(KJV) 1 Kings 71

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⥃Solomon’s Palace Complex

[1] But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years2, and he finished all his house.

[2] [¶]He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length thereof [was] an hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars.3 [3] And [it was] covered with cedar above upon the beams4, that [lay] on forty five pillars, fifteen [in] a row. [4] And [there were] windows5 [in] three rows, and light [was] against light6 [in] three ranks. [5] And all the doors and posts [were] square, with the windows7: and light [was] against light [in] three ranks.

[6] [¶]And he made a porch of pillars; the length thereof [was] fifty cubits, and the breadth thereof thirty cubits: and the porch [was] before them89: and the [other] pillars and the thick beam [were] before them.

[7] [¶]Then he made a porch10 for the throne11 where he might judge, [even] the porch of judgment12: and [it was] covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other13.

[8] [¶]And his house where he dwelt [had] another court14 within the porch, [which] was of the like work. Solomon made also an house15 for Pharaoh’s daughter, whom he had taken [to wife], like unto this porch. [9] All these [were of] costly stones16, 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 foundation17 [was of] costly stones, even great stones, stones of ten cubits18, and stones of eight cubits. [11] And above [were] costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones, and cedars.19 [12] And the great court round about [was] with three rows20 of hewed stones, and a row of cedar beams, both for the inner court of the house of the Lord, and for the porch21 of the house.

⥃The Pillars and Capitals [ 2 Chronicles 3:14–17 ]

[13] And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram22 out of Tyre. [14] He [was] a widow’s son23 of the tribe24 of Naphtali25, and his father26 [was] a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled27 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 cast28 two pillars29 of brass, of eighteen cubits30 high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about.313233 [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:34 [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.35 [18] And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the chapiters that [were] upon the top, with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter.36 [19] And the chapiters that [were] upon the top of the pillars [were] of lily work37 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 pomegranates38 [were] two hundred in rows round about upon the other chapiter. [21] And he set39 up the pillars in the porch40 of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin41: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz42. [22] And upon the top of the pillars [was] lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished.

⥃The Molten Sea [ 2 Chronicles 4:1–5 ]

[23] [¶]And he made43 a molten sea44, ten cubits from the one brim to the other45: [it was] round all about, and his height [was] five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about. [24] And under the brim of it round about [there were] knops46 compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea47 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.48 [26] And it [was] an hand breadth49 thick, and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers50 of lilies: it contained51 two thousand52 baths.

⥃The Ten Bronze Stands

[27] [¶]And he made ten bases53 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] on54 this [manner]: they had borders, and the borders [were] between the ledges: [29] And on the borders that [were] between the ledges [were] lions55, oxen, and cherubims56: and upon the ledges [there was] a base above: and beneath the lions and oxen [were] certain additions57 made of thin work. [30] And every base had four brasen wheels58, and plates of brass: and the four corners thereof had undersetters59: 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 base60: 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.61 [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 cherubims62, lions, and palm trees, according to the proportion63 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.

⥃The Ten Bronze Basins [ 2 Chronicles 4:6–8 ]

[38] [¶]Then made he ten lavers64 of brass: one laver contained forty baths: [and] every laver was four cubits: [and] upon every one of the ten bases one laver. [39] And he put five bases on the right side65 of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set66 the sea on the right side of the house eastward over against the south.

⥃Completion of the Bronze Works [ 2 Chronicles 4:11–18 ]

[40] [¶]And Hiram67 made the lavers68, and the shovels69, and the basons70. So Hiram71 made an end of doing all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of the Lord: [41] The two pillars72, and the [two] bowls of the chapiters that [were] on the top of the two pillars; and the two networks73, 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 pillars74; [43] And the ten bases75, and ten lavers on the bases; [44] And one sea76, and twelve oxen under the sea; [45] And the pots77, 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 brass78. [46] In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground79 between Succoth80 and Zarthan81. [47] And Solomon left all the vessels [unweighed], because they were exceeding many82: neither was the weight of the brass found out83.

⥃Completion of the Gold Furnishings [ 2 Chronicles 4:19–22 ]

[48] And Solomon made all the vessels that [pertained] unto the house of the Lord: the altar84 of gold, and the table85 of gold, whereupon the shewbread [was], [49] And the candlesticks86 of pure gold, five on the right [side], and five on the left, before the oracle87, with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs88 [of] gold, [50] And the bowls, and the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons89, and the censers90 [of] pure gold; and the hinges [of] gold, [both] for the doors of the inner house, the most holy [place], [and] for the doors of the house, [to wit], of the temple. [51] So was ended91 all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the Lord. And Solomon brought92 in the things which David his father had dedicated93; [even] the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, did he put among the treasures of the house of the Lord.

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  1. 1Kgs 7:1, The building of Solomon’s house; 1Kgs 7:2, Of the house of Lebanon; 1Kgs 7:6, Of the porch of pillars; 1Kgs 7:7, Of the porch of judgment; 1Kgs 7:8, Of the house for Pharaoh’s daughter; 1Kgs 7:13, Hiram’s work of the two pillars; 1Kgs 7:23, Of the molten sea; 1Kgs 7:27, Of the ten bases; 1Kgs 7:38, Of the ten lavers, 1Kgs 7:40, and all the vessels. ↩

  2. 1Kgs 9:10; 2Chr 8:1; Eccl 2:4-5; Matt 6:33 ↩

  3. 1Kgs 9:19, 1Kgs 10:17; 2Chr 9:16; Song 7:4 ↩

  4. Heb. ribs, 1Kgs 6:5 *marg. ↩

  5. 1Kgs 7:5, 1Kgs 6:4; Isa 54:12; Ezek 40:16, Ezek 40:22, Ezek 40:25, Ezek 40:29, Ezek 40:33, Ezek 40:36, Ezek 41:26 ↩

  6. Heb. sight against sight ↩

  7. or, spaces and pillars were square in prospect, 1Kgs 7:5 ↩

  8. or, according to them ↩

  9. or, according to them. 1Kgs 7:6 ↩

  10. 1Kgs 6:3 ↩

  11. 1Kgs 10:18-20; Ps 122:5; Isa 9:7 ↩

  12. 1Kgs 3:9, 1Kgs 3:28; Prov 20:8 ↩

  13. Heb. from floor to floor ↩

  14. 2Kgs 20:4 ↩

  15. 1Kgs 3:1, 1Kgs 9:24; 2Chr 8:11 ↩

  16. 1Kgs 7:10-11, 1Kgs 5:17 ↩

  17. Isa 28:16, Isa 54:11; 1Cor 3:10-11; Rev 21:19-20 ↩

  18. Reckoning the cubit at 21 inches, the ten cubits are 17 feet and a half, and the eight cubits are 14 feet. The magnitude of these stones was certainly extraordinary; but let us hear M. Volney, and our surprise will no longer be fixed on these stones, but transferred from Solomon's house to the ruins of Balbec: "What is still more astonishing is the enormous stones which compose the sloping wall. To the west, the second layer is formed of stones which are from 28 to 35 feet long, by about 9 in height. Over this layer, at the north-west angle, there are three stones, which alone occupy a space of 175 feet and a half; viz. the first, 58 feet 7 inches; the second, 58 feet 11 inches; and the third, exactly 58 feet; and each of these is 12 feet thick. These stones are of white granite, with large shining flakes, like gypsum: there is a quarry of this kind of stone under the whole city, and another in the adjacent mountains, which is open in several places. On the right, as we approach the city, there is still lying there a stone hewn on three sides, which is 69 feet 2 inches long, 12 feet 10 inches broad, and 13 feet 3 inches in thickness. ↩

  19. Eph 2:20-22; 1Pet 2:5 ↩

  20. 1Kgs 6:36 ↩

  21. John 10:23; Acts 3:11, Acts 5:12 ↩

  22. 1Kgs 7:40; 2Chr 2:13, 2Chr 4:11, Huram ↩

  23. Heb. the son of a widow woman ↩

  24. The mother of Hiram (not the Tyrian king mentioned before, but an intelligent coppersmith, of Jewish extraction by his mother's side) in Chronicles, is said to have been of "the daughters of Dan;" and she might have been of Naphtali by her father, and of Dan by her mother; or she might originally be of the tribe of Dan, and have been first married to a man of the tribe of Naphtali; and, in either case, she might be indifferently called "of the tribe of Naphtali," or of "the daughters of Dan." ↩

  25. 2Chr 2:14 ↩

  26. 2Chr 4:16 ↩

  27. Exod 31:2-6, Exod 35:30-35, Exod 36:1-2, Exod 36:8; Isa 28:26 ↩

  28. Heb. fashioned ↩

  29. 1Kgs 7:21; 2Kgs 25:16-17; 2Chr 3:15-17, 2Chr 4:12-22; Jer 52:21-23 ↩

  30. That is, nearly thirty feet, English measure. But in the parallel place in Chronicles, these pillars are said to thirty-five cubits high. Tremellius reconciles this difference by observing, that the common cubit was but one-half of the cubit of the sanctuary; so that eighteen of the one would make thirty-six of the other; from which, if we deduct one cubit for the base, there will remain thirty-five. Notwithstanding the names of these pillars, they seem to have supported no part of the building, and appear to have been formed for ornament; and were no doubt also emblematical. The right pillar was called Jachin, which signifies, "He will establish;" while that on the left was named Boaz, "In it is strength." Some think they were intended for memorials of the pillars and cloud of fire, which led Israel through the wilderness; but Henry supposes them designed for memorandums to the priests and others that came to worship at God's door. ↩

    1. To depend upon God only, and not upon any sufficiency of their own, for strength and establishment in all their religious exercises.

    ↩

    1. It was a memorandum to them of the strength and establishment of the temple of God among them.

    ↩

  33. When the temple was destroyed, particular notice is taken of the breaking up and carrying away of these brazen pillars, 2Kgs 25:13, 2Kgs 25:17, which had been the tokens of its establishment, and would have been still so, if they had not forsaken God. ↩

  34. Exod 36:38, Exod 38:17, Exod 38:19, Exod 38:28; 2Chr 4:12-13 ↩

  35. Exod 28:14, Exod 28:22, Exod 28:24-25, Exod 39:15-18; 2Kgs 25:17 ↩

  36. Exod 28:14, Exod 28:22, Exod 28:24-25, Exod 39:15-18; 2Kgs 25:17 ↩

  37. 1Kgs 7:22, 1Kgs 6:18, 1Kgs 6:32-35 ↩

  38. 2Kgs 25:17; 2Chr 3:16, 2Chr 4:13; Jer 52:22-23 ↩

  39. 2Chr 3:17; Gal 2:9; Rev 3:12 ↩

  40. 1Kgs 7:12, 1Kgs 6:3; Ezek 40:48-49 ↩

  41. 2Sam 7:12; Isa 9:7 ↩

  42. Ruth 4:21; Isa 45:24; Matt 16:18 ↩

  43. Exod 30:18-21, Exod 38:8 ↩

  44. 2Kgs 25:13; 2Chr 4:2; Jer 52:17, Jer 52:20 ↩

  45. Heb. his brim to his brim ↩

  46. 1Kgs 6:18; Exod 25:31-36, Exod 37:17-22 ↩

  47. 2Chr 4:3 ↩

  48. 2Chr 4:4-5; Jer 52:20; Ezek 1:10; Matt 28:19; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:47; 1Cor 9:9; Rev 4:6-7 ↩

  49. Jer 52:21 ↩

  50. 1Kgs 7:19, 1Kgs 6:18, 1Kgs 6:32, 1Kgs 6:35 ↩

  51. This immense laver, called a sea from it magnitude, held, at a moderate computation, 16,000 gallons. Besides this great brazen laver, there were in the temple ten lavers of brass of a less size, which moved on wheels, and were ornamented with the figures of various animals, having, probably, always some relation to the cherubim. These lavers were to hold water for the use of the priests in their sacred office, particularly to wash the victims that were to be offered as a burnt offering, as we learn from 2Chr 4:6; but the brazen sea was for the priests to wash in. The knops are supposed to have been in the form of an ox's head (2Chr 4:3); and some think the water flowed out at their mouths. ↩

  52. 1Kgs 7:38; 2Chr 4:5; Ezek 45:14 ↩

  53. These highly ornamental bases appear to have been square stands, or immense pedestals, for the purpose of supporting the lavers. 2Kgs 25:13, 2Kgs 25:16; 2Chr 4:14; Jer 52:17, Jer 52:20 ↩

  54. It seems evident that these bases or pedestals rose with steps, and that the ornaments mentioned in the next verse appeared in front, forming so many entablatures. But the description of these bases is very difficult to comprehend: many of the original words are seldom, if at all, used elsewhere; and it would be impossible to give an explanation of each particular, without a labour and prolixity disproportioned to its importance to us. 1Kgs 7:28 ↩

  55. 1Kgs 7:25, 1Kgs 6:27; Ezek 1:10, Ezek 10:14, Ezek 41:18-19; Hos 5:14; Rev 4:6-7, Rev 5:5 ↩

  56. Gen 3:24; Exod 25:18, Exod 37:7; Heb 9:5 ↩

  57. 1Pet 2:5 ↩

  58. Ezek 1:15-21, Ezek 3:13, Ezek 10:10-13 ↩

  59. It is probable that these undersetters were so many strong legs, somewhat shorter than the wheels, and were intended to prevent the laver from tilting, or falling, in case of any accident. ↩

  60. Heb. in the base, 1Kgs 7:32 ↩

  61. Ezek 1:16, Ezek 1:18 ↩

  62. 1Kgs 7:29, 1Kgs 6:29, 1Kgs 6:32, 1Kgs 6:35; Ezek 40:31, Ezek 40:37, Ezek 41:18-20, Ezek 41:25-26 ↩

  63. Heb. nakedness ↩

  64. Exod 30:17-21, Exod 30:28, Exod 38:8, Exod 40:11-12; 2Chr 4:6-22; Zech 13:1; Heb 9:10; Heb 10:22; 1John 1:7; Rev 7:14 ↩

  65. Heb. shoulder ↩

  66. 2Chr 4:6, 2Chr 4:10 ↩

  67. Heb. Hirom, 1Kgs 7:13 ↩

  68. 1Kgs 7:28; 2Kgs 25:14-15; 2Chr 4:8, 2Chr 4:11-16; Jer 52:18-19 ↩

  69. 1Kgs 7:45 ↩

  70. Exod 24:6 ↩

  71. Exod 39:32-43 ↩

  72. 1Kgs 7:15-22; 2Chr 4:12 ↩

  73. 1Kgs 7:17-18 ↩

  74. Heb. the face of the pillars, 1Kgs 7:42 ↩

  75. 1Kgs 7:27-39 ↩

  76. 1Kgs 7:23-26 ↩

  77. Exod 27:3, Exod 38:3; Lev 8:31; 1Sam 2:13-14; 2Chr 4:16; Ezek 46:20-24; Zech 14:21 ↩

  78. Heb. brass made bright, or scoured ↩

  79. Heb. the thickness of the ground ↩

  80. Gen 33:17 ↩

  81. Zarthan is supposed to have been situated in the tribe of Manasseh, west of Jordan, near Jezreel and Beth–shan or Scythopolis, and not far from the Jordan. Succoth we know was situated east of Jordan, in the tribe of Gad, and according to Jerome, in the district of Scythopolis. Hence the "plain of Jordan," where Hiram cast the brazen vessels, must be the plain in which that river runs, Zarthan and Succoth being probably nearly opposite each other; but whether the precise spot of his operations was on this side or the other side, is uncertain. In this place he found that particular clay that was proper for his purpose; and it being a considerable distance from Jerusalem, that city would not be annoyed by the smoke and noxious vapours necessarily occasioned by the process. 1Kgs 4:12, Zartanah, Josh 3:16, Zaretan, 2Chr 4:17, Zeredathah ↩

  82. Heb. for the exceeding multitude, 2Chr 4:18 ↩

  83. Heb. searched, 1Chr 22:14, 1Chr 22:16 ↩

  84. Exod 30:1-5, Exod 37:25-28, Exod 39:38, Exod 40:26; 2Chr 4:19 ↩

  85. Exod 25:23-30, Exod 37:10-16, Exod 39:36, Exod 40:22-23; Lev 24:5-9; 2Chr 4:8; Ezek 40:39, Ezek 40:42, Ezek 41:22, Ezek 44:16; Mal 1:12; 1Cor 10:21 ↩

  86. Exod 25:31-40, Exod 37:17-24, Exod 39:37, Exod 40:24-25; 2Chr 4:7; Zech 4:1-3, Zech 4:11-14; Matt 5:14-16; Rev 1:20, Rev 2:1 ↩

  87. 2Chr 4:20 ↩

  88. Exod 25:38; Num 4:9 ↩

  89. Exod 25:29; Num 7:86 ↩

  90. Heb. ash pans, Lev 16:12; 2Chr 4:21-22 ↩

  91. Exod 40:33; Ezra 6:15; Zech 4:9 ↩

  92. It appears, therefore, that Solomon did not use any of the gold and silver in the structure of the temple which his father had provided. ↩

  93. Heb. holy things of David, 2Sam 8:7-11; 1Chr 18:7-8, 1Chr 18:10-11, 1Chr 26:26-28, 1Chr 28:11-18, 1Chr 29:2-8; 2Chr 5:1 ↩