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Hiram's work of the two pillars.

Before CHRIST 1005.

b Chap. 3. 1.

+ Heb. the son of a widow woman.

+ Heb. fashioned.

b

I. KINGS.

daughter, whom he had taken to wife, like unto this porch.

9 All these were of costly stones, according to the measures of hewed stones, sawed with saws, within and without, even from the foundation unto the coping, and so on the outside toward the great court.

10 And the foundation was of costly stones, even great stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits. 11 And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones, and cedars.

12 And the great court round about was with three rows of hewed stones, and a row of cedar beams, both for the inner court of the house of the LORD, and for the porch of the house.

13 And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre.

14 He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work.

15 For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about.

16 And he made two chapiters of molten brass, to set upon the tops of the pillars: the height of the one chapiter was five cubits, and the height of the other chapiter was five cubits: 17 And nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work, for the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars; seven for the one chapiter, and seven for the other chapiter.

18 And he made the pillars, and

Of the molten sea.

the one

two rows round about upon network, to cover the chapiters that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter.

19 And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits.

20 And the chapiters upon the two pillars had pomegranates also above, over against the belly which was by the network: and the pomegranates were two hundred in rows round about upon the other chapiter.

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21 And he set up the pillars in 2 Chron. 3. the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof || Jachin: and he set That is, up the left pillar, and called the name thereof || Boaz.

22 And upon the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished.

He shall

establish.

That is, In it is

strength.

his brim

23 ¶ And he made a molten sea, ten cubits + from the one brim to the + Heb. from other: it was round all about, and his to his brim. height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.

d

24 And under the brim of it round about there were knops compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea a 2 Chron. 4. round about: the knops were cast in two rows, when it was cast.

25 It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.

26 And it was an hand breadth thick, and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it contained two thousand baths.

3.

cool and shady mountain, and surrounded with loftyings, and networks. To these pillars Solomon gave trees. Bp. Patrick.

10.

stones of ten cubits, &c.] The size of these stones has been justly deemed matter of surprise, their measure being from seventeen to eighteen feet. All surprise, however, at these will cease, on the mention of what is related by Volney, concerning the ruins of Balbec, that there are stones amongst them of fifty-eight feet in length and twelve feet in thickness. What means the ancients had of moving such enormous masses, is wholly unknown. Fragments to Calmet.

15.-he cast two pillars &c.] The first piece of workmanship in which the new artist was engaged, was the construction of two brass pillars of large dimensions at the entrance of the temple porch, with a fine wrought chapiter or head border on the top of each, the whole being covered all over with artificial wreathings, flower

the names of Jachin and Boaz, which signify " direction" and "strength;" perhaps he designed them to bear allusion to the two memorable pillars of fire and of the cloud which conducted the Israelites from Egypt. Pyle.

26.-it contained two thousand baths,] A bath (the same as the ephah) is thought to have contained eight gallons, so that this sea contained about five hundred barrels. At 2 Chron. iv. 5, it is stated that "it received and held three thousand baths;" it is probably meant, that it would contain this quantity, although the former quantity was that which was usually put into it. The use of this "brasen sea" was for the priests to wash their hands and feet at their first entrance into the temple, 2 Chron. iv, 6. Bp. Patrick, Pyle.

Of the ten bases,

Before CHRIST

1005.

+ Heb.

in the base.

+ Heb. nakedness.

CHAP. VII.

27 And he made ten bases of brass; four cubits was the length of one base, and four cubits the breadth thereof, and three cubits the height of it.

28 And the work of the bases was on this manner: they had borders, and the borders were between the ledges:

29 And on the borders that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, and cherubims: and upon the ledges there was a base above: and beneath the lions and oxen were certain additions made of thin work.

30 And every base had four brasen wheels, and plates of brass: and the four corners thereof had undersetters: under the laver were undersetters molten, at the side of every addition.

31 And the mouth of it within the chapiter and above was a cubit: but the mouth thereof was round after the work of the base, a cubit and an half: and also upon the mouth of it were gravings with their borders, foursquare, not round.

32 And under the borders were four wheels; and the axletrees of the wheels were joined to the base: and the height of a wheel was a cubit and half a cubit.

33 And the work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel: their axletrees, and their naves, and their felloes, and their spokes, were all molten.

34 And there were four undersetters to the four corners of one base: and the undersetters were of the very base itself.

35 And in the top of the base was there a round compass of half a cubit high: and on the top of the base the ledges thereof and the borders thereof were of the same.

36 For on the plates of the ledges thereof, and on the borders thereof, he graved cherubims, lions, and palm trees, according to the proportion of every one, and additions round about.

37 After this manner he made the ten bases: all of them had one casting, one measure, and one size.

38 ¶ Then made he ten lavers of

46. — did the king cast them,] He had them cast in moulds of clay, in a part of the country where the soil was fit for the purpose. Pyle.

and all the vessels.

brass: one laver contained forty baths: and every laver was four cubits: and upon every one of the ten bases one laver.

Before CHRIST 1005.

shoulder.

39 And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and five on Heb. the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward over against the south.

40 And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, and the basons. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of the LORD:

41 The two pillars, and the two bowls of the chapiters that were on the top of the two pillars; and the two networks, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars;

42 And four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, even two rows of pomegranates for one network, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters that were † upon the pillars; 43 And the ten bases, and ten of the pillars. lavers on the bases;'

44 And one sea, and twelve oxen under the sea;

45 And the pots, and the shovels, and the basons: and all these vessels, which Hiram made to king Solomon for the house of the LORD, were of + bright brass.

46 In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan.

+ Heb. upon the face

+ Heb. made

bright, or, +

scoured.

Heb. in the

thickness of the ground.

47 And Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because they were ex- Heb. for the ceeding many neither was the weight multitude. of the brass + found out.

48 And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained unto the house of the LORD: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon the shewbread was,

49 And the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold,

exceeding

+ Heb. searched.

50 And the bowls, and the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and the censers of pure gold; and the + Heb. ash hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place,

48.

pans.

the altar of gold,] That is, the altar of incense, which stood in the holy place before the oracle.

and the table of gold,] He made ten tables

The feast of the dedication

Before CHRIST 1005.

I. KINGS.

of the temple.

Before CHRIST 1004.

and for the doors of the house, to wit, | did the priests and the Levites bring cor of the temple.

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51 So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the LORD. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated; even the silver, 2 Chron. 5. and the gold, and the vessels, did he put among the treasures of the house of the LORD.

+ Heb. holy things of David.

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a 2 Chron. 5.

2.

+ Heb. princes.

1004.

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up.

5 And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude.

6 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims.

7 For the cherubims spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above.

8 And they drew out the staves, that the + ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they were not seen without and there they are unto this day.

9 There was nothing in the ark

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2 And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solo-save the two tables of stone, which ↳ Deut. 10. 5. mon at the feast in the month Etha- Moses put there at Horeb, || when || Or, where. nim, which is the seventh month. the LORD made a covenant with the 3 And all the elders of Israel came, children of Israel, when they came and the priests took up the ark. out of the land of Egypt.

4 And they brought up the ark of the LORD, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, even those

according to 2 Chron. iv. 8, on one of which, it is probable, being more costly and splendid than the rest, the shewbread was placed. Bp. Patrick.

51.- And Solomon brought in &c.] It is probably meant, that all the remaining silver and gold which David had prepared, and which was not spent in this work, Solomon did not employ to his own uses, but religiously preserved in the treasury of the temple. Bp. Patrick.

Chap. VIII. This chapter is to be compared with 2 Chron. v, vi, and vii.

3.—the priests took up the ark.] The ark had been carried by the priests three times before this; when they went over Jordan, when they encompassed the walls of Jericho, and when David sent it back at the time that he fled from Absalom, 2 Sam. xv. 29, 30. It was the office of the Levites to carry the ark upon their shoulders, except on special occasions; but now they could not, because it was not lawful for them to enter into the holy place, into which it was to be carried, and then into the most holy. It is said indeed at 2 Chron. v. 4, that "the Levites took it up;" but the meaning is, that they took it up and carried it to the temple, and then the priests took it up, ver. 7, and carried it into the most holy place. Bp. Patrick.

4.- the tabernacle of the congregation,] It has been made a question what tabernacle is here meant, whether that made by Moses, which was now at Gibeon, (2 Chron. i. 3,) or that made by David, which was at Jerusalem, 2 Sam. vi. 17. But, as the tabernacle made by David was only a plain tent set up for temporary

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convenience, it seems to admit of little doubt that the Mosaick tabernacle is that here intended: this, for the prevention of all schism, and to make the temple the centre of devotion, was now taken down, and laid by in the treasury or storehouse; there it remained until the taking of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans, when Jeremiah, as Josephus informs us, was admonished by God to take it, the ark and the altar of incense, and hide them in some secret places, for fear of profanation; and it is doubted whether they were ever removed from thence. Calmet, Stackhouse. They brought the ark from mount Zion, the tabernacle from Gibeon. Dr. Wall.

5.

that could not be told-for multitude.] Meaning, that the number was very great.

9.-nothing-save the two tables of stone,] The passage in Hebrews ix. 4, appears to be inconsistent with this, where it is affirmed, that in this ark "was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded," as well as " the tables of the covenant." To explain this, some learned persons understand, in the passage in the Hebrews, that the golden pot, &c. were not placed in the ark, but by it, or near it; which the word in the original language warrants. Others understand, that, before the ark had any fixed and settled abode, all these things were placed in it; but that, at the time when it was carried to the temple, the two tables only were left in it, every thing else being carried to the treasury of the temple. Bp. Patrick, Calmet.

10.-the cloud filled the house] The cloud of glory which formerly resided in the tabernacle, descended now into the temple, filling the whole house, first with inexpressible darkness, out of which afterwards brake

Solomon's blessing.

Before CHRIST 1004.

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11 So that the priests could not | LORD promised, and have built an
stand to minister because of the cloud: house for the name of the LORD God
for the glory of the LORD had filled of Israel.
the house of the LORD.

12 ¶ Then spake Solomon, The ₫ 2 Chron. 6. LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.

1.

13 I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever.

14 And the king turned his face about, and blessed all the congregation of Israel: (and all the congregation of Israel stood;)

15 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hand fulfilled it, saying,

16 Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build an house, that my name might be therein; but I chose e 2 Sam. 7. 8. David to be over my people Israel. 17 And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.

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18 And the LORD said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart.

19 Nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house unto my name.

20 And the LORD hath performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the

forth a light unbearable by the priests, who were therefore forced to withdraw, and could not continue the service till it abated. Pyle. The Lord's acceptance of Solomon's temple, and of the dedication which he was now about to make of it, was shewn, 1st, by "the glory of the Lord" filling the house or inner temple, as here related: and, 2nd, by the fire of the Lord coming down from heaven, as soon as Solomon had ended his prayer of dedication, and consuming the burnt offering and the sacrifices, 2 Chron. vii. 1. Dr. Hales.

21 And I have set there a place for the ark, wherein is the covenant of the LORD, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.

22 And Solomon stood before f the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:

Before CHRIST 1004.

f 2 Chron. 6. 13.

8.

23 And he said, LORD God of g 2 Mac. 2. Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart:

24 Who hast kept with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him: thou spakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day.

25 Therefore now, LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him, saying,+There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel; +so that thy children take heed to their way, that they walk before me as thou hast walked before me.

26 And now, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father.

27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?

h Chap. 2. 4. Heb. There shall unto thee a sight.

2 Sam. 7. 12.

not be cut off

man from my + Heb. only

if.

24. Who hast kept with thy servant David &c.] This relates to that part of God's promises to David, which had respect to his son's building for Him a house. The fulfilment of this Solomon looked upon as an earnest, ver. 5, that God would also fulfil the other great promises of kindness to his posterity, made to him at the same time, 2 Sam. vii. 12, 13. Bp. Patrick.

27. But will God indeed dwell &c.] As if he had said, Let it be far from us to imagine either that thy infinite and unbounded presence should be confined to any 23. Lord God of Israel, &c.] This prayer of Solo- one place, or that the mere outward grandeur and splenmon on the dedication of the temple is one of the dour of any temple should be enough to gain thy favour noblest and most sublime compositions in the Bible, towards worshippers, regardless of the true qualificaexhibiting the most exalted conceptions of the omni- tions and real ends of religious worship. Yet, as thou presence of the Deity, and of his superintending provi- hast been pleased to appoint us here the place and dence, and of the peculiar protection He afforded to the manner of publickly serving Thee, grant us acceptance Israelite nation, from the time that they came out of of all the devotions, duly directed toward the sacred ark Egypt; and imploring forgiveness for all their sins and of thy residence, for imploring thy mercies, and obtransgressions in the land, and during their ensuing cap-taining the pardon of our sins. Pyle. tivities, in the prophetick spirit of Moses. Dr. Hales.

behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot

Solomon's prayer.

CHRIST 1004.

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Before CHRIST 1004.

Before 28 Yet have thou respect unto the | smitten down before the enemy, beprayer of thy servant, and to his sup- cause they have sinned against thee, plication, O LORD my God, to hearken and shall turn again to thee, and conunto the cry and to the prayer, which fess thy name, and pray, and make thy servant prayeth before thee to supplication unto thee || in this house: or, day: 34 Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers.

i

29 That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer Or, in this which thy servant shall make || toward this place.

i Deut. 12. 11.

place.

30 And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray Or, in this toward this place and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive.

place.

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contain thee] We have here a striking description of the immensity and omnipresence of God. We have frequent expressions in Scripture of God being "in heaven:" the meaning of which is, not that He who is in all places can be confined to any, or that any proper habitation can be ascribed to Him, whom, as Solomon declares, the "heaven of heavens cannot contain;" but they are intended to represent his amazing height and dignity, not in place, but in power. Thus, when we speak of God, the supreme invisible Father, as being "in heaven," we must be understood to express, that He is exalted over all in sovereignty and dominion; that He is the high and holy One; great, glorious, and supreme above all. There is also another reason of the expression of God's being "in heaven;" and that is, to signify that, though of his real actual presence there is no confinement, yet of his glory and majesty there is in the heavens a particular manifestation. There it is that his glory is declared, and there the righteous shall see his face, and be blessed with the peculiar manifestation of his power and majesty. In like manner, here upon earth; in those places where He has been pleased more particularly to manifest his glory, to place his name and to receive the homage of his servants, there God, in Scripture-phrase, is said to be. Thus, in the temple at Jerusalem, He, whom the "heaven of heavens cannot contain," did at this time deign to dwell, having appointed there to receive his tribute of worship. Dr. S. Clarke.

31. If any man trespass &c.] In any great debates of right, injury, or trespass, between man and man, when an appeal is made by oath before thy sacred altar; do Thou, who alone knowest the heart, clear the inno

35 When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them:

36 Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance.

towards.

37 If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpillar; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their || cities; whatso- or, ever plague, whatsoever sickness there jurisdiction. be;

38 What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by

cent, and punish the guilty, in ways most suitable to thy all-wise providence. Pyle.

35. When heaven is shut up, &c.] Whatever judgments Thou shalt most righteously inflict upon them, in degrees answerable to their transgressions, whether it be famine, war, or pestilence; let their true repentance never be too late to recover thy lost favour: let not the penitent continue in sufferings for the sake of the obstinate; but remove thy judgments for the honour of thy Name, and for the continuance of thy true religion amongst us. Pyle.

By these several instances we may learn that all things are under the dispensation of Divine Providence; that war, famine, pestilence, &c. are by God's permission; that the only remedy for all evil is by prayer to God: and lastly, that He will hear the prayers of men, and will help them, when they truly repent of those sins for which judgments are sent into the world. Bp. Wilson.

36.—that thou teach them the good way] These words are better translated at 2 Chron. vi. 27, (where the words are the very same in the Hebrew,) "When thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk." He does not desire their pardon till their affliction had taught them better obedience. Bp. Patrick.

37. If there be in the land famine, &c.] From the whole of the passage which follows in this admirable prayer of Solomon's, we have the truth forcibly impressed upon us, that, in any case of publick judgment or calamity, the humiliation and repentance of a nation must begin with particular persons. The individuals which compose the nation must humble themselves before God, every one for his own personal sins and miscarriages, by which they have provoked God and

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