1 Kings 6:32 Komentář

Great and long preparation had been making for the building of the temple, and here, at length, comes an account of the building of it; a noble piece of work it was, one of the wonders of the world, and taking in its spiritual significancy, one of the glories of the church. Here is, I. The time when it was built (Kg1 6:1), and how long it was in the building (Kg1 6:37, Kg1 6:38). II. The silence with which it was build (Kg1 6:7). III. The dimensions of it (Kg1 6:2, Kg1 6:3). IV. The message God sent to Solomon, when it was in the building (Kg1 6:11-13). V. The particulars: windows (Kg1 6:4), chambers (Kg1 6:5, Kg1 6:6, Kg1 6:8-10), the walls and flooring (Kg1 6:15-18), the oracle (Kg1 6:19-22), the cherubim (Kg1 6:23-30), the doors (Kg1 6:31-35), and the inner court (Kg1 6:36). Many learned men have well bestowed their pains in expounding the description here given of the temple according to the rules of architecture, and solving the difficulties which, upon search, they find in it; but in that matter, having nothing new to offer, we will not be particular or curious; it was then well understood, and every man's eyes that saw this glorious structure furnished him with the best critical exposition of this chapter.

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 6 This chapter gives an account of the building of the temple, for which preparations were before made and begins with the time of its building, Kg1 6:1; gives the dimensions of it and the porch before it, Kg1 6:2; observes the windows in it and chambers about it, Kg1 6:4; and while it was building, Solomon had a word from the Lord relative to it, Kg1 6:11; and then the account goes on concerning the walls of the house, and the flooring of it, Kg1 6:15; and the oracle in it, and the cherubim in that, Kg1 6:19; and the doors into it, and the carved work of them, Kg1 6:31; and the chapter is concluded with observing the time when it was begun and finished Kg1 6:37.

And he built the inner court,.... The court of the priests, Ch2 4:9; so called to distinguish it from the outer court, where the people assembled: this was built with three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams; the rows of stones were one upon another, topped with a row of cedar beams; or rather the cedar was a lining to the stones; and the whole is supposed to be about three cubits high, and was so low, that the people in the outward court might see priests ministering for them, and could converse with them; under the second temple, as Maimonides (h) says, the court of the priests was higher than that of the court of Israel two cubits and an half, called the great court, for which doors were made, and those overlaid with brass, Ch2 4:9. (h) Hilchot Beth Habechirah, c. 6. sect. 3.

Now all these items, that is, cherubim and palm trees and carvings in the adornment of the temple walls, have been set forth and explained above according to our ability. There is no need to go to the trouble of adding anything further. For the works of virtue that the church performs throughout the world in its holy and perfect members should be pursued with all diligence by those especially to whom the care of the faithful has been committed and the keys of the kingdom of heaven granted, so that to the extent that they rank higher than the rest, they should also excel them in merit of good actions. For they have the image of the cherubim engraved on them when they imitate, both in thought and action, the life of angels on earth insofar as mortals can. They resemble palm trees when they keep their minds ever steadfastly intent on the gifts of their heavenly reward. For it is with the palm that the hand of a victor is adorned. They have carvings in bold relief when they show to all who observe them the clearest proofs of good works, proofs that no one can misconstrue. And all these works are covered with sheets of gold when, as has often been said and must always be said, the brightness of love outshines the rest of the flowers of virtue, especially in the eminent members of the church.

In the four hundred and eightieth year from the exodus, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign, and in the second month, he laid the foundations of the temple; the length sixty cubits, the breadth twenty, and the height thirty cubits; besides the porch, which was twenty cubits in length, and ten cubits in height, Kg1 6:1-3. A description of its different external parts, Kg1 6:4-10. God's promise to Solomon, Kg1 6:11-13. Description of its internal parts and contents, vv. 14-36. Temple finished in the eighth month of the eleventh year of Solomon's reign, being seven years in building, Kg1 6:37, Kg1 6:38.

THE BUILDING OF SOLOMON'S TEMPLE. (Kg1 6:1-4) the house which king Solomon built for the Lord--The dimensions are given in cubits, which are to be reckoned according to the early standard (Ch2 3:3), or holy cubit (Eze 40:5; Eze 43:13), a handbreadth longer than the common or later one. It is probable that the internal elevation only is here stated.

Building of the Temple - 1 Kings 6 The account of the building of the temple commences with a statement of the date of the building (Kg1 6:1); and this is followed by a description of the plan and size of the temple-house (Kg1 6:2-10), to which there is also appended the divine promise made to Solomon during the erection of the building (Kg1 6:11-13). After this we have a further account of the internal fittings and decorations of the sanctuary (vv. 14-36), and in Kg1 7:1-12 a description of the royal palace which was built after the temple; and, finally, a description of the pillars of the court which were executed in metal by the Tyrian artist, and of the different vessels of the temple (1 Kings 7:13-51). (Note: Of the special works on the subject of the temple, see my pamphlet, Der Tempel Salomo's, eine archologische Untersuchung (Dorp. 1839); and Carl Chr. W. F. Bhr, Der Salomonische Tempel mit Bercksichtigung seines Verhltnisses zur heil. Architectur berhaupt (Karlsr. 1848). In both of these there are critical notices of the earlier investigations and monographs on this subject, which have now simply a historical interest. See also the short description of the temple in my Bibl. Archologie, i. 23ff., with sketches of the temple building and the principal vessels on Plates 2 and 3, and the most recent notice by H. Merz in Herzog's Cyclopaedia (Art. Temple). We have a parallel to this in 2 Chron 3 and 4, though here the description is differently arranged. In the Chronicles the external building of the temple-house is not separated from the internal decoration and furnishing; but after the period of erection and the size of the temple-house have been given in Ch2 3:1-3, there follows a description, a. of the court (Ch2 3:4); b. of the Holy Place with its internal decorations (Ch2 3:5-7); c. of the most Holy Place, with special reference to its size and decorations, also of the colossal cherubim placed therein and the curtain in front of it, which is not mentioned in our account (Ch2 3:8-14); d. of the brazen pillars in front of the court (Ch2 3:15-17); e. of the altar of burnt-offering (Ch2 4:1), which is passed over in the account before us; f. of the brazen sea (Ch2 4:2-5); g. of the brazen lavers, the golden candlesticks, the tables of shewbread, and the golden basons (Ch2 4:6-8); and h. of the courts (Ch2 4:9). The account is then closed with a summary enumeration of the different vessels of the temple (Ch2 4:10-22), which agrees almost word for word with Kg1 7:40-50.