1[1:18] καιG2532{CONJ} ειπεν{V-AAI-3S} σαλωμων{N-PRI} τουG3588{T-GSN} οικοδομησαιG3618{V-AAN} οικονG3624{N-ASM} τωG3588{T-DSN} ονοματιG3686{N-DSN} יהוהH3068{N-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} οικονG3624{N-ASM} τηG3588{T-DSF} βασιλειαG932{N-DSF} αυτουG846{D-GSM} 2[2:1] καιG2532{CONJ} συνηγαγενG4863{V-AAI-3S} σαλωμων{N-PRI} εβδομηκονταG1440{N-NUI} χιλιαδαςG5505{N-APF} ανδρωνG435{N-GPM} καιG2532{CONJ} ογδοηκονταG3589{N-NUI} χιλιαδαςG5505{N-APF} λατομων{N-GPM} ενG1722{PREP} τωG3588{T-DSN} ορειG3735{N-DSN} καιG2532{CONJ} οιG3588{T-NPM} επισταταιG1988{N-NPM} επG1909{PREP} αυτωνG846{D-GPM} τρισχιλιοιG5153{A-NPM} εξακοσιοιG1812{A-NPM} 3[2:2] καιG2532{CONJ} απεστειλενG649{V-AAI-3S} σαλωμων{N-PRI} προςG4314{PREP} χιραμ{N-PRI} βασιλεαG935{N-ASM} τυρουG5184{N-GSM} λεγωνG3004{V-PAPNS} ωςG3739{ADV} εποιησαςG4160{V-AAI-2S} μεταG3326{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} πατροςG3962{N-GSM} μουG1473{P-GS} δαυιδ{N-PRI} καιG2532{CONJ} απεστειλαςG649{V-AAI-2S} αυτωG846{D-DSM} κεδρους{N-APF} τουG3588{T-GSN} οικοδομησαιG3618{V-AAN} εαυτωG1438{D-DSM} οικονG3624{N-ASM} κατοικησαι{V-AAN} ενG1722{PREP} αυτωG846{D-DSM} 4[2:3] καιG2532{CONJ} ιδουG2400{INJ} εγωG1473{P-NS} οG3588{T-NSM} υιοςG5207{N-NSM} αυτουG846{D-GSM} οικοδομωG3618{V-PAI-1S} οικονG3624{N-ASM} τωG3588{T-DSN} ονοματιG3686{N-DSN} יהוהH3068{N-GSM} θεουG2316{N-GSM} μουG1473{P-GS} αγιασαιG37{V-AAN} αυτονG846{D-ASM} αυτωG846{D-DSM} τουG3588{T-GSN} θυμιανG2370{V-PAN} απεναντι{ADV} αυτουG846{D-GSM} θυμιαμαG2368{N-ASN} καιG2532{CONJ} προθεσινG4286{N-ASF} διαG1223{PREP} παντοςG3956{A-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} τουG3588{T-GSN} αναφερεινG399{V-PAN} ολοκαυτωματαG3646{N-APN} διαG1223{PREP} παντοςG3956{A-GSM} τοG3588{T-ASN} πρωιG4404{ADV} καιG2532{CONJ} τοG3588{T-ASN} δειλης{N-GSF} καιG2532{CONJ} ενG1722{PREP} τοιςG3588{T-DPN} σαββατοιςG4521{N-DPN} καιG2532{CONJ} ενG1722{PREP} ταιςG3588{T-DPF} νουμηνιαιςG3561{N-DPF} καιG2532{CONJ} ενG1722{PREP} ταιςG3588{T-DPF} εορταιςG1859{N-DPF} τουG3588{T-GSM} יהוהH3068{N-GSM} θεουG2316{N-GSM} ημωνG1473{P-GP} ειςG1519{PREP} τονG3588{T-ASM} αιωναG165{N-ASM} τουτοG3778{D-NSN} επιG1909{PREP} τονG3588{T-ASM} ισραηλG2474{N-PRI} 5[2:4] καιG2532{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} οικοςG3624{N-NSM} ονG3739{R-ASM} εγωG1473{P-NS} οικοδομωG3618{V-PAI-1S} μεγαςG3173{A-NSM} οτιG3754{CONJ} μεγαςG3173{A-NSM} οG3588{T-NSM} θεοςG2316{N-NSM} ημωνG1473{P-GP} παραG3844{PREP} πανταςG3956{A-APM} τουςG3588{T-APM} θεουςG2316{N-APM} 6[2:5] καιG2532{CONJ} τιςG5100{I-NSM} ισχυσειG2480{V-FAI-3S} οικοδομησαιG3618{V-AAN} αυτωG846{D-DSM} οικονG3624{N-ASM} οτιG3754{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} ουρανοςG3772{N-NSM} καιG2532{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} ουρανοςG3772{N-NSM} τουG3588{T-GSM} ουρανουG3772{N-GSM} ουG3364{ADV} φερουσινG5342{V-PAI-3P} αυτουG846{D-GSM} τηνG3588{T-ASF} δοξανG1391{N-ASF} καιG2532{CONJ} τιςG5100{I-NSM} εγωG1473{P-NS} οικοδομωνG3618{V-PAPNS} αυτωG846{D-DSM} οικονG3624{N-ASM} οτιG3754{CONJ} αλλG235{CONJ} ηG2228{CONJ} τουG3588{T-GSN} θυμιανG2370{V-PAN} κατεναντι{ADV} αυτουG846{D-GSM} 7[2:6] καιG2532{CONJ} νυνG3568{ADV} αποστειλονG649{V-AAD-2S} μοιG1473{P-DS} ανδραG435{N-ASM} σοφονG4680{A-ASM} καιG2532{CONJ} ειδοτα{V-RAPAS} τουG3588{T-GSN} ποιησαιG4160{V-AAN} ενG1722{PREP} τωG3588{T-DSN} χρυσιωG5553{N-DSN} καιG2532{CONJ} ενG1722{PREP} τωG3588{T-DSN} αργυριωG694{N-DSN} καιG2532{CONJ} ενG1722{PREP} τωG3588{T-DSM} χαλκω{A-DSM} καιG2532{CONJ} ενG1722{PREP} τωG3588{T-DSM} σιδηρωG4604{N-DSM} καιG2532{CONJ} ενG1722{PREP} τηG3588{T-DSF} πορφυραG4209{N-DSF} καιG2532{CONJ} ενG1722{PREP} τωG3588{T-DSM} κοκκινωG2847{A-DSM} καιG2532{CONJ} ενG1722{PREP} τηG3588{T-DSF} υακινθωG5192{N-DSF} καιG2532{CONJ} επισταμενονG1987{V-PMPAS} γλυψαι{V-AAN} γλυφην{N-ASF} μεταG3326{PREP} τωνG3588{T-GPM} σοφωνG4680{A-GPM} τωνG3588{T-GPM} μετG3326{PREP} εμουG1473{P-GS} ενG1722{PREP} ιουδαG2448{N-PRI} καιG2532{CONJ} ενG1722{PREP} ιερουσαλημG2419{N-PRI} ωνG3739{R-GPM} ητοιμασενG2090{V-AAI-3S} δαυιδ{N-PRI} οG3588{T-NSM} πατηρG3962{N-NSM} μουG1473{P-GS} 8[2:7] καιG2532{CONJ} αποστειλονG649{V-AAD-2S} μοιG1473{P-DS} ξυλαG3586{N-APN} κεδρινα{A-APN} καιG2532{CONJ} αρκευθινα{A-APN} καιG2532{CONJ} πευκινα{A-APN} εκG1537{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} λιβανουG3030{N-GSM} οτιG3754{CONJ} εγωG1473{P-NS} οιδα{V-RAI-1S} ωςG3739{PRT} οιG3588{T-NPM} δουλοιG1401{N-NPM} σουG4771{P-GS} οιδασιν{V-RAI-3P} κοπτεινG2875{V-PAN} ξυλαG3586{N-APN} εκG1537{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} λιβανουG3030{N-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} ιδουG2400{INJ} οιG3588{T-NPM} παιδεςG3816{N-NPM} σουG4771{P-GS} μεταG3326{PREP} τωνG3588{T-GPM} παιδωνG3816{N-GPM} μουG1473{P-GS} 9[2:8] πορευσονταιG4198{V-FMI-3P} ετοιμασαιG2090{V-AAN} μοιG1473{P-DS} ξυλαG3586{N-APN} ειςG1519{PREP} πληθοςG4128{N-ASN} οτιG3754{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} οικοςG3624{N-NSM} ονG3739{R-ASM} εγωG1473{P-NS} οικοδομωG3618{V-PAI-1S} μεγαςG3173{A-NSM} καιG2532{CONJ} ενδοξοςG1741{A-NSM} 10[2:9] καιG2532{CONJ} ιδουG2400{INJ} τοιςG3588{T-DPM} εργαζομενοιςG2038{V-PMPDP} τοιςG3588{T-DPM} κοπτουσινG2875{V-PAI-3P} ξυλαG3586{N-APN} ειςG1519{PREP} βρωματαG1033{N-APN} δεδωκαG1325{V-RAI-1S} σιτονG4621{N-ASM} ειςG1519{PREP} δοματαG1390{N-APN} τοιςG3588{T-DPM} παισινG3816{N-DPM} σουG4771{P-GS} κορωνG2884{N-GPM} εικοσιG1501{N-NUI} χιλιαδαςG5505{N-APF} καιG2532{CONJ} κριθωνG2915{N-GPF} κορωνG2884{N-GPM} εικοσιG1501{N-NUI} χιλιαδαςG5505{N-APF} καιG2532{CONJ} οινουG3631{N-GSM} μετρωνG3358{N-GPN} εικοσιG1501{N-NUI} χιλιαδαςG5505{N-APF} καιG2532{CONJ} ελαιουG1637{N-GSN} μετρωνG3358{N-GPN} εικοσιG1501{N-NUI} χιλιαδαςG5505{N-APF} 11[2:10] καιG2532{CONJ} ειπεν{V-AAI-3S} χιραμ{N-PRI} βασιλευςG935{N-NSM} τυρουG5184{N-GSM} ενG1722{PREP} γραφηG1124{N-DSF} καιG2532{CONJ} απεστειλενG649{V-AAI-3S} προςG4314{PREP} σαλωμων{N-PRI} ενG1722{PREP} τωG3588{T-DSN} αγαπησαιG25{V-AAN} יהוהH3068{N-ASM} τονG3588{T-ASM} λαονG2992{N-ASM} αυτουG846{D-GSM} εδωκενG1325{V-AAI-3S} σεG4771{P-AS} επG1909{PREP} αυτουςG846{D-APM} ειςG1519{PREP} βασιλεαG935{N-ASM} 12[2:11] καιG2532{CONJ} ειπεν{V-AAI-3S} χιραμ{N-PRI} ευλογητοςG2128{A-NSM} יהוהH3068{N-NSM} οG3588{T-NSM} θεοςG2316{N-NSM} ισραηλG2474{N-PRI} οςG3739{R-NSM} εποιησενG4160{V-AAI-3S} τονG3588{T-ASM} ουρανονG3772{N-ASM} καιG2532{CONJ} τηνG3588{T-ASF} γηνG1065{N-ASF} οςG3739{R-NSM} εδωκενG1325{V-AAI-3S} τωG3588{T-DSM} δαυιδ{N-PRI} τωG3588{T-DSM} βασιλειG935{N-DSM} υιονG5207{N-ASM} σοφονG4680{A-ASM} καιG2532{CONJ} επισταμενονG1987{V-PMPAS} συνεσινG4907{N-ASF} καιG2532{CONJ} επιστημην{N-ASF} οςG3739{R-NSM} οικοδομησειG3618{V-FAI-3S} οικονG3624{N-ASM} τωG3588{T-DSM} יהוהH3068{N-DSM} καιG2532{CONJ} οικονG3624{N-ASM} τηG3588{T-DSF} βασιλειαG932{N-DSF} αυτουG846{D-GSM} 13[2:12] καιG2532{CONJ} νυνG3568{ADV} απεσταλκαG649{V-RAI-1S} σοιG4771{P-DS} ανδραG435{N-ASM} σοφονG4680{A-ASM} καιG2532{CONJ} ειδοτα{V-RAPAS} συνεσινG4907{N-ASF} τονG3588{T-ASM} χιραμ{N-PRI} τονG3588{T-ASM} πατεραG3962{N-ASM} μουG1473{P-GS} 14[2:13] ηG3588{T-NSF} μητηρG3384{N-NSF} αυτουG846{D-GSM} αποG575{PREP} θυγατερωνG2364{N-GPF} δαν{N-PRI} καιG2532{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} πατηρG3962{N-NSM} αυτουG846{D-GSM} ανηρG435{N-NSM} τυριοςG5183{N-NSM} ειδοτα{V-RAPAS} ποιησαιG4160{V-AAN} ενG1722{PREP} χρυσιωG5553{N-DSN} καιG2532{CONJ} ενG1722{PREP} αργυριωG694{N-DSN} καιG2532{CONJ} ενG1722{PREP} χαλκω{A-DSM} καιG2532{CONJ} ενG1722{PREP} σιδηρωG4604{N-DSM} ενG1722{PREP} λιθοιςG3037{N-DPM} καιG2532{CONJ} ξυλοιςG3586{N-DPN} καιG2532{CONJ} υφαινειν{V-PAN} ενG1722{PREP} τηG3588{T-DSF} πορφυραG4209{N-DSF} καιG2532{CONJ} ενG1722{PREP} τηG3588{T-DSF} υακινθωG5192{N-DSF} καιG2532{CONJ} ενG1722{PREP} τηG3588{T-DSF} βυσσωG1040{N-DSF} καιG2532{CONJ} ενG1722{PREP} τωG3588{T-DSM} κοκκινωG2847{A-DSM} καιG2532{CONJ} γλυψαι{V-AAN} γλυφας{N-APF} καιG2532{CONJ} διανοεισθαι{V-PMN} πασανG3956{A-ASF} διανοησιν{N-ASF} οσαG3745{A-APN} ανG302{PRT} δωςG1325{V-AAS-2S} αυτωG846{D-DSM} μεταG3326{PREP} τωνG3588{T-GPM} σοφωνG4680{A-GPM} σουG4771{P-GS} καιG2532{CONJ} σοφωνG4680{A-GPM} δαυιδ{N-PRI} κυριουG2962{N-GSM} μουG1473{P-GS} πατροςG3962{N-GSM} σουG4771{P-GS} 15[2:14] καιG2532{CONJ} νυνG3568{ADV} τονG3588{T-ASM} σιτονG4621{N-ASM} καιG2532{CONJ} τηνG3588{T-ASF} κριθηνG2915{N-ASF} καιG2532{CONJ} τοG3588{T-ASN} ελαιονG1637{N-ASN} καιG2532{CONJ} τονG3588{T-ASM} οινονG3631{N-ASM} αG3739{R-APN} ειπεν{V-AAI-3S} οG3588{T-NSM} κυριοςG2962{N-NSM} μουG1473{P-GS} αποστειλατωG649{V-AAD-3S} τοιςG3588{T-DPM} παισινG3816{N-DPM} αυτουG846{D-GSM} 16[2:15] καιG2532{CONJ} ημειςG1473{P-NP} κοψομενG2875{V-FAI-1P} ξυλαG3586{N-APN} εκG1537{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} λιβανουG3030{N-GSM} καταG2596{PREP} πασανG3956{A-ASF} τηνG3588{T-ASF} χρειανG5532{N-ASF} σουG4771{P-GS} καιG2532{CONJ} αξομενG71{V-FAI-1P} αυταG846{D-APN} σχεδιαις{N-DPF} επιG1909{PREP} θαλασσανG2281{N-ASF} ιοππηςG2445{N-GSF} καιG2532{CONJ} συG4771{P-NS} αξειςG71{V-FAI-2S} αυταG846{D-APN} ειςG1519{PREP} ιερουσαλημG2419{N-PRI} 17[2:16] καιG2532{CONJ} συνηγαγενG4863{V-AAI-3S} σαλωμων{N-PRI} πανταςG3956{A-APM} τουςG3588{T-APM} ανδραςG435{N-APM} τουςG3588{T-APM} προσηλυτουςG4339{N-APM} ενG1722{PREP} γηG1065{N-DSF} ισραηλG2474{N-PRI} μεταG3326{PREP} τονG3588{T-ASM} αριθμονG706{N-ASM} ονG3739{R-ASM} ηριθμησενG705{V-AAI-3S} αυτουςG846{D-APM} δαυιδ{N-PRI} οG3588{T-NSM} πατηρG3962{N-NSM} αυτουG846{D-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} ευρεθησανG2147{V-API-3P} εκατονG1540{N-NUI} πεντηκονταG4004{N-NUI} χιλιαδεςG5505{N-NPF} καιG2532{CONJ} τρισχιλιοιG5153{A-NPM} εξακοσιοιG1812{A-NPM} 18[2:17] καιG2532{CONJ} εποιησενG4160{V-AAI-3S} εξG1537{PREP} αυτωνG846{D-GPM} εβδομηκονταG1440{N-NUI} χιλιαδαςG5505{N-APF} νωτοφορων{A-GPM} καιG2532{CONJ} ογδοηκονταG3589{N-NUI} χιλιαδαςG5505{N-APF} λατομων{N-GPM} καιG2532{CONJ} τρισχιλιουςG5153{A-APM} εξακοσιουςG1812{A-APM} εργοδιωκτας{N-APM} επιG1909{PREP} τονG3588{T-ASM} λαονG2992{N-ASM}
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 Solomon's wisdom was given him, not merely for speculation, to entertain himself (though it is indeed a princely entertainment), nor merely for conversation, to entertain his friends, but for action; and therefore to action he immediately applies himself. Observe,
I. His resolution within himself concerning his business (
2Chr 2:1):
He determined to build, in the first place, a
house for the name of the Lord. It is fit that he who is the first should be served - first a temple and then a palace, a house not so much for himself, or his own convenience and magnitude, as for the kingdom, for the honour of it among its neighbours and for the decent reception of the people whenever they had occasion to apply to their prince; so that in both he aimed at the public good. Those are the wisest men that lay out themselves most for the honour of the name of the Lord and the welfare of communities. We are not born for ourselves, but for God and our country.
II. His embassy to Huram, king of Tyre, to engage his assistance in the prosecution of his designs. The purport of his errand to him is much the same here as we had it
1Kgs 5:2, etc., only here it is more largely set forth.
1. The reasons why he makes this application to Huram are here more fully represented, for information to Huram as well as for inducement. (1.) He pleads his father's interest in Huram, and the kindness he had received from him (
2Chr 2:3):
As thou didst deal with David, so deal with me. As we must show kindness to, so we may expect kindness from, our fathers' friends, and with them should cultivate a correspondence. (2.) He represents his design in building the temple: he intended it for a place of religious worship (
2Chr 2:4), that all the offerings which God had appointed for the honour of his name might be offered up there. The house was built that it might be dedicated to God and used in his service. This we should aim at in all our business, that our havings and doings may be all to the glory of God. He mentions various particular services that were there to be performed, for the instruction of Huram. The mysteries of the true religion, unlike those of the Gentile superstition, coveted not concealment. (3.) He endeavors to inspire Huram with very great and high thoughts of the God of Israel, by expressing the mighty veneration he had for his holy name:
Great is our God above all gods, above all idols, above all princes. Idols are nothing, princes are little, and both under the control of the God of Israel; and therefore, [1.] The house must be great; not in proportion to the greatness of that God to whom it is to be dedicated (for between finite and infinite there can be no proportion), but in some proportion to the great value and esteem we have for this God. [2.] Yet, be it ever so great, it cannot be a habitation for the great God. Let not Huram think that the God of Israel, like the gods of the nations,
dwells in temples made with hands, Acts 17:24. No, the
heaven of heavens cannot contain him. It is intended only for the convenience of his priests and worshippers, that they may have a fit place wherein to burn sacrifice before him. [3.] He looked upon himself, though a mighty prince, as unworthy the honour of being employed in this great work:
Who am I that I should build him a house? It becomes us to go about every work for God with a due sense of our utter insufficiency for it and our incapacity to do any thing adequate to the divine perfections. It is part of the wisdom wherein we ought to walk towards those that are without carefully to guard against all misapprehension which any thing we say or do may occasion concerning God; so Solomon does here in his treaty with Huram.
2. The requests he makes to him are more particularly set down here. (1.) He desired Huram would furnish him with a good hand to work (
2Chr 2:7):
Send me a man. He had
cunning men with him in Jerusalem and Judah, whom David provided,
1Chr 22:15. Let them not think but that Jews had some among them that were artists. But
send me a man to direct them. There are ingenious men in Jerusalem, but not such engravers as are in Tyre; and therefore, since temple-work must be the best in its kind, let me have the best workmen that can be got. (2.) With good materials to work on (
2Chr 2:8), cedar and other timber in abundance (
2Chr 2:8,
2Chr 2:9); for the house must be
wonderfully great, that is, very stately and magnificent, no cost must be spared, nor any contrivance wanting in it.
3. Here is Solomon's engagement to maintain the workmen (
2Chr 2:10), to give them so much wheat and barley, so much wine and oil. He did not feed his workmen with bread and water, but with plenty, and every thing of the best. Those that employ labourers ought to take care they be not only well paid, but well provided for with sufficient of that which is wholesome and fit for them. Let the rich masters do for their poor workmen as they would be done by if the tables were turned.
11 Here we have, I. The return which Huram made to Solomon's embassy, in which he shows a great respect for Solomon and a readiness to serve him. Meaner people may learn of these great ones to be neighbourly and complaisant. 1. He congratulates Israel on having such a king as Solomon was (
2Chr 2:11):
Because the Lord loved his people, he has made thee king. Note, A wise and good government is a great blessing to a people, and may well be accounted a singular token of God's favour. He does not say,
Because he loved thee (though that was true,
2Sam 12:24)
he made thee king, but because he
loved his people. Princes must look upon themselves as preferred for the public good, not for their own personal satisfaction, and should rule so as to prove that they were given in love and not in anger. 2. He blesses God for raising up such a successor to David,
2Chr 2:12. It should seem that Huram was not only very well affected to the Jewish nation, and well pleased with their prosperity, but that he was proselyted to the Jewish religion, and worshipped Jehovah,
the God of Israel (who was now known by that name to the neighbouring nations), as
the God that made heaven and earth, and as the fountain of power as well as being; for he sets up kings. Now that the people of Israel kept close to the law and worship of God, and so preserved their honour, the neighbouring nations were as willing to be instructed by them in the true religion as Israel had been, in the days of their apostasy, to be infected with the idolatries and superstitions of their neighbours. This made them high, that they lent to many nations and did not borrow, lent truth to them, and did not borrow error from them; as when they did the contrary it was their shame. 3. He sent him a very ingenious curious workman, that would not fail to answer his expectations in every thing, one that had both Jewish and Gentile blood meeting in him; for his mother was an Israelite (Huram though she was of the tribe of Dan, and therefore says so here,
2Chr 2:14, but it seems she was of the tribe of Naphtali,
1Kgs 7:14), but his father was a Tyrian - a good omen of uniting Jew and Gentile in the gospel temple, as it was afterwards when the building of the second temple was greatly furthered by Darius (Ezra 6), who is supposed to have been the son of Esther - an Israelite by the mother's side. 4. He engaged for the timber, as much as he would have occasion for, and undertook to deliver it at Joppa, and withal signified his dependence upon Solomon for the maintenance of the workmen as he had promised, v. 15, 16. This agreement we had,
1Kgs 5:8,
1Kgs 5:9.
II. The orders which Solomon gave about the workmen. He would not employ the free-born Israelites in the drudgery work of the temple itself, not so much as to be overseers of it. In this he employed the strangers who were proselyted to the Jewish religion, who had not lands of inheritance in Canaan as the Israelites had, and therefore applied to trades, and got their living by their ingenuity and industry. There were, at this time, vast numbers of them in the land (
2Chr 2:17), who, if they were of any of the devoted nations, perhaps fell within the case, and therefore fell under the law, of the Gibeonites, to be hewers of wood for the congregation: if not, yet being in many respects well provided for by the law of Moses, and put upon an equal footing with the native Israelites, they were bound in gratitude to do what they could for the service of the temple. Yet, no doubt, they were well paid in money or money's worth: the law was,
Thou shalt not oppress a stranger. The distribution of them we have here (
2Chr 2:2, and again
2Chr 2:18), in all 150,000. Canaan was a fruitful land, that found meat for so many mouths more than the numerous natives; and the temple was a vast building, that found work for so many bands. Mr. Fuller suggests that the expedient peculiar to this structure, of framing all beforehand, must needs increase the work. I think it rather left so much the more room for this vast multitude of hands to be employed in it; for in the forest of Lebanon they might all be at work together, without crowding one another, which they could not have been upon Mount Sion. And, if there had not been such vast numbers employed, so large and curious a fabric, which was begun and ended in seven years, might, for aught I know, have been as long in building as St. Paul's.