1 Kings 5:17

_AND THE KING COMMANDED, AND THEY BROUGHT GREAT STONES, COSTLY STONES, AND HEWED STONES, TO LAY THE FOUNDATION OF THE HOUSE._ Brought great stones. The stone of Lebanon is 'hard, calcareous, whitish, and sonorous, like freestone' (Shaw). The same white and beautiful stone is to be gotten in every part of Syria and Palestine. HEWED STONES - or neatly polished, as the Hebrew word signifies (Exodus 20:25). Both Jewish and Tyrian builders were employed in hewing these great stones....

10-18 The temple was chiefly built by the riches and labour of Gentiles, which typified their being called into the church. Solomon commanded, and they brought costly stones for the foundation. Christ, who is laid for a Foundation, is a chosen and precious Stone. We should lay our foundation firm, and bestow most pains on that part of our religion which lies out of the sight of men. And happy those who, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, for a habitation of God through the Spirit. Who among us will build in the house of the Lord?...

Verse 1 Kings 5:17. _GREAT STONES_] Stones of very large dimensions. _COSTLY STONES_] Stones that cost much labour and time to cut them out of the rock. _HEWED STONES_] Everywhere squared and polished....

Some of these “great, hewed (no and) stones,” are probably still to be seen in the place where they were set by Solomon’s builders, at the southwestern angle of the wall of the Haram area in the modern Jerusalem. The largest found so far is 38 ft. 9 in. long, and weighs about 100 tons....

EXPOSITION SOLOMON AND HIRAM—The somewhat detailed description which we have had in 1 Kings 4:1. of Solomon's pomp and power and wisdom, is followed in 1 Kings 5:1. sqq. by an account of what, in Jewish eyes, was the great undertaking of his reign, and, indeed, the great glory of Hebrew history—the erection and adornment of the Temple. And as this was largely due to the assistance he received both in the shape of materials and labourers—from the Tyrian king, we have in the first place an account of his alliance with Hiram. 1 KINGS 5:1 AND HIRAM (In...

AND THE KING COMMANDED, AND THEY BROUGHT GREAT STONES,.... Not in quality, but in quantity, large stones, fit to lay in the foundation; strong, and durable against all the injuries of time, as Josephus says i: COSTLY STONES; not what are commonly called precious stones, as gems, pearls, c. but stones of value, as marble, porphyry, c. [AND] HEWED STONES not rough as they were taken out of the quarry, but hewed, and made smooth: TO LAY THE FOUNDATION OF THE HOUSE which, though out of sight, was to be laid with goodly stones for the magnificence of the building; so the church of Christ, its foundation is said to be laid even with sapphires and other precious stones, see Isaiah 54:11. i Antiqu. l. 8. c. 3. sect. 2....

4. THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE AND ITS DEDICATION CHAPTER 5 Hiram King of Tyre _ 1. Hiram sends servants to Solomon (1 Kings 5:1)_ 2. The message of Solomon (1 Kings 5:2) 3. Hiram's answer and league with Solomon (1 Kings 5:7) 4. Solomon's workmen (1 Kings 5:13) In connection with 1 Kings 5-8 the Chapter s in 2 Chronicles should be read which give a more extensive account (2 Chronicles 2-5:11). Solomon now begins the great work, which may be called his life work, the building of the house of the LORD. Hiram heard of Solomon's enthronement, and sent messengers to Solomon. This Gentile king was a lover

SOLOMON'S ALLIANCE WITH HIRAM. PREPARATION FOR THE TEMPLE. This chapter has a few Deuteronomic additions (1 Kings 5:3 and 1 Kings 5:12). In 1 Kings 5:4 there is a truly Deuteronomic touch: the one sanctuary could not come into existence till God had given the people rest (2 Samuel 7:11; Deuteronomy 12:9; Deuteronomy 25:19). The alliance was of mutual importance to the Israelites and the Tyrians. The corn-growing districts of N. Palestine were the granary

BROUGHT. quarried. GREAT STONES. These stones illustrate the work of conversion in the sinner. Hewed out of nature's dark quarry (Isaiah 51:1; Isaiah 51:2), out and carved for. place in the temple of glory (Ephesians 2:20)....

_they brought_ The verb is used most frequently of pulling up tent pegs when removing a tent. And it is hardly found with the mere sense of -bringing" or -bearing." Therefore in this passage and in Ecclesiastes 10:9, the R.V. has given it (with the authority of the Targum) the meaning -to hew out." In the latter passage this rendering is certainly more appropriate and in harmony with the parallel clause, -Whoso _heweth out_stones shall be hurt therewith, and he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby." Here too, the sense -they HEWED OUT great stones" fits the passage extremely well. _costly stones_ The adjective is not unfrequently used of gems which are of great price; as, of the precious stones in the crown of the Ammonite king (2 Samuel 13:30). But in the present case