1 Kings 6:21

with pure gold The adjective, or rather participle, as it is in Hebrew, signifies -closed," -shut up." The traditional rendering is that of the text, supported by the Chaldee, the Vulgate and Kimchi; but it is not clear how the sense comes, unless we may take it, as the notes of the Synod of Dort, that what was preciouswas usually kept close. The amount of gold employed is given in 2 Chronicles 3:8 as six hundred talents.

and he made a partition by the chains of gold Render with R.V. and he drew across chains of gold. The words literally signify -he caused to pass over with chains," i.e. he made with chains of gold something that went across either the whole of the dividing wall or over the doorway which was made therein. From 2 Chronicles 3:5; 2 Chronicles 3:16 it seems as if chains had been used for ornamentation on other parts of the walls and pillars. The LXX. (Alex.) renders -he drew a curtain across by means of chains of gold."

and he overlaid it with gold Now that a more literal sense has been given to the previous clause, and the word -partition" got rid of, there is nothing for the -it" in this sentence to refer to. As the clause stands, the word must refer to the oracle. Thus in the beginning of the verse -the house within" will refer to the holy place, and this last clause to the most holy place. This is further emphasized by the words which immediately follow in 21. -And the whole house he overlaid."