285 lines
22 KiB
XML
285 lines
22 KiB
XML
<div2 id="iKi.vi" n="vi" next="iKi.vii" prev="iKi.v" progress="52.81%" title="Chapter V">
|
||
<h2 id="iKi.vi-p0.1">F I R S T K I N G S</h2>
|
||
<h3 id="iKi.vi-p0.2">CHAP. V.</h3>
|
||
<p class="intro" id="iKi.vi-p1">The great work which Solomon was raised up to do
|
||
was the building of the temple; his wealth and wisdom were given
|
||
him to qualify him for that. In this, especially, he was to be a
|
||
type of Christ, for "he shall build the temple of the Lord,"
|
||
<scripRef id="iKi.vi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Zech.6.12" parsed="|Zech|6|12|0|0" passage="Zec 6:12">Zech. vi. 12</scripRef>. In this
|
||
chapter we have an account of the preparations he made for that and
|
||
his other buildings. Gold and silver his good father had prepared
|
||
in abundance, but timber and stones he must get ready; and about
|
||
these we have him treating with Hiram king of Tyre. I. Hiram
|
||
congratulated him on his accession to the throne, <scripRef id="iKi.vi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5.1" parsed="|1Kgs|5|1|0|0" passage="1Ki 5:1">ver. 1</scripRef>. II. Solomon signified to him
|
||
his design to build the temple and desired him to furnish him with
|
||
workmen, <scripRef id="iKi.vi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5.2-1Kgs.5.6" parsed="|1Kgs|5|2|5|6" passage="1Ki 5:2-6">ver. 2-6</scripRef>. III.
|
||
Hiram agreed to do it, <scripRef id="iKi.vi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5.7-1Kgs.5.9" parsed="|1Kgs|5|7|5|9" passage="1Ki 5:7-9">ver.
|
||
7-9</scripRef>. IV. Solomon's work was accordingly well done and
|
||
Hiram's workmen were well paid, <scripRef id="iKi.vi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5.10-1Kgs.5.18" parsed="|1Kgs|5|10|5|18" passage="1Ki 5:10-18">ver. 10-18</scripRef>.</p>
|
||
<scripCom id="iKi.vi-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5" parsed="|1Kgs|5|0|0|0" passage="1Ki 5" type="Commentary"/>
|
||
<scripCom id="iKi.vi-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5.1-1Kgs.5.9" parsed="|1Kgs|5|1|5|9" passage="1Ki 5:1-9" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Kgs.5.1-1Kgs.5.9">
|
||
<h4 id="iKi.vi-p1.8">Solomon's Agreement with
|
||
Hiram. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.vi-p1.9">b. c.</span> 1014.)</h4>
|
||
<p class="passage" id="iKi.vi-p2">1 And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto
|
||
Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the
|
||
room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David. 2
|
||
And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, 3 Thou knowest how that
|
||
David my father could not build an house unto the name of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.vi-p2.1">Lord</span> his God for the wars which were about
|
||
him on every side, until the <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.vi-p2.2">Lord</span>
|
||
put them under the soles of his feet. 4 But now the <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.vi-p2.3">Lord</span> my God hath given me rest on every
|
||
side, <i>so that there is</i> neither adversary nor evil occurrent.
|
||
5 And, behold, I purpose to build a house unto the name of
|
||
the <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.vi-p2.4">Lord</span> my God, as the <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.vi-p2.5">Lord</span> spake unto David my father, saying, Thy
|
||
son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build a
|
||
house unto my name. 6 Now therefore command thou that they
|
||
hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with
|
||
thy servants: and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants
|
||
according to all that thou shalt appoint: for thou knowest that
|
||
<i>there is</i> not among us any that can skill to hew timber like
|
||
unto the Sidonians. 7 And it came to pass, when Hiram heard
|
||
the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed
|
||
<i>be</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.vi-p2.6">Lord</span> this day, which
|
||
hath given unto David a wise son over this great people. 8
|
||
And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things
|
||
which thou sentest to me for: <i>and</i> I will do all thy desire
|
||
concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir. 9
|
||
My servants shall bring <i>them</i> down from Lebanon unto the sea:
|
||
and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou
|
||
shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and
|
||
thou shalt receive <i>them:</i> and thou shalt accomplish my
|
||
desire, in giving food for my household.</p>
|
||
<p class="indent" id="iKi.vi-p3">We have here an account of the amicable
|
||
correspondence between Solomon and Hiram. Tyre was a famous trading
|
||
city, that lay close upon the sea, in the border of Israel; its
|
||
inhabitants (as should seem) were none of the devoted nations, nor
|
||
ever at enmity with Israel, and therefore David never offered to
|
||
destroy them, but lived in friendship with them. It is here said of
|
||
Hiram their king that he was <i>ever a lover of David;</i> and we
|
||
have reason to think he was a worshipper of the true God, and had
|
||
himself renounced, though he could not reform, the idolatry of his
|
||
city. David's character will win the affections even of those that
|
||
are without. Here is,</p>
|
||
<p class="indent" id="iKi.vi-p4">I. Hiram's embassy of compliment to
|
||
Solomon, <scripRef id="iKi.vi-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5.1" parsed="|1Kgs|5|1|0|0" passage="1Ki 5:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. He
|
||
sent, as is usual among princes, to condole with him on the death
|
||
of David, and to renew his alliances with him upon his succession
|
||
to the government. It is good keeping up friendship and communion
|
||
with the families in which religion is uppermost.</p>
|
||
<p class="indent" id="iKi.vi-p5">II. Solomon's embassy of business to Hiram,
|
||
sent, it is likely, by messengers of his own. In wealth, honour,
|
||
and power, Hiram was very much inferior to Solomon, yet Solomon had
|
||
occasion to be beholden to him and begged his favour. Let us never
|
||
look with disdain on those below us, because we know not how soon
|
||
we may need them. Solomon, in his letter to Hiram, acquaints
|
||
him,</p>
|
||
<p class="indent" id="iKi.vi-p6">1. With his design to build a temple to the
|
||
honour of God. Some think that temples among the heathen took their
|
||
first rise and copy from the tabernacle which Moses erected in the
|
||
wilderness, and that there were none before that; however there
|
||
were many houses built in honour of the false gods before this was
|
||
built in honour of the God of Israel, so little is external
|
||
splendour a mark of the true church. Solomon tells Hiram, who was
|
||
himself no stranger to the affair, (1.) That David's wars were an
|
||
obstruction to him, that he could not build this temple, though he
|
||
designed it, <scripRef id="iKi.vi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5.3" parsed="|1Kgs|5|3|0|0" passage="1Ki 5:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>.
|
||
They took up much of his time, and thoughts, and cares, were a
|
||
constant expense to him and a constant employment of his subjects;
|
||
so that he could not do it so well as it must be done, and
|
||
therefore, it not being essential to religion, he must leave it to
|
||
be done by his successor. See what need we have to pray that God
|
||
will <i>give peace in our time,</i> because, in time or war, the
|
||
building of the gospel temple commonly goes on slowly. (2.) That
|
||
peace gave him an opportunity to build it, and therefore he
|
||
resolved to set about it immediately: <i>God has given me rest</i>
|
||
both at home and abroad, and there is no adversary (<scripRef id="iKi.vi-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5.4" parsed="|1Kgs|5|4|0|0" passage="1Ki 5:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>), no <i>Satan</i> (so the
|
||
word is), no instrument of Satan to oppose it, or to divert us from
|
||
it. Satan does all he can to hinder temple work (<scripRef id="iKi.vi-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.2.18 Bible:Zech.3.1" parsed="|1Thess|2|18|0|0;|Zech|3|1|0|0" passage="1Th 2:18,Zec 3:1">1 Thess. ii. 18; Zech. iii. 1</scripRef>), but
|
||
when he is bound (<scripRef id="iKi.vi-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.20.2" parsed="|Rev|20|2|0|0" passage="Re 20:2">Rev. xx.
|
||
2</scripRef>) we should be busy. When there is <i>no evil
|
||
occurrent,</i> then let us be vigorous and zealous in that which is
|
||
good and get it forward. When the churches have rest let them be
|
||
edified, <scripRef id="iKi.vi-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:Acts.9.31" parsed="|Acts|9|31|0|0" passage="Ac 9:31">Acts ix. 31</scripRef>. Days
|
||
of peace and prosperity present us with a fair gale, which we must
|
||
account for if we improve not. As God's providence excited Solomon
|
||
to think of building the temple, by giving him wealth and leisure,
|
||
so his promise encouraged him. God had told David that his <i>son
|
||
should build him a house,</i> <scripRef id="iKi.vi-p6.6" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5.5" parsed="|1Kgs|5|5|0|0" passage="1Ki 5:5"><i>v.</i>
|
||
5</scripRef>. He will take it as a pleasure to be thus employed,
|
||
and will not lose the honour designed him by that promise. It may
|
||
stir us up much to good undertakings to be assured of good success
|
||
in them. Let God's promise quicken our endeavours.</p>
|
||
<p class="indent" id="iKi.vi-p7">2. With his desire that Hiram would assist
|
||
him herein. Lebanon was the place whence timber must be had, a
|
||
noble forest in the north of Canaan, particularly expressed in the
|
||
grant of that land to Israel—<i>all Lebanon,</i> <scripRef id="iKi.vi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.13.5" parsed="|Josh|13|5|0|0" passage="Jos 13:5">Josh. xiii. 5</scripRef>. So that Solomon was
|
||
proprietor of all its productions. The <i>cedars of Lebanon</i> are
|
||
spoken of as, in a special manner, the <i>planting of the Lord</i>
|
||
(<scripRef id="iKi.vi-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.109.16" parsed="|Ps|109|16|0|0" passage="Ps 109:16">Ps. cix. 16</scripRef>), being
|
||
designed for Israel's use and particularly for temple service. But
|
||
Solomon owned that though the trees were his the Israelites had not
|
||
<i>skill to hew timber</i> like the Sidonians, who were Hiram's
|
||
subjects. Canaan was <i>a land of wheat and barley</i> (<scripRef id="iKi.vi-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.8.8" parsed="|Deut|8|8|0|0" passage="De 8:8">Deut. viii. 8</scripRef>), which employed Israel
|
||
in the affairs of husbandry, so that they were not at all versed in
|
||
manufactures: in them the Sidonians excelled. Israel, in the things
|
||
of God, are a <i>wise and understanding people;</i> and yet, in
|
||
curious arts, inferior to their neighbours. True piety is a much
|
||
more valuable gift of heaven than the highest degree of ingenuity.
|
||
Better be an Israelite skilful in the law than a Sidonian skilful
|
||
to hew timber. But, the case being thus, Solomon courts Hiram to
|
||
send him workmen, and promises (<scripRef id="iKi.vi-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5.6" parsed="|1Kgs|5|6|0|0" passage="1Ki 5:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>) both to <i>assist</i> them (<i>my
|
||
servants shall be with thy servants,</i> to work under them), and
|
||
to <i>pay</i> them (<i>unto thee will I give hire for thy
|
||
servants</i>); for the labourer, even in church-work, though it be
|
||
indeed its own wages, <i>is worthy of his hire,</i> The evangelical
|
||
prophet, foretelling the glory of the church in the days of the
|
||
Messiah, seems to allude to this story, <scripRef id="iKi.vi-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.1-Isa.60.22" parsed="|Isa|60|1|60|22" passage="Isa 60:1-22">Isa. 60</scripRef>, where he prophesies, (1.) That
|
||
the <i>sons of strangers</i> (such were the Tyrians and Sidonians)
|
||
shall <i>build up the wall</i> of the gospel temple, <scripRef id="iKi.vi-p7.6" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.10" parsed="|Isa|60|10|0|0" passage="Isa 60:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. Ministers were raised
|
||
up among the Gentiles for the edifying of the body of Christ. (2.)
|
||
That <i>the glory of Lebanon</i> shall be brought to it to
|
||
<i>beautify it,</i> <scripRef id="iKi.vi-p7.7" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.13" parsed="|Isa|60|13|0|0" passage="Isa 60:13"><i>v.</i>
|
||
13</scripRef>. All external endowments and advantages shall be made
|
||
serviceable to the interests of Christ's kingdom.</p>
|
||
<p class="indent" id="iKi.vi-p8">3. Hiram's reception of, and return to,
|
||
this message.</p>
|
||
<p class="indent" id="iKi.vi-p9">(1.) He received it with great satisfaction
|
||
to himself: He <i>rejoiced greatly</i> (<scripRef id="iKi.vi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5.7" parsed="|1Kgs|5|7|0|0" passage="1Ki 5:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>) that Solomon trod in his father's
|
||
steps, and carried on his designs, and was likely to be so great a
|
||
blessing to his kingdom. In this Hiram's generous spirit rejoiced,
|
||
and not merely in the prospect he had of making an advantage to
|
||
himself by Solomon's employing him. What he had the pleasure of he
|
||
gave God the praise of: <i>Blessed be the Lord, who has given to
|
||
David</i> (who was himself a wise man) <i>a wise son</i> to rule
|
||
<i>over this great people.</i> See here, [1.] With what pleasure
|
||
Hiram speaks of Solomon's wisdom and the extent of his dominion.
|
||
Let us learn not to envy others either those secular advantages or
|
||
those endowments of the mind wherein they excel us. What a great
|
||
comfort it is to those that wish well to the Israel of God to see
|
||
religion and wisdom kept up in families from one generation to
|
||
another, especially in great families and those that have great
|
||
influence on others! where it is so, God must have the glory of it.
|
||
If to godly parents be given a godly seed (<scripRef id="iKi.vi-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Mal.2.15" parsed="|Mal|2|15|0|0" passage="Mal 2:15">Mal. ii. 15</scripRef>), it is a token for good, and a
|
||
happy indication that the entail of the blessing shall not be cut
|
||
off.</p>
|
||
<p class="indent" id="iKi.vi-p10">(2.) He answered it with great satisfaction
|
||
to Solomon, granting him what he desired, and showing himself very
|
||
forward to assist him in this great and good work to which he was
|
||
laying his hand. We have here his articles of agreement with
|
||
Solomon concerning this affair, in which we may observe Hiram's
|
||
prudence. [1.] He deliberated upon the proposal, before he returned
|
||
an answer (<scripRef id="iKi.vi-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5.8" parsed="|1Kgs|5|8|0|0" passage="1Ki 5:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>):
|
||
<i>I have considered the things.</i> It is common for those that
|
||
make bargains rashly afterwards to wish them unmade again. The
|
||
virtuous woman <i>considers a field</i> and then <i>buys it,</i>
|
||
<scripRef id="iKi.vi-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Prov.31.16" parsed="|Prov|31|16|0|0" passage="Pr 31:16">Prov. xxxi. 16</scripRef>. Those do
|
||
not lose time who take time to consider. [2.] He descended to
|
||
particulars in the articles, that there might be no
|
||
misunderstanding afterwards, to occasion a quarrel. Solomon had
|
||
spoken of hewing the trees (<scripRef id="iKi.vi-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5.6" parsed="|1Kgs|5|6|0|0" passage="1Ki 5:6"><i>v.</i>
|
||
6</scripRef>), and Hiram agrees to what he desired concerning that
|
||
(<scripRef id="iKi.vi-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5.8" parsed="|1Kgs|5|8|0|0" passage="1Ki 5:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>); but nothing
|
||
had been said concerning carriage, and this matter therefore must
|
||
be settled. Land-carriage would be very troublesome and chargeable;
|
||
he therefore undertakes to bring all the timber down from Lebanon
|
||
by sea, a coasting voyage. Conveyance by water is a great
|
||
convenience to trade, for which God is to have praise, who taught
|
||
man that discretion. Observe what a definite bargain Hiram made.
|
||
Solomon must appoint the place where the timber shall be delivered,
|
||
and thither Hiram will undertake to bring it and be responsible for
|
||
its safety. As the Sidonians excelled the Israelites in
|
||
timber-work, so they did in sailing; for Tyre and Sidon were
|
||
<i>situate at the entry of the sea</i> (<scripRef id="iKi.vi-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.27.3" parsed="|Ezek|27|3|0|0" passage="Eze 27:3">Ezek. xxvii. 3</scripRef>): they therefore were fittest
|
||
to take care of the water-carriage. <i>Tractant fabrilia
|
||
fabri—Every artist has his trade assigned.</i> And, [3.] If Hiram
|
||
undertake for the work, and <i>do all Solomon's desire concerning
|
||
the timber</i> (<scripRef id="iKi.vi-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5.8" parsed="|1Kgs|5|8|0|0" passage="1Ki 5:8"><i>v.</i>
|
||
8</scripRef>), he justly expects that Solomon shall undertake for
|
||
the wages: "<i>Thou shalt accomplish my desire in giving food for
|
||
my household</i> (<scripRef id="iKi.vi-p10.7" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5.9" parsed="|1Kgs|5|9|0|0" passage="1Ki 5:9"><i>v.</i>
|
||
9</scripRef>), not only for the workmen, but for my own family." If
|
||
Tyre supply Israel with craftsmen, Israel will supply Tyre with
|
||
corn, <scripRef id="iKi.vi-p10.8" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.27.17" parsed="|Ezek|27|17|0|0" passage="Eze 27:17">Ezek. xxvii. 17</scripRef>.
|
||
Thus, by the wise disposal of Providence, one country has need of
|
||
another and is benefited by another, that there may be mutual
|
||
correspondence and dependence, to the glory of God our common
|
||
parent.</p>
|
||
</div><scripCom id="iKi.vi-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5.10-1Kgs.5.18" parsed="|1Kgs|5|10|5|18" passage="1Ki 5:10-18" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Kgs.5.10-1Kgs.5.18">
|
||
<p class="passage" id="iKi.vi-p11">10 So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir
|
||
trees <i>according to</i> all his desire. 11 And Solomon
|
||
gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat <i>for</i> food to his
|
||
household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to
|
||
Hiram year by year. 12 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.vi-p11.1">Lord</span> gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him:
|
||
and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a
|
||
league together. 13 And king Solomon raised a levy out of
|
||
all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men. 14 And he
|
||
sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: a month they
|
||
were in Lebanon, <i>and</i> two months at home: and Adoniram
|
||
<i>was</i> over the levy. 15 And Solomon had threescore and
|
||
ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in
|
||
the mountains; 16 Beside the chief of Solomon's officers
|
||
which <i>were</i> over the work, three thousand and three hundred,
|
||
which ruled over the people that wrought in the work. 17 And
|
||
the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones,
|
||
<i>and</i> hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.
|
||
18 And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew <i>them,</i>
|
||
and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build
|
||
the house.</p>
|
||
<p class="indent" id="iKi.vi-p12">Here is, I. The performance of the
|
||
agreement between Solomon and Hiram. Each of the parties made good
|
||
his engagement. 1. Hiram delivered Solomon the timber, according to
|
||
his bargain, <scripRef id="iKi.vi-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5.10" parsed="|1Kgs|5|10|0|0" passage="1Ki 5:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>.
|
||
The trees were Solomon's, but perhaps—<i>Materiam superabat
|
||
opus—The workmanship was of more value than the article.</i> Hiram
|
||
is therefore said to deliver the trees. 2. Solomon conveyed to
|
||
Hiram the corn which he had promised him, <scripRef id="iKi.vi-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5.11" parsed="|1Kgs|5|11|0|0" passage="1Ki 5:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. Thus let justice be followed
|
||
(as the expression is, <scripRef id="iKi.vi-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.16.20" parsed="|Deut|16|20|0|0" passage="De 16:20">Deut. xvi.
|
||
20</scripRef>), justice on both sides, in every bargain.</p>
|
||
<p class="indent" id="iKi.vi-p13">II. The confirmation of the friendship that
|
||
was between them hereby. <i>God gave Solomon wisdom</i> (<scripRef id="iKi.vi-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5.12" parsed="|1Kgs|5|12|0|0" passage="1Ki 5:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>), which was more and
|
||
better than any thing Hiram did or could give him; but this made
|
||
Hiram love him, and enabled Solomon to improve his kindness, so
|
||
that they were both willing to ripen their mutual love into a
|
||
mutual league, that it might be lasting. It is wisdom to strengthen
|
||
our friendship with those whom we find to be honest and fair, lest
|
||
new friends prove not so firm and so kind as old ones.</p>
|
||
<p class="indent" id="iKi.vi-p14">III. The labourers whom Solomon employed in
|
||
preparing materials for the temple. 1. Some were Israelites, who
|
||
were employed in the more easy and honourable part of the work,
|
||
felling trees and helping to square them, in conjunction with
|
||
Hiram's servants; for this he appointed 30,000, but employed only
|
||
10,000 at a time, so that for one month's work they had two months'
|
||
vacation, both for rest and for the despatch of their own affairs
|
||
at home, <scripRef id="iKi.vi-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5.13-1Kgs.5.14" parsed="|1Kgs|5|13|5|14" passage="1Ki 5:13,14"><i>v.</i> 13,
|
||
14</scripRef>. It was temple service, yet Solomon takes care that
|
||
they shall not be over-worked. Great men ought to consider that
|
||
their servants must rest as well as they. 2. Others were captives
|
||
of other nations, who were to bear burdens and to hew stone
|
||
(<scripRef id="iKi.vi-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5.15" parsed="|1Kgs|5|15|0|0" passage="1Ki 5:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>), and we read
|
||
not that these had their resting times as the other had, for they
|
||
were doomed to servitude. 3. There were some employed as directors
|
||
and overseers (<scripRef id="iKi.vi-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5.16" parsed="|1Kgs|5|16|0|0" passage="1Ki 5:16"><i>v.</i>
|
||
16</scripRef>), 3300 that ruled over the people, and they were as
|
||
necessary and useful in their place as the labourers in theirs;
|
||
here were many hands and many eyes employed, for preparation was
|
||
now to be made, not only for the temple, but for all the rest of
|
||
Solomon's buildings, at Jerusalem, and here in the forest of
|
||
Lebanon, and in other places of his dominion, of which see
|
||
<scripRef id="iKi.vi-p14.4" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.9.17-1Kgs.9.19" parsed="|1Kgs|9|17|9|19" passage="1Ki 9:17-19"><i>ch.</i> ix. 17-19</scripRef>. He
|
||
speaks of the vastness of his undertakings (<scripRef id="iKi.vi-p14.5" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.2.4" parsed="|Eccl|2|4|0|0" passage="Ec 2:4">Eccl. ii. 4</scripRef>, <i>I made me great works</i>),
|
||
which required this vast number of workmen.</p>
|
||
<p class="indent" id="iKi.vi-p15">IV. The laying of the foundation of the
|
||
temple; for that is the building his heart is chiefly upon, and
|
||
therefore he begins with that, <scripRef id="iKi.vi-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.5.17-1Kgs.5.18" parsed="|1Kgs|5|17|5|18" passage="1Ki 5:17,18"><i>v.</i> 17, 18</scripRef>. It should seem, Solomon
|
||
was himself present, and president, at the founding of the temple,
|
||
and that the first stone (as has been usual in famous buildings)
|
||
was laid with some solemnity. <i>Solomon commanded and they brought
|
||
costly stones</i> for the foundation; he would do every thing like
|
||
himself, generously, and therefore would have some of the costliest
|
||
stones laid, or buried rather, in the foundation, though, being out
|
||
of sight, worse might have served. Christ, who is laid for a
|
||
foundation, is an elect and precious stone (<scripRef id="iKi.vi-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.28.16" parsed="|Isa|28|16|0|0" passage="Isa 28:16">Isa. xxviii. 16</scripRef>), and the foundations of the
|
||
church are said to be <i>laid with sapphires,</i> <scripRef id="iKi.vi-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.54.11" parsed="|Isa|54|11|0|0" passage="Isa 54:11">Isa. liv. 11</scripRef>, compare <scripRef id="iKi.vi-p15.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.21.19" parsed="|Rev|21|19|0|0" passage="Re 21:19">Rev. xxi. 19</scripRef>. That sincerity which is
|
||
our gospel perfection obliges us to lay our foundation firm and to
|
||
bestow most pains on that part of our religion which lies out of
|
||
the sight of men.</p>
|
||
</div></div2> |