1 Kings 7 The building of Solomon’s house: the house of Lebanon, 1 Kings 7:1–5. The porch of pillars, and of judgment: the house of Pharaoh’s daughter, 1 Kings 7:6–12. Hiram’s work of the two pillars of brass, 1 Kings 7:13–22. Of the molten, sea, 1 Kings 7:23–26.

His own house; the royal palace for himself, and for his successors. Or, his houses, the singular number being put for the plural. Thirteen years; almost double time to that in which the temple was built; because neither were the materials so far provided and prepared for this as they were for the…

The house of the forest of Lebanon; a house so called, either, first, Because it was built in the mountain and forest of Lebanon, for his recreation there in summer time.

So in this second story were only three rows of pillars, which was sufficient for the ornament of the second, and for the support of the third story.

Light was against light; one directly opposite or answering to the other, as is usual in well-contrived buildings. In three ranks; one exactly under another.

He speaks either, first, of the same lights mentioned 1 Kings 7:4, it being the manner of the Hebrews to repeat the same things; or rather, of the smaller windows or lights, which were over the several doors, as the manner of many buildings is.

A porch of pillars, i.e. supported by divers pillars, for the more magnificent entrance into the house; upon which also it is thought there were other rooms built, as in the house. The porch, now mentioned, which is said to be before them, i.e.

He made a porch; another porch or distinct room without the house. For the throne, described 1 Kings 10:18. Where he might judge the people that brought their causes before him. From one side of the floor to the other, i.e. the whole floor; or, from floor to floor, i.e.

Within the porch, i.e. between the porch and the house, called therefore the middle court, 2 Kings 20:4. A house for Pharaoh’s daughter; of which see 1 Kings 3:1, 2 Chron. 8:11.

All these buildings described here and in the former chapter. According to the measures of hewed stones; either first, which were hewed in such measure and proportion, as exact workmen used to hew ordinary stones; or, secondly, as large as common hewed stones, which are oft very great.

Stones of ten cubits; not square, which would have been both unnecessary, and unportable, and unmanageable; but of solid measure, by which stones and timber are usually measured; and so they were only two cubits square, but there were twenty solid cubits contained in them.

Above, i.e. in the roof or upper part; for this is opposed to the foundation. Costly stones and cedars, intermixed here the one, and there the other.

The great court, to wit, of Solomon’s dwelling-house, mentioned 1 Kings 7:8. A row of cedar beams; of which See Poole “1 Kings 6:36”. Both for the inner court of the house of the Lord, or, as (Heb. and, which is oft used in that sense for a particle of comparison or similitude, as Prov.

A widow’s son of the tribe of Naphtali. Object. She was one of the daughters of Dan, 2 Chron. 2:14. Answ. So indeed Hiram king of Tyre there affirms; but he might easily mistake or be misinformed, especially being no Israelite, nor a careful observer of the distinction of tribes.

He cast two pillars of brass; of which see 2 Kings 25:16–17, Jer. 52:21. Of eighteen cubits high apiece. Object. They are said to be thirty-five cubits high, 2 Chron. 3:15. Answ. That place manifestly speaks of both the pillars; and this of each, or one pillar, as it is in the Hebrew. Object.

The height of the one chapiter was five cubits. Object. It is but three cubits in 2 Kings 25:17. Answ. The word chapiter is taken diversely, as hundreds of other words are; either more largely for the whole, so it is five cubits; or more strictly, either for the pommels, as they are called, 2…

For the chapiters, which those nets and wreaths did encompass, either covering, and as it were receiving and holding, the pomegranates, or being mixed with them.

And he made; or, so he made, or framed, or perfected. Two rows; either of pomegranates, by comparing this with 1 Kings 7:20, or of some other curious work.

Of lily work; made like the leaves of lilies, or such flowers. In the porch; or, as in the porch, i.e. such work as there was in the porch of the temple, in which these pillars were set, 1 Kings 7:21, that so the work of the tops of these pillars might agree with that in the top of the porch.

Over against the belly; so he calls the middle part of the chapiter, and that which jetted furthest out. The pomegranates were two hundred: these pomegranates are variously accounted in Scriptures. They are said to be ninety and six on a side of a pillar, i.e.

In the porch of the temple; where they were placed for mere ornament and magnificence, for they supported nothing. Jachin signifies he, i.e. God, shall establish, to wit, his temple, and church, and people; and Boaz signifies in it, or rather, in him, (to answer the he in the former name,) is…

He made a molten sea; he melted the brass, and cast it into the form of a great vessel, for its vastness called a sea, which name is given by the Hebrews to all great collections of waters.

Knops; or, carved or molten figures; for learned Hebricians note, that this word signifies the figures or pictures of all sorts, as flowers, beasts, &c. This general word is particularly explained of oxen, 2 Chron.

It stood upon twelve oxen, of solid brass, which was necessary to bear so great a weight. It is probably conceived that the water was by cocks drawn out of the mouths of these oxen.

Which amounts to five hundred barrels, each bath containing about eight gallons; the bath being a measure of the same bigness with an ephah, Ezek. 45:11. Object. This sea is said to contain three thousand baths, 2 Chron. 4:5. Answ.

He made ten bases; upon which stood the ten lavers mentioned below, 1 Kings 7:38, in which they washed the parts of the sacrifices, 2 Chron. 4:6.

They had borders; broad brims, possibly for the more secure holding of the lavers.

A base; so he calls the uppermost part of the base; for though it was above, yet it was a base to the laver, which stood upon it. Certain additions; either as bases for the feet of the said lions and oxen, or only as further ornaments.

Four brazen wheels; whereby the bases and lavers might be carried from place to place, as need required. Undersetters, Heb. shoulders; fitly so called, because they strongly supported the lavers, that they should not fall from their bases when the bases were removed together with the lavers.

The mouth of it; so he calls that part in the top of the base which was left hollow, that the foot of the laver might be let into it, and fastened in it. Within the chapiter, i.e.

And cast together with the bases.

Not only of the same matter, but of the same piece, being cast with it.

According to the proportion, or, empty place, i.e. according to the bigness of the spaces which were left empty for them, implying that they were smaller than those above mentioned.

Forty baths; ten barrels; of which See Poole “1 Kings 7:26”.

On the right side, i.e. in the south side, as is expressed in the end of the verse, and as the right side is used above, 1 Kings 6:8, Ps. 89:12. On the right side of the house; not within the house, but in the priests’ court, where they washed either their hands or feet, or the parts of the…

The pots, to seethe those parts of the sacrifices which the priests or officers were to eat. To these flesh-hooks are added, 2 Chron. 4:16.

In the clay ground, or, in thick clay; fat, and tough, and tenacious, and therefore fittest to make moulds of all sorts, into which the melted brass was to be poured.

Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because the weighing of them was very troublesome, and to no purpose.

All the vessels that pertained unto the house of the Lord; such as God by the mouth of Moses had commanded to be made for his house and service, and such as Moses had made; only these were larger, and richer, and more, according to the difference of the temple and tabernacle, and Solomon’s vast…

The candlesticks; which were ten, according to the number of the tables; whereas Moses made but one; whereby might be signified the. progress of the light of sacred truth, which was now grown clearer than it was in Moses’s time, and should shine brighter and brighter until the perfect day of gospel…

The silver and the gold; either, first, all of it; and so Solomon built it wholly at his own charge; or, secondly, so much of it its was left. The vessels; those which David had dedicated, and with them the altar of Moses, and some other of the old utensils which were now laid aside, far better…