Four hundred and four score, &c. — Allowing forty years to Moses, seventeen to Joshua, two hundred ninety — nine to the Judges, forty to Eli, forty to Samuel and Saul, forty to David, and four to Solomon before he began the work, we have just the sum of four hundred and eighty. So long it was before... [ Continue Reading ]
The house — Properly so called, as distinct from all the walls and buildings which were adjoining to it; namely, the holy, and most holy place. Length — From east, to west. And this and the other measures may seem to belong to the inside from wall to wall. Cubits — Cubits of the sanctuary. Height —... [ Continue Reading ]
The porch — In the front of, or entrance into the house, 2 Chronicles 3:4, being a portico, a walk or gallery, at one end of the building (from side to side.) And the measures of this were harmonious also. For twenty to ten (the length of the portico to the breadth of it) is double, or as two to one... [ Continue Reading ]
Narrow — Narrow outward, to prevent the inconveniences of the weather; widening by degrees inward, that so the house might better receive, and more disperse the light.... [ Continue Reading ]
Against the wall — The beams of the chambers were not fastened into the wall, but leaned upon the buttresses of the wall. Chambers — For the laying the priests garments, and other utensils belonging to the temple, therein. Round about — On all the sides except the east, where the porch was; and exce... [ Continue Reading ]
Broad — On the inside, and besides the galleries mentioned above. Narrowed rests — Or, narrowings: as in our buildings the walls of an house are thicker, or broader at the bottom, and narrower towards the top: only these narrowings were in the outside of the wall, which at each of the three stories... [ Continue Reading ]
Made ready — Hewed, and squared, and fitted exactly according to the direction of the architect. Neither hammer, &c. — So it was ordered, partly for the ease and conveniency of carriage: partly, for the magnificence of the work, and commendation of the workmen's skill and diligence: and partly, for... [ Continue Reading ]
The door — That is, by which they entered to go up to the middle chamber or chambers; such as were in the middle story. Right side — That is, in the south — side, called the right side; because when a man looks towards the east, the south is on his right hand. There was another door on the left, or... [ Continue Reading ]
Built chambers — The Hebrew words may be properly rendered, He built a roof, a flat and plain roof, over all the house, according to the manner of the Israelitish buildings. The inner roof was arched, 1 Kings 6:9, that it might be the more beautiful, but the outward roof was flat. Five cubits — Abov... [ Continue Reading ]
If — God expresses the condition upon which his promise and favour is suspended; and by assuring him thereof in case of obedience, he plainly intimates the contrary upon his disobedience. Thus he was taught, that all the charge he and the people were at, in erecting this temple, would neither excuse... [ Continue Reading ]
Walls — The name of a wall is not appropriated to stone or brick, because we read of a brazen wall, Jeremiah 15:20, and a wall of iron, Ezekiel 4:3. And that wall into which Saul smote his javelin, 1 Samuel 19:10, seems more probably to be understood of wood, than of stone; especially, considering t... [ Continue Reading ]
House — That is, the most holy place, which contained in length twenty cubits, which may be said to be on the sides Of the house, because this part took off twenty cubits in length from each side of the house, and was also twenty cubits from side to side, so it was twenty cubits every way. The oracl... [ Continue Reading ]
House — That is, the holy place. Temple — This is added, to restrain the signification of the word house, which otherwise notes the whole building. It — The oracle.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cedar — Cedar is here named, not to exclude all other wood, but stone only; as the following words shew.... [ Continue Reading ]
Prepared — That is, adorned and fitted it for the receipt of the ark. Solomon made every thing new, but the ark. That with its mercy seat was still the same that Moses made. This was the token of God's presence, which is with his people, whether they meet in tent or temple, and changes not with thei... [ Continue Reading ]
Forepart — Which was in the inner part of the house, called in Hebrew, the forepart; not because a man first enters there, but because when a man is entering, or newly entered into the house, it is still before him. Covered — With gold, 1 Kings 7:48; 1 Chronicles 28:18. The altar — The altar of ince... [ Continue Reading ]
House — Or, that house, the oracle. Partition — He made a veil, which was a farther partition between the holy, and the most holy; which veil did hang upon these golden chains. Before the oracle — In the outward part of the wall, or partition, which was erected between the oracle and the holy place;... [ Continue Reading ]
Whole house — Not only the oracle, but all the holy place. The altar — the altar of incense, which was set in the holy place close by the doors of the oracle. With gold — As before he overlaid it with cedar.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cherubim — Besides those two made by Moses, Exodus 25:18, which were of gold, and far less than these. The Heathens set up images of their gods, and worshipped them. These were designed to represent the servants and attendants of the God of Israel, the holy angels, not to be worshipped themselves, b... [ Continue Reading ]
Cherubim — As signs of the presence and protection of the angels vouch — safed by God to that place. Palm — trees — Emblems of that peace and victory over their enemies, which the Israelites duly serving God in that place might expect. Within and without — Within the oracle and without it, in the ho... [ Continue Reading ]
Fifth part — That is, four cubits in height or breadth, whereas the wall was twenty cubits.... [ Continue Reading ]
Inner court — The priests court, 2 Chronicles 4:9, so called, because it was next to the temple which it compassed. Cedar beams — Which is understood, of so many galleries, one on each side of the temple, whereof the three first were of stone, and the fourth of cedar, all supported with rows of pill... [ Continue Reading ]
Seven years — It is not strange that this work took up so much time: for, The temple properly so called, was for quantity the least part of it, there being very many and great buildings both above ground in the several courts, (for though only the court of the priests be mentioned, yet it is thereby... [ Continue Reading ]