1Und sein Haus baute Schelomo dreizehn Jahre, dann war er mit seinem ganzen Haus fertig. 2Und er baute das Libanonwaldhaus hundert Ellen lang, fünfzig Ellen breit und dreißig Ellen hoch, auf vier Reihen Zedernsäulen, und Zedernabschlüsse auf den Säulen. 3Und gedeckt war es mit Zedern oben auf den Brettern, die auf den Säulen waren, ihrer fünfundvierzig, fünfzehn die Reihe. 4Und Hochbalken in drei Reihen, und zwar Durchblick zu Durchblick dreimal. 5Und alle Türen und Pfosten, mit vierkantigen Hochbalken und gerichtet Durchblick zu Durchblick, dreimal. 6Und die Halle der Säulen machte er, fünfzig Ellen lang und dreißig Ellen breit, und eine Halle vor ihnen und Säulen und Dickbalken vor diesen. 7Und die Halle des Throns, wo er richten sollte, die Halle des Gerichts, machte er, und getäfelt war sie mit Zeder von Fußboden bis zu Fußboden. 8Und sein Haus, darin er wohnen sollte, mit dem andern Hof innerhalb der Halle war von derselben Machart; und ein Haus machte er für die Tochter Par'os, die Schelomo heimgeführt hatte, mit solcher Halle. 9Alle diese aus teuren Steinen nach den Abmessungen von Quadern, die mit der Walze herangewälzt worden waren, von innen und von außen und vom Grund bis zu den Kragsteinen, und von außen bis zum großen Hof. 10Das war gegründet mit teuren Steinen, großen Steinen, Steinen von zehn Ellen und Steinen von acht Ellen. 11Und obenauf teure Steine nach den Abmessungen von Quadern, und (dann) Zeder. 12Und der große Hof ringsum drei Reihen Quadern und eine Reihe Abschlüsse aus Zedern, und so für den innern Hof des Hauses des Ewigen und für die Halle des Hauses. 13Dann sandte der König Schelomo und ließ Hiram von Zor holen. 14Sohn einer Witfrau aus dem Stamm Naftali war er, und sein Vater war ein Mann aus Zor, ein Erzschmied, und er war voll von Wissen, Einsicht und Verständnis, jegliche Arbeit in Erz zu machen; und er kam zum König Schelomo und machte all seine Arbeit. 15Und er formte die beiden Säulen aus Erz, achtzehn Ellen die Höhe der einen Säule, und ein Faden von zwölf Ellen ummißt die zweite Säule. 16Und zwei Krönungen machte er, auf die Spitzen der Säulen zu setzen, gegossen aus Erz, fünf Ellen die Höhe der einen Krönung und fünf Ellen die Höhe der zweiten Krönung. 17Gitter in Gitterarbeit, Schnüre in Kettenarbeit für die Krönungen, die auf die Spitze der Säulen kamen, sieben für die eine Krönung und sieben für die zweite Krönung. 18Und er fertigte die Säulen an: Zwei Reihen (von Granaten) ringsum auf dem einen Gitter, um die Krönungen an der Spitze mit den Granaten zu bedecken, und ebenso machte er es für die zweite Krönung. 19Und die Krönungen an der Spitze der Säulen waren wie Blumen gemacht, in der Halle, vier Ellen. 20Und die Krönungen auf den beiden Säulen waren auch oberhalb, gleichlaufend der Ausbauchung, die nach der Seite des Gitters ging. Und der Granaten waren zweihundert, in Reihen ringsum, (und so auch) auf der zweiten Krönung. 21Und er stellte die Säulen für die Halle des Tempels auf: Er stellte die rechte Säule auf und nannte sie Jachin, und stellte die linke Säule auf und nannte sie Boas. 22Und zuoberst der Säulen war es wie Blumen gemacht. Dann war die Arbeit der Säulen beendet. 23Und er machte das «Meer», gegossen, zehn Ellen von Rand zu Rand kreisrund, und fünf Ellen hoch, und eine Schnur von dreißig Ellen ummißt es ringsum. 24Und Knospen unterhalb seines Randes ringsum umgaben es, zehn Ellen, umschlangen das Meer ringsum, in zwei Reihen waren die Knospen, mitgegossen bei seinem Guß. 25Es stand auf zwölf Rindern; drei nach Norden gewendet, drei nach Westen gewendet, drei nach Süden gewendet und drei nach Osten gewendet; und das Meer auf ihnen obenauf, all ihre Hinterteile aber einwärts. 26Und seine Dicke war eine Handbreite und sein Rand wie ein Becherrand gemacht, als Blumenblüte; zweitausend Bat faßte es. 27Und er machte die (Fahr-)Gestelle zehn von Erz, vier Ellen die Länge des einen Gestells, vier Ellen die Breite und drei Ellen die Höhe. 28Und dies war die Machart der Gestelle: Fülleisten hatten sie, und Fülleisten zwischen den Eckleisten. 29Und auf den Fülleisten zwischen den Eckleisten waren Löwen, Rinder und Kerubim, und auf den Eckleisten oben war ein Untersatz, und unterhalb der Löwen und der Rinder Kränze, als Gehänge gemacht. 30Und vier Räder von Erz hatte jedes Gestell und Achsen von Erz, und ihre vier Fußecken hatten Schulterwände, unterhalb des Beckens waren so die Schulterwände gegossen, zu jeder Seite Kränze. 31Und ihre Mundöffnung war innerhalb der Krönung und obenauf eine Elle, und ihre Öffnung war rund, als Untersatz gemacht, eine und eine halbe Elle; und auch an ihrer Öffnung waren Ausschlagungen, ihre Fülleisten aber waren viereckig, nicht rund. 32Und die vier Räder waren unterhalb der Fülleisten, und die Seitenleisten der Räder waren an dem Gestell, und die Höhe jedes Rades war eine und eine halbe Elle. 33Und die Räder waren gleich der Arbeit eines Wagenrades gearbeitet, ihre Seitenleisten, ihre Felgen, ihre Speichen und ihre Naben, alles gegossen. 34Und vier Schulterwände an den vier Winkeln jedes Gestells, aus dem Gestell waren seine Schulterwände. 35Und am Oberstück des Gestells war eine halbe Elle hoch kreisrund, und an dem Oberstück des Gestells waren ihre Seitenleisten und Fülleisten aus ihm. 36Und er grub ein auf den Brettern, ihren Seitenleisten und auf ihren Fülleisten Kerubim, Löwen und Palmen nach dem Freiraum eines jeden und Kränze ringsum. 37Derart machte er die zehn Gestelle, einerlei Guß, einerlei Maß, einerlei Schnitt für sie alle. 38Und er machte zehn Becken von Erz, vierzig Bat faßte jedes Becken, vier Ellen jedes Becken, je ein Becken auf je ein Gestell für die zehn Gestelle. 39Und er tat von den Gestellen fünf an die Flanke des Hauses rechts und fünf an die Flanke des Hauses links; und das Meer tat er von der rechten Flanke des Hauses nach Osten zu, nahe der Südseite. 40Und Hiram machte die Becken und die Schaufeln und die Sprengbecken. So war Hiram damit fertig, das ganze Werk zu machen, das er dem König Schelomo im Haus des Ewigen gemacht. 41Säulen zwei und Kugeln der Krönungen an der Spitze der Säulen zwei, die Gitter zwei, die beiden Kugeln der Krönung an der Spitze der Säulen zu bedecken. 42Und die Granaten, vierhundert, für die zwei Gitter, zwei Reihen Granaten für je ein Gitter, die beiden Kugeln der Krönungen vorn an den Säulen zu bedecken. 43Und die Gestelle zehn, die Becken zehn auf die Gestelle. 44Und das «Meer», eins, und die Rinder zwölf, unter dem «Meer». 45Und die Töpfe, die Schaufeln und die Sprengbecken, und alle diese Geräte, die Hiram dem König Schelomo für das Haus des Ewigen machte, aus geglättetem Erz. 46Im Rund des Jardens ließ sie der König gießen, bei der Schwelle von ha-Adama zwischen Sukkot und Zaretan. 47Und Schelomo ließ alle Geräte in übergroßer Menge hinlegen, es wurde das Gewicht des Erzes nicht festgestellt. 48Und Schelomo ließ alle Geräte machen, die zum Haus des Ewigen gehörten: Den goldenen Altar und den Tisch, auf den das Vorlegebrot kam, aus Gold. 49Und die Leuchter, fünf zur Rechten und fünf zur Linken vor dem Innenraum, aus massigem Gold, das Blumenwerk, die Lampen und die Scheren aus Gold. 50Und die Näpfe, Messer, Sprengbecken, Löffel und Pfannen aus massigem Gold, und die Angeln für die Türen des innern Hauses, des Hochheiligen, für die Türen des Hauses zum Tempel, aus Gold. 51Als so all die Arbeit, die der König Schelomo im Haus des Ewigen anfertigen ließ, vollständig war, da brachte Schelomo die Weihgabe seines Vaters Dawid hinein; das Silber, das Gold und die Geräte tat er in die Schatzkammern des Hauses des Ewigen.
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.