_A.M. 2990. B.C. 1014._ Hiram congratulates Solomon on his accession, and agrees to furnish him with workmen and timber for the temple, 1 Kings 5:1. The work is well done, and the workmen paid, 1 Kings 5:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hiram sent his servants unto Solomon_ Namely, as soon as he heard of his succession in the throne, as the following words show, he sent to congratulate him, as the manner of princes is. _For Hiram was ever a lover of David_ And therefore was desirous to continue in friendship with his son. This Hir... [ Continue Reading ]
_A house unto the name of the Lord_ For his worship and service. _For the wars which were about him on every side_ Which diverted his cares and thoughts to other things, and occasioned God's denying him the honour of that work. _Until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet_ That is, made them... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now therefore command thou, that they_ That is, thy servants, who are skilful in such work; _hew me cedar-trees_ Which, for their soundness, and strength, and fragrancy, and durable-ness, were most proper for his design. Of these David had procured some, but not a sufficient number. _Out of Lebanon... [ Continue Reading ]
_He rejoiced greatly_ Being a faithful friend to David and his house; and though it is not probable he was a sincere proselyte, yet he had received much information concerning the nature and excellence of the God of Israel, and had honourable thoughts of him. _And Hiram sent to Solomon_ A letter, 2... [ Continue Reading ]
_From Lebanon unto the sea_ The Mediterranean sea, on which his city stood. _I will convey them in floats_ Or _rafts._ It is thought the pieces of timber were tied together in the water, as now is usual, and so, by the help of boats or ships, conveyed to the appointed place, which was at no great di... [ Continue Reading ]
_So Hiram gave Solomon cedar-trees_ That is, he agreed to give him all that he desired; but the trees were not yet cut down and prepared. _Twenty thousand measures of wheat_ Each measure spoken of here is supposed to contain six hundred and forty-eight pounds weight, so that the weight of the wheat... [ Continue Reading ]
_Solomon raised a levy_ Which were to be employed in the most honourable and easy parts of the work relating to the temple, in the manner expressed 1 Kings 5:14; and these were Israelites; but those one hundred and fifty thousand mentioned 1Ki 5:15 were strangers. if it seem strange that so many tho... [ Continue Reading ]
_That bare burdens_ Namely, porters, carters, seamen, and such like. _Fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains_ That is, hewers of stone, for timber was hewed by Hiram's servants in Lebanon. _Officers over the work three thousand three hundred_ Whereof three thousand were set over the one hundred... [ Continue Reading ]
_Costly stones_ Marble and porphyry, or other stones of great size and value. _To lay the foundation of the house_ Where they could not afterward be seen; and therefore that this was done, is mentioned only as a point of magnificence, except it was intended for a type or mystical signification of th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Solomon's builders and Hiram's did hew them_ It seemed Solomon's servants learned of Hiram's, or, at least, were directed by them to assist in the work. _And the stone-squarers_ Hebrew, _the Giblites_, the inhabitants of Gebal, a place near Zidon, mentioned Psalms 83:7; Ezekiel 27:9, famous for art... [ Continue Reading ]