A>.
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II. His furnishing the temple which he had built for God,
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1. With two pillars,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:13-22">ver. 13-22</A>.
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2. With a molten sea,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:23-26">ver. 23-26</A>.
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3. With ten basins of brass
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:27-37">ver. 27-37</A>),
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and ten layers upon them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:38,39">ver. 38, 39</A>.
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4. With all the other utensils of the temple,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:40-50">ver. 40-50</A>.
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5. With the things that his father had dedicated,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:51">ver. 51</A>.
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The particular description of these things was not needless when it was
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written, nor is it now useless.</P>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Building of the Temple.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1004.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he
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finished all his house.
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2 He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length
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thereof <I>was</I> a hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty
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cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows of
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cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars.
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3 And <I>it was</I> covered with cedar above upon the beams, that
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<I>lay</I> on forty five pillars, fifteen <I>in</I> a row.
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4 And <I>there were</I> windows <I>in</I> three rows, and light <I>was</I>
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against light <I>in</I> three ranks.
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5 And all the doors and posts <I>were</I> square, with the windows:
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and light <I>was</I> against light <I>in</I> three ranks.
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6 And he made a porch of pillars; the length thereof <I>was</I>
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fifty cubits, and the breadth thereof thirty cubits: and the
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porch <I>was</I> before them: and the <I>other</I> pillars and the thick
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beam <I>were</I> before them.
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7 Then he made a porch for the throne where he might judge,
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<I>even</I> the porch of judgment: and <I>it was</I> covered with cedar
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from one side of the floor to the other.
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8 And his house where he dwelt <I>had</I> another court within the
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porch, <I>which</I> was of the like work. Solomon made also a house
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for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had taken <I>to wife,</I> like unto
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this porch.
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9 All these <I>were of</I> costly stones, according to the measures
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of hewed stones, sawed with saws, within and without, even from
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the foundation unto the coping, and <I>so</I> on the outside toward
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the great court.
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10 And the foundation <I>was of</I> costly stones, even great
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stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits.
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11 And above <I>were</I> costly stones, after the measures of hewed
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stones, and cedars.
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12 And the great court round about <I>was</I> with three rows of
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hewed stones, and a row of cedar beams, both for the inner court
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of the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and for the porch of the house.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Never had any man so much of the spirit of building as Solomon had, nor
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to better purpose; he began with the temple, built for God first, and
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then all his other buildings were comfortable. The surest foundations
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of lasting prosperity are those which are laid in an early piety,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+6:33">Matt. vi. 33</A>.
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1. He built a house for himself
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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<I>where he dwelt,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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His father had built a good house; but it was no reflection upon his
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father for him to build a better, in proportion to the estate wherewith
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God had blessed him. Much of the comfort of this life is connected with
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an agreeable house. He was thirteen years building this house, whereas
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he built the temple in little more than seven years; not that he was
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more exact, but less eager and intent, in building his own house than
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in building God's. He was in no haste for his own palace, but impatient
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till the temple was finished and fit for use. Thus we ought to prefer
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God's honour before our own ease and satisfaction.
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2. He built <I>the house of the forest at Lebanon</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
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supposed to be a country seat near Jerusalem, so called from the
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pleasantness of its situation and the trees that encompassed it. I
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rather incline to think that it was a house built in the forest of
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Lebanon itself, whither (though far distant from Jerusalem) Solomon
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(having so many chariots and horses, and those dispersed into
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chariot-cities, which probably were his stages) might frequently retire
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with ease. It does not appear that his throne (mentioned
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>)
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was at the house of the forest of Lebanon, and it was not at all
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improper to put his shields there as in a magazine. Express notice is
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taken of his buildings, not only in Jerusalem, but in Lebanon
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+9:19"><I>ch.</I> ix. 19</A>),
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and we read of the tower of Lebanon, which looks towards Damascus
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+7:4">Cant. vii. 4</A>),
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which probably was part of this house. A particular account is given of
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this house, that being built in Lebanon, a place famed for cedars, the
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pillars, and beams, and roof, were all cedar
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:2,3"><I>v.</I> 2, 3</A>),
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and, being designed for pleasant prospects, there were three tiers of
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windows on each side, <I>light against light</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:4,5"><I>v.</I> 4, 5</A>),
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or, as it may be read, <I>prospect against prospect.</I> Those whose
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lost i cast in the country may be well reconciled to a country life by
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this, that some of the greatest princes have thought those the most
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pleasant of their days which they have spent in their country
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retirements.
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3. He built piazzas before one of his houses, either that at Jerusalem
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or that in Lebanon, which were very famous--a porch of pillars
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>),
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perhaps for an exchange or a guard-house, or for those to walk in that
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attended him about business till they could have audience, or for state
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and magnificence. He himself speaks of Wisdom's building her house, and
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<I>hewing out her seven pillars</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+9:1">Prov. ix. 1</A>),
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for the shelter of those that, three verses before
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:34"><I>ch.</I> viii. 34</A>),
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are said to <I>watch daily at her gates and to wait at the posts of her
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doors.</I>
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4. At his house where he dwelt in Jerusalem he built a great hall, or
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porch of judgment, where was set the throne, or king's bench, for the
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trial of causes, in which he himself was appealed to (<I>placita coram
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ipso rege tenenda--causes were to be adjusted in the king's
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presence,</I>) and this was richly wainscoted with cedar, from the
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floor to the roof,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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He had there also <I>another court within the porch,</I> nearer his
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house, of similar work, for his attendants to walk in,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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5. He built a house for his wife, where she kept her court,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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It is said to be <I>like the porch,</I> because built of cedar like it,
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though not in the same form; this, no doubt, was nearer adjoining to
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his own palace, yet perhaps if it had been as near as it ought to have
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been Solomon would not have multiplied wives as he did.</P>
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<P>
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The wonderful magnificence of all these buildings is taken notice of,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:9-12"><I>v.</I> 9</A>,
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&c. All the materials were the best of their kind. The
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foundation-stones were costly for their size, four or five yards
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square, or at least so many yards long
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
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and the stones of the building were costly for the workmanship, hewn
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and sawn, and in all respects finely wrought,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:9,11"><I>v.</I> 9, 11</A>.
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The court of his own house was like that of the temple
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:12,1Ki+6:36"><I>v.</I> 12,
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compare <I>ch.</I> vi. 36</A>);
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so well did he like the model of God's courts that he made his own by
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it.</P>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>13 And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre.
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14 He <I>was</I> a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his
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father <I>was</I> a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled
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with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in
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brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work.
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15 For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high
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apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them
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about.
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16 And he made two chapiters <I>of</I> molten brass, to set upon the
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tops of the pillars: the height of the one chapiter <I>was</I> five
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cubits, and the height of the other chapiter <I>was</I> five cubits:
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17 <I>And</I> nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work, for
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the chapiters which <I>were</I> upon the top of the pillars; seven for
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the one chapiter, and seven for the other chapiter.
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18 And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the
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one network, to cover the chapiters that <I>were</I> upon the top,
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with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter.
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19 And the chapiters that <I>were</I> upon the top of the pillars
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<I>were</I> of lily work in the porch, four cubits.
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20 And the chapiters upon the two pillars <I>had pomegranates</I>
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also above, over against the belly which <I>was</I> by the network:
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and the pomegranates <I>were</I> two hundred in rows round about upon
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the other chapiter.
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21 And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he
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set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and
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he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz.
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22 And upon the top of the pillars <I>was</I> lily work: so was the
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work of the pillars finished.
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23 And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to
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the other: <I>it was</I> round all about, and his height <I>was</I> five
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cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.
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24 And under the brim of it round about <I>there were</I> knops
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compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about:
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the knops <I>were</I> cast in two rows, when it was cast.
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25 It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north,
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and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the
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south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea <I>was set</I>
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above upon them, and all their hinder parts <I>were</I> inward.
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26 And it <I>was</I> a hand breadth thick, and the brim thereof was
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wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it
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contained two thousand baths.
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27 And he made ten bases of brass; four cubits <I>was</I> the length
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of one base, and four cubits the breadth thereof, and three
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cubits the height of it.
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28 And the work of the bases <I>was</I> on this <I>manner:</I> they had
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borders, and the borders <I>were</I> between the ledges:
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29 And on the borders that <I>were</I> between the ledges <I>were</I>
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lions, oxen, and cherubims: and upon the ledges <I>there was</I> a
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base above: and beneath the lions and oxen <I>were</I> certain
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additions made of thin work.
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30 And every base had four brasen wheels, and plates of brass:
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and the four corners thereof had undersetters: under the laver
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<I>were</I> undersetters molten, at the side of every addition.
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31 And the mouth of it within the chapiter and above <I>was</I> a
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cubit: but the mouth thereof <I>was</I> round <I>after</I> the work of the
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base, a cubit and a half: and also upon the mouth of it <I>were</I>
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gravings with their borders, foursquare, not round.
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32 And under the borders <I>were</I> four wheels; and the axletrees
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of the wheels <I>were joined</I> to the base: and the height of a
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wheel <I>was</I> a cubit and half a cubit.
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33 And the work of the wheels <I>was</I> like the work of a chariot
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wheel: their axletrees, and their naves, and their felloes, and
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their spokes, <I>were</I> all molten.
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34 And <I>there were</I> four undersetters to the four corners of
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one base: <I>and</I> the undersetters <I>were</I> of the very base itself.
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35 And in the top of the base <I>was there</I> a round compass of
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half a cubit high: and on the top of the base the ledges thereof
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and the borders thereof <I>were</I> of the same.
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36 For on the plates of the ledges thereof, and on the borders
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thereof, he graved cherubims, lions, and palm trees, according to
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the proportion of every one, and additions round about.
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37 After this <I>manner</I> he made the ten bases: all of them had
|
|
one casting, one measure, <I>and</I> one size.
|
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38 Then made he ten lavers of brass: one laver contained forty
|
|
baths: <I>and</I> every laver was four cubits: <I>and</I> upon every one of
|
|
the ten bases one laver.
|
|
39 And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and
|
|
five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the
|
|
right side of the house eastward over against the south.
|
|
40 And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, and the basons.
|
|
So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he made king
|
|
Solomon for the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>:
|
|
41 The two pillars, and the <I>two</I> bowls of the chapiters that
|
|
<I>were</I> on the top of the two pillars; and the two networks, to
|
|
cover the two bowls of the chapiters which <I>were</I> upon the top of
|
|
the pillars;
|
|
42 And four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, <I>even</I>
|
|
two rows of pomegranates for one network, to cover the two bowls
|
|
of the chapiters that <I>were</I> upon the pillars;
|
|
43 And the ten bases, and ten lavers on the bases;
|
|
44 And one sea, and twelve oxen under the sea;
|
|
45 And the pots, and the shovels, and the basons: and all these
|
|
vessels, which Hiram made to king Solomon for the house of the
|
|
L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, <I>were of</I> bright brass.
|
|
46 In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay
|
|
ground between Succoth and Zarthan.
|
|
47 And Solomon left all the vessels <I>unweighed,</I> because they
|
|
were exceeding many: neither was the weight of the brass found
|
|
out.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here an account of the brass-work about the temple. There was
|
|
no iron about the temple, though we find David preparing for the temple
|
|
<I>iron for things of iron,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+29:2">1 Chron. xxix. 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
What those things were we are not told, but some of the things of brass
|
|
are here described and the rest mentioned.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The brasier whom Solomon employed to preside in this part of the
|
|
work was Hiram, or Huram
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+4:11">2 Chron. iv. 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
who was by his mother's side an Israelite, of the tribe of Naphtali, by
|
|
his father's side a man of Tyre,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
If he had the ingenuity of a Tyrian, and the affection of an Israelite
|
|
to the house of God (the head of a Tyrian and the heart of an
|
|
Israelite), it was happy that the blood of the two nations mixed in
|
|
him, for thereby he was qualified for the work to which he was
|
|
designed. As the tabernacle was built with the wealth of Egypt, so the
|
|
temple with the wit of Tyre. God will serve himself by the common gifts
|
|
of the children of men.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The brass he made use of was the best he could get. All the brazen
|
|
vessels were of <I>bright brass</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:45"><I>v.</I> 45</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>good</I> brass, so the Chaldee, that which was strongest and looked
|
|
finest. God, who is the best, must be served and honoured with the
|
|
best.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The place where all the brazen vessels were cast was the plain of
|
|
Jordan, because the ground there was stiff and clayey, fit to make
|
|
moulds of for the casting of the brass
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:46"><I>v.</I> 46</A>),
|
|
|
|
and Solomon would not have this dirty smoky work done in or near
|
|
Jerusalem.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. The quantity was not accounted for. The vessels were
|
|
<I>unnumbered</I> (so it may be read,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:47"><I>v.</I> 47</A>,
|
|
|
|
as well as <I>unweighed</I>), <I>because they were exceedingly
|
|
numerous,</I> and it would have been an endless thing to keep the
|
|
account of them; <I>neither was the weight of the brass,</I> when it
|
|
was delivered to the workmen, searched or enquired into; so honest were
|
|
the workmen, and such great plenty of brass they had, that there was no
|
|
danger of wanting. We must ascribe it to Solomon's care that he
|
|
provided so much, not to his carelessness that he kept no account of
|
|
it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. Some particulars of the brass-work are described.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Two brazen pillars, which were set up <I>in the porch of the
|
|
temple</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>),
|
|
|
|
whether under the cover of the porch or in the open air is not certain;
|
|
it was between the temple and the court of the priests. These pillars
|
|
were neither to hang gates upon nor to rest any building upon, but
|
|
purely for ornament and significancy.
|
|
|
|
(1.) What an ornament they were we may gather from the account here
|
|
given of the curious work that was about them, chequer-work,
|
|
chain-work, net-work, lily-work, and pomegranates in rows, and all of
|
|
bright brass, and framed no doubt according to the best rules of
|
|
proportion, to please the eye.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Their significancy is intimated in the names given them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Jachin</I>--<I>he will establish;</I> and <I>Boaz</I>--<I>in him is
|
|
strength.</I> Some think they were intended for memorials of the pillar
|
|
of cloud and fire which led Israel through the wilderness: I rather
|
|
think them designed for memorandums to the priests and others that came
|
|
to worship at God's door,
|
|
|
|
[1.] To depend upon God only, and not upon any sufficiency of their
|
|
own, for strength and establishment in all their religious exercises.
|
|
When we come to wait upon God, and find our hearts wandering and
|
|
unfixed, then by faith let us fetch in help from heaven:
|
|
<I>Jachin</I>--<I>God will fix this roving mind. It is a good thing
|
|
that the heart be established with grace.</I> We find ourselves weak
|
|
and unable for holy duties, but this is our encouragement:
|
|
<I>Boaz</I>--<I>in him is our strength,</I> who works in us both to
|
|
will and to do. <I>I will go in the strength of the Lord God.</I>
|
|
Spiritual strength and stability are to be had at the door of God's
|
|
temple, where we must wait for the gifts of grace in the use of the
|
|
means of grace.
|
|
|
|
[2.] It was a memorandum to them of the strength and establishment of
|
|
the temple of God among them. Let them keep close to God and duty, and
|
|
they should never lose their dignities and privileges, but the grant
|
|
should be confirmed and perpetuated to them. The gospel church is what
|
|
God will establish, what he will strengthen, and what the gates of hell
|
|
can never prevail against. But, with respect to this temple, when it
|
|
was destroyed particular notice was taken of the destroying of these
|
|
pillars
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+25:13,17">2 Kings xxv. 13, 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
which had been the tokens of its establishment, and would have been so
|
|
if they had not forsaken God.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. A brazen sea, a very large vessel, above five yards in diameter, and
|
|
which contained above 500 barrels of water for the priests' use, in
|
|
washing themselves and the sacrifices, and keeping the courts of the
|
|
temple clean,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:23-26"><I>v.</I> 23</A>,
|
|
|
|
&c. It stood raised upon the figures of twelve
|
|
oxen in brass, so high that either they must have stairs to climb up to
|
|
it or cocks at the bottom to draw water from it. The Gibeonites, or
|
|
Nethinim, who were to draw water for the house of God, had the care of
|
|
filling it. Some think Solomon made the images of oxen to support this
|
|
great cistern in contempt of the golden calf which Israel had
|
|
worshipped, that (as bishop Patrick expresses it) the people might see
|
|
there was nothing worthy of adoration in those figures; they were
|
|
fitter to make posts of than to make gods of. Yet this prevailed not to
|
|
prevent Jerusalem's setting up the calves for deities. In the court of
|
|
the tabernacle there was only a laver of brass provided to wash in, but
|
|
in the court of the temple a sea of brass, intimating that by the
|
|
gospel of Christ much fuller preparation is made for our cleansing than
|
|
was by the law of Moses. That had a laver, this has a sea, <I>a
|
|
fountain opened,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+13:1">Zech. xiii. 1</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. Ten bases, or stands, or settles, of brass, on which were put ten
|
|
lavers, to be filled with water for the service of the temple, because
|
|
there would not be room at the molten sea for all that had occasion to
|
|
wash there. The bases on which the lavers were fixed are very largely
|
|
described here,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:27-30"><I>v.</I> 27</A>,
|
|
|
|
&c. They were curiously adorned and set upon
|
|
wheels, that the lavers might be removed as there was occasion; but
|
|
ordinarily they stood in two rows, five on one side of the court and
|
|
five on the other,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:39"><I>v.</I> 39</A>.
|
|
|
|
Each laver contained forty baths, that is, about ten barrels,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:38"><I>v.</I> 38</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those must be very <I>clean that bear the vessels of the Lord.</I>
|
|
Spiritual priests and spiritual sacrifices must be washed in the laver
|
|
of Christ's blood and of regeneration. We must wash often, for we daily
|
|
contract pollution, must cleanse our hands and purify our hearts.
|
|
Plentiful provision is made for our cleansing; so that if we have our
|
|
lot for ever among the unclean it will be our own fault.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. Besides these, there was a vast number of brass pots made to boil
|
|
the flesh of the peace-offerings in, which the priests and offerers
|
|
were to feast upon before the Lord (see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+2:14">1 Sam. ii. 14</A>);
|
|
|
|
also shovels, wherewith they took out the ashes of the altar. Some
|
|
think the word signifies <I>flesh-hooks,</I> with which they took meat
|
|
out of the pot. The basins also were made of brass, to receive the
|
|
blood of the sacrifices. These are put for all the utensils of the
|
|
brazen altar,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+38:3">Exod. xxxviii. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
While they were about it they made abundance of them, that they might
|
|
have a good stock by them when those that were first in use wore out
|
|
and went to decay. Thus Solomon, having wherewithal to do so, provided
|
|
for posterity.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki7_48"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki7_49"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki7_50"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki7_51"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>48 And Solomon made all the vessels that <I>pertained</I> unto the
|
|
house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: the altar of gold, and the table of gold,
|
|
whereupon the showbread <I>was,</I>
|
|
49 And the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right <I>side,</I>
|
|
and five on the left, before the oracle, with the flowers, and
|
|
the lamps, and the tongs <I>of</I> gold,
|
|
50 And the bowls, and the snuffers, and the basons, and the
|
|
spoons, and the censers <I>of</I> pure gold; and the hinges <I>of</I> gold,
|
|
<I>both</I> for the doors of the inner house, the most holy <I>place,
|
|
and</I> for the doors of the house, <I>to wit,</I> of the temple.
|
|
51 So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the
|
|
house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>. And Solomon brought in the things which David
|
|
his father had dedicated; <I>even</I> the silver, and the gold, and
|
|
the vessels, did he put among the treasures of the house of the
|
|
L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. The making of the gold work of the temple, which it seems was done
|
|
last, for with it the work of the house of God ended. All within doors
|
|
was gold, and all made new (except the ark, with its mercy-seat and
|
|
cherubim), the old being either melted down or laid by--the golden
|
|
altar, table, and candlestick, with all their appurtenances. The altar
|
|
of incense was still <I>one,</I> for Christ and his intercession are
|
|
so: but he made ten golden tables,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+4:8">2 Chron. iv. 8</A>
|
|
|
|
(though here mention is made of that one only <I>on which the
|
|
show-bread was,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:48"><I>v.</I> 48</A>,
|
|
|
|
which we may suppose was larger than the rest and to which the rest
|
|
were as side-boards), and <I>ten golden candlesticks</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:49"><I>v.</I> 49</A>),
|
|
|
|
intimating the much greater plenty both of spiritual food and heavenly
|
|
light which the gospel blesses us with than the law of Moses did our
|
|
could afford. Even the hinges of the door were of gold
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:50"><I>v.</I> 50</A>),
|
|
|
|
that every thing might be alike magnificent, and bespeak Solomon's
|
|
generosity. Some suggest that every thing was made thus splendid in
|
|
God's temple to keep the people from idolatry, for none of the
|
|
idol-temples were so rich and fine as this: but how little the
|
|
expedient availed the event showed.
|
|
|
|
2. The bringing in of the dedicated things, which David had devoted to
|
|
the honour of God,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:51"><I>v.</I> 51</A>.
|
|
|
|
What was not expended in the building and furniture was laid up in the
|
|
treasury, for repairs, exigencies, and the constant charge of the
|
|
temple-service. What the parents have dedicated to God the children
|
|
ought by no means to alienate or recall, but should cheerfully devote
|
|
what was intended for pious and charitable uses, that they may, with
|
|
their estates, inherit the blessing.</P>
|
|
|
|
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