1Na svém paláci pak Šalomoun pracoval po třináct let, až byl zcela dokončen. 2Postavil Dům Libanonského lesa, sto loket dlouhý, padesát loket široký a třicet loket vysoký, na čtyřech řadách cedrových sloupů a na těch sloupech byly cedrové fošny. 3V horní části byl obložen cedrovým dřevem až k deskám, které byly na sloupech. 4Byly tam tři řady architrávů, celkem čtyřicet pět, tedy patnáct na jednu řadu, stály natřikrát proti sobě. 5Všechny brány a veřeje měly obdélníkové zárubně a stály čelem natřikrát proti sobě. 6Udělal padesát loket dlouhou a třicet loket širokou sloupovou dvoranu..., vpředu měla předsíň. 7Udělal trůnní dvoranu, kde soudil, je to soudní dvorana; byla obložena cedrovým dřevem od země až k trámům. 8Jeho soukromé obydlí, v jiném nádvoří a vzhledem ke dvoraně uvnitř, mělo týž ráz; pro faraonovu dceru, s níž se oženil, tam byl také dům podobný té dvoraně. 9Všechny tyto budovy byly z vybraných kamenů, jež odpovídaly otesaným kamenům, upravených zvenčí i uvnitř pilou od základů až po dřevo výztuhy - 10jejich základy byly z vybraných kamenů, z velkých kamenů o deseti a osmi loktech, 11a nahoře byly vybrané kameny, jež odpovídaly otesaným kamenům, a cedrové dřevo 12a zvenčí měl velký dvůr kolem dokola tři vrstvy otesaných kamenů a jednu vrstvu cedrových fošen, stejně jako vnitřní nádvoří Jahvova Chrámu a chrámová dvorana. 13Šalomoun poslal pro Chirama z Tyru; 14byl to syn jedné vdovy z Neftaliho kmene, ale jeho otec byl Tyřan, řemeslník pracující s bronzem. On byl nadán zručností, obratností a věděním k provádění jakékoli práce v bronzu. Přišel ke králi Šalomounovi a provedl všechny jeho práce. 15Odlil dva bronzové sloupy; výška jednoho sloupu činila osmnáct loket a jeho obvod změřila nit o dvanácti loktech; stejně tak druhý sloup. 16Pro temena sloupů udělal dvě hlavice odlité z bronzu; výška jedné hlavice činila pět loket a výška druhé hlavice činila pět loket. 17 Udělal dvoje mřížování na přikrytí obou oblounů hlavic, které byly na temeni sloupů, jedno mřížování pro jednu hlavici a jedno mřížování pro druhou hlavici. 18(a)Udělal granátová jablka, byly jich dvě řady okolo každého mřížování, 19(b)celkem čtyři stovky, 20byla připevněna k vřetenu, které bylo za mřížováním; dvě stě granátových jablek bylo kolem jedné hlavice (18b)a stejně tak u druhé hlavice. (19a)Hlavice, které byly na temeni sloupů, měly tvar květů. 21Ty sloupy postavil před dvoranu svatyně; postavil pravý sloup a pojmenoval ho Boaz. 22Tak bylo dokončeno dílo sloupů. 23Udělal moře z litého kovu o deseti loktech od okraje k okraji, kruhového obvodu, pět loket vysoké; jeho obvod se změřil nití o třiceti loktech. 24Pod jeho okrajem byly tykvice, které je celé lemovaly; obtáčely moře kolem dokola na třiceti loktech; ty tykvice byly ve dvou řadách, byly odlity zároveň s ním. 25Spočívalo na dvanácti býcích: tři hleděli na sever, tři hleděli na západ, tři hleděli na jih a tři hleděli na východ; moře se zvedalo nad nimi a jejich zadky byly vesměs obráceny dovnitř. 26Jeho tloušťka činila jednu dlaň a jeho okraj měl stejný tvar jako okraj číše, jako květ. Pojalo dva tisíce batů. 27Udělal všech deset bronzových podstavců; každý podstavec byl čtyři lokty dlouhý, čtyři lokty široký a tři lokty vysoký. 28Byly udělány takto: měly rám a na rámu příčky rámu. 29Na příčkách rámu byli lvi, býci a cherubové a nad rámem byl nosník; pod lvy a býky byly točenice ve tvaru... 30Každý podstavec měl čtyři bronzová kola a bronzové osy; jeho čtyři nohy měly osazení pod nádrží a ta osazení byla odlita... 31Jeho otvor od zkřížení osazení až nahoru měl jeden a půl lokte; jeho otvor byl okrouhlý ve tvaru nosníku nádoby, a rovněž na tom otvoru byly plastiky; ale příčky byly čtverhranné a nikoli okrouhlé. 32Všechna čtyři kola byla pod příčkami. Čepy kol byly v podstavci; kola byla vysoká jeden a půl lokte. 33Kola měla tvar jako kola u vozu: jejich čepy, loukotě, paprsky i náboje, všechno bylo odlité. 34Bylo tam čtveré osazení, na čtyřech rozích každého podstavce: podstavec a osazení k němu tvořily jeden celek. 35Na vrcholku podstavce byl nosník o výšce poloviny lokte, měl kruhový obvod; na vrcholku podstavce byly kolíky; příčky s ním tvořily jeden celek. 36Na pásky vyryl cheruby, lvy, palmety... a kolem točenice. 37Takto udělal těch deset podstavců: stejné odlití, stejná míra pro všechny. 38Udělal deset bronzových nádrží, každá nádrž pojala čtyřicet batů a každá nádrž měla čtyři lokty, jedna nádrž na každý podstavec z těch deseti podstavců. 39Umístil podstavce, pět vedle pravé strany Chrámu a pět vedle levé strany Chrámu; moře pak umístil opodál, k pravé straně Chrámu na jihovýchodě. 40Chiram udělal nádoby na popel, lopaty, kropicí misky. Dokončil pro Jahvův Chrám celé dílo, jímž ho pověřil král Šalomoun: 41dva sloupy; dva oblouny hlavice, které byly na temeni sloupů; dvojí mřížování na přikrytí obou oblounů hlavic, které byly na temeni sloupů; 42čtyři sta granátových jablek pro obojí mřížování; granátová jablka každého mřížování byla ve dvou řadách; 43všech deset podstavců a všech deset nádrží na těchto podstavcích; 44jediné moře a dvanáct býků pod to moře; 45nádoby na popel, lopaty, kropicí misky. Všechny tyto předměty, jež Chiram králi Šalomounovi udělal pro Jahvův Chrám, byly z leštěného bronzu. 46Odlil je na jordánské pláni mezi Sukotem a Sartanem, přímo do země; 47vzhledem k jejich obrovskému množství váhu toho bronzu nespočítali. 48Šalomoun uložil všechny předměty, které udělal, v Jahvově Chrámě, zlatý oltář i stůl ze zlata, na němž jsou předkladné chleby; 49svícny z ryzího zlata, pět vpravo, pět vlevo před debirem; kvítky, lampy, kratiknoty ze zlata; 50nádrže, nože, kropicí misky, číše a kadidelnice z ryzího zlata; otočné čepy ze zlata ke dveřím vnitřní místnosti - to je velesvatyně - a hekalu. 51Tak byla skončena veškerá práce, kterou udělal král Šalomoun pro Jahvův Chrám, a Šalomoun přinesl to, co zasvětil jeho otec David, stříbro, zlato a nádoby, a dal to do pokladnice Jahvova Chrámu.
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 Never had any man so much of the spirit of building as Solomon had, nor to better purpose; he began with the temple, built for God first, and then all his other buildings were comfortable. The surest foundations of lasting prosperity are those which are laid in an early piety,
Matt 6:33. 1. He built a house for himself (
1Kgs 7:1),
where he dwelt, 1Kgs 7:8. His father had built a good house; but it was no reflection upon his father for him to build a better, in proportion to the estate wherewith God had blessed him. Much of the comfort of this life is connected with an agreeable house. He was thirteen years building this house, whereas he built the temple in little more than seven years; not that he was more exact, but less eager and intent, in building his own house than in building God's. He was in no haste for his own palace, but impatient till the temple was finished and fit for use. Thus we ought to prefer God's honour before our own ease and satisfaction. 2. He built
the house of the forest at Lebanon (
1Kgs 7:2), supposed to be a country seat near Jerusalem, so called from the pleasantness of its situation and the trees that encompassed it. I rather incline to think that it was a house built in the forest of Lebanon itself, whither (though far distant from Jerusalem) Solomon (having so many chariots and horses, and those dispersed into chariot-cities, which probably were his stages) might frequently retire with ease. It does not appear that his throne (mentioned
1Kgs 7:7) was at the house of the forest of Lebanon, and it was not at all improper to put his shields there as in a magazine. Express notice is taken of his buildings, not only in Jerusalem, but in Lebanon (
1Kgs 9:19), and we read of the tower of Lebanon, which looks towards Damascus (
Cant 7:4), which probably was part of this house. A particular account is given of this house, that being built in Lebanon, a place famed for cedars, the pillars, and beams, and roof, were all cedar (
1Kgs 7:2,
1Kgs 7:3), and, being designed for pleasant prospects, there were three tiers of windows on each side,
light against light (
1Kgs 7:4,
1Kgs 7:5), or, as it may be read,
prospect against prospect. Those whose lost i cast in the country may be well reconciled to a country life by this, that some of the greatest princes have thought those the most pleasant of their days which they have spent in their country retirements. 3. He built piazzas before one of his houses, either that at Jerusalem or that in Lebanon, which were very famous - a porch of pillars (
1Kgs 7:6), perhaps for an exchange or a guard-house, or for those to walk in that attended him about business till they could have audience, or for state and magnificence. He himself speaks of Wisdom's building her house, and
hewing out her seven pillars (
Prov 9:1), for the shelter of those that, three verses before (
1Kgs 8:34), are said to
watch daily at her gates and to wait at the posts of her doors. 4. At his house where he dwelt in Jerusalem he built a great hall, or porch of judgment, where was set the throne, or king's bench, for the trial of causes, in which he himself was appealed to (
placita coram ipso rege tenenda -
causes were to be adjusted in the king's presence ), and this was richly wainscoted with cedar, from the floor to the roof,
1Kgs 7:7. He had there also
another court within the porch, nearer his house, of similar work, for his attendants to walk in,
1Kgs 7:8. 5. He built a house for his wife, where she kept her court,
1Kgs 7:8. It is said to be
like the porch, because built of cedar like it, though not in the same form; this, no doubt, was nearer adjoining to his own palace, yet perhaps if it had been as near as it ought to have been Solomon would not have multiplied wives as he did.
The wonderful magnificence of all these buildings is taken notice of,
1Kgs 7:9, etc. All the materials were the best of their kind. The foundation-stones were costly for their size, four or five yards square, or at least so many yards long (
1Kgs 7:10), and the stones of the building were costly for the workmanship, hewn and sawn, and in all respects finely wrought,
1Kgs 7:9,
1Kgs 7:11. The court of his own house was like that of the temple (
1Kgs 7:12, compare
1Kgs 6:36); so well did he like the model of God's courts that he made his own by it.
13 We have here an account of the brass-work about the temple. There was no iron about the temple, though we find David preparing for the temple
iron for things of iron, 1Chr 29:2. What those things were we are not told, but some of the things of brass are here described and the rest mentioned.
I. The brasier whom Solomon employed to preside in this part of the work was Hiram, or Huram (
2Chr 4:11), who was by his mother's side an Israelite, of the tribe of Naphtali, by his father's side a man of Tyre,
1Kgs 7:14. If he had the ingenuity of a Tyrian, and the affection of an Israelite to the house of God (the head of a Tyrian and the heart of an Israelite), it was happy that the blood of the two nations mixed in him, for thereby he was qualified for the work to which he was designed. As the tabernacle was built with the wealth of Egypt, so the temple with the wit of Tyre. God will serve himself by the common gifts of the children of men.
II. The brass he made use of was the best he could get. All the brazen vessels were of
bright brass (
1Kgs 7:45),
good brass, so the Chaldee, that which was strongest and looked finest. God, who is the best, must be served and honoured with the best.
III. The place where all the brazen vessels were cast was the plain of Jordan, because the ground there was stiff and clayey, fit to make moulds of for the casting of the brass (
1Kgs 7:46), and Solomon would not have this dirty smoky work done in or near Jerusalem.
IV. The quantity was not accounted for. The vessels were
unnumbered (so it may be read,
1Kgs 7:47, as well as
unweighed ),
because they were exceedingly numerous, and it would have been an endless thing to keep the account of them;
neither was the weight of the brass, when it was delivered to the workmen, searched or enquired into; so honest were the workmen, and such great plenty of brass they had, that there was no danger of wanting. We must ascribe it to Solomon's care that he provided so much, not to his carelessness that he kept no account of it.
V. Some particulars of the brass-work are described.
1. Two brazen pillars, which were set up
in the porch of the temple (
1Kgs 7:21), whether under the cover of the porch or in the open air is not certain; it was between the temple and the court of the priests. These pillars were neither to hang gates upon nor to rest any building upon, but purely for ornament and significancy. (1.) What an ornament they were we may gather from the account here given of the curious work that was about them, chequer-work, chain-work, net-work, lily-work, and pomegranates in rows, and all of bright brass, and framed no doubt according to the best rules of proportion, to please the eye. (2.) Their significancy is intimated in the names given them (
1Kgs 7:21):
Jachin -
he will establish; and
Boaz -
in him is strength. Some think they were intended for memorials of the pillar of cloud and fire which led Israel through the wilderness: I rather think 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. When we come to wait upon God, and find our hearts wandering and unfixed, then by faith let us fetch in help from heaven:
Jachin -
God will fix this roving mind. It is a good thing that the heart be established with grace. We find ourselves weak and unable for holy duties, but this is our encouragement:
Boaz -
in him is our strength, who works in us both to will and to do.
I will go in the strength of the Lord God. Spiritual strength and stability are to be had at the door of God's temple, where we must wait for the gifts of grace in the use of the means of grace. [2.] It was a memorandum to them of the strength and establishment of the temple of God among them. Let them keep close to God and duty, and they should never lose their dignities and privileges, but the grant should be confirmed and perpetuated to them. The gospel church is what God will establish, what he will strengthen, and what the gates of hell can never prevail against. But, with respect to this temple, when it was destroyed particular notice was taken of the destroying of these pillars (
2Kgs 25:13,
2Kgs 25:17), which had been the tokens of its establishment, and would have been so if they had not forsaken God.
2. A brazen sea, a very large vessel, above five yards in diameter, and which contained above 500 barrels of water for the priests' use, in washing themselves and the sacrifices, and keeping the courts of the temple clean,
1Kgs 7:23, etc. It stood raised upon the figures of twelve oxen in brass, so high that either they must have stairs to climb up to it or cocks at the bottom to draw water from it. The Gibeonites, or Nethinim, who were to draw water for the house of God, had the care of filling it. Some think Solomon made the images of oxen to support this great cistern in contempt of the golden calf which Israel had worshipped, that (as bishop Patrick expresses it) the people might see there was nothing worthy of adoration in those figures; they were fitter to make posts of than to make gods of. Yet this prevailed not to prevent Jerusalem's setting up the calves for deities. In the court of the tabernacle there was only a laver of brass provided to wash in, but in the court of the temple a sea of brass, intimating that by the gospel of Christ much fuller preparation is made for our cleansing than was by the law of Moses. That had a laver, this has a sea,
a fountain opened, Zech 13:1.
3. Ten bases, or stands, or settles, of brass, on which were put ten lavers, to be filled with water for the service of the temple, because there would not be room at the molten sea for all that had occasion to wash there. The bases on which the lavers were fixed are very largely described here,
1Kgs 7:27, etc. They were curiously adorned and set upon wheels, that the lavers might be removed as there was occasion; but ordinarily they stood in two rows, five on one side of the court and five on the other,
1Kgs 7:39. Each laver contained forty baths, that is, about ten barrels,
1Kgs 7:38. Those must be very
clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. Spiritual priests and spiritual sacrifices must be washed in the laver of Christ's blood and of regeneration. We must wash often, for we daily contract pollution, must cleanse our hands and purify our hearts. Plentiful provision is made for our cleansing; so that if we have our lot for ever among the unclean it will be our own fault.
4. Besides these, there was a vast number of brass pots made to boil the flesh of the peace-offerings in, which the priests and offerers were to feast upon before the Lord (see
1Sam 2:14); also shovels, wherewith they took out the ashes of the altar. Some think the word signifies
flesh-hooks, with which they took meat out of the pot. The basins also were made of brass, to receive the blood of the sacrifices. These are put for all the utensils of the brazen altar,
Exod 38:3. While they were about it they made abundance of them, that they might have a good stock by them when those that were first in use wore out and went to decay. Thus Solomon, having wherewithal to do so, provided for posterity.
48 Here is, 1. The making of the gold work of the temple, which it seems was done last, for with it the work of the house of God ended. All within doors was gold, and all made new (except the ark, with its mercy-seat and cherubim), the old being either melted down or laid by - the golden altar, table, and candlestick, with all their appurtenances. The altar of incense was still
one, for Christ and his intercession are so: but he made ten golden tables,
2Chr 4:8 (though here mention is made of that one only
on which the show-bread was, 1Kgs 7:48, which we may suppose was larger than the rest and to which the rest were as side-boards), and
ten golden candlesticks (
1Kgs 7:49), intimating the much greater plenty both of spiritual food and heavenly light which the gospel blesses us with than the law of Moses did our could afford. Even the hinges of the door were of gold (
1Kgs 7:50), that every thing might be alike magnificent, and bespeak Solomon's generosity. Some suggest that every thing was made thus splendid in God's temple to keep the people from idolatry, for none of the idol-temples were so rich and fine as this: but how little the expedient availed the event showed. 2. The bringing in of the dedicated things, which David had devoted to the honour of God,
1Kgs 7:51. What was not expended in the building and furniture was laid up in the treasury, for repairs, exigencies, and the constant charge of the temple-service. What the parents have dedicated to God the children ought by no means to alienate or recall, but should cheerfully devote what was intended for pious and charitable uses, that they may, with their estates, inherit the blessing.