Worthy.Bible » STRONG » 1 Kings » Chapter 6 » Verse 23-30

1 Kings 6:23-30 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

23 And within the oracle H1687 he made H6213 two H8147 cherubims H3742 of olive H8081 tree, H6086 each ten H6235 cubits H520 high. H6967

24 And five H2568 cubits H520 was the one H259 wing H3671 of the cherub, H3742 and five H2568 cubits H520 the other H8145 wing H3671 of the cherub: H3742 from the uttermost part H7098 of the one wing H3671 unto the uttermost part H7098 of the other H3671 were ten H6235 cubits. H520

25 And the other H8145 cherub H3742 was ten H6235 cubits: H520 both H8147 the cherubims H3742 were of one H259 measure H4060 and one H259 size. H7095

26 The height H6967 of the one H259 cherub H3742 was ten H6235 cubits, H520 and so was it of the other H8145 cherub. H3742

27 And he set H5414 the cherubims H3742 within H8432 the inner H6442 house: H1004 and they stretched forth H6566 the wings H3671 of the cherubims, H3742 so that the wing H3671 of the one H259 touched H5060 the one wall, H7023 and the wing H3671 of the other H8145 cherub H3742 touched H5060 the other H8145 wall; H7023 and their wings H3671 touched H5060 one H3671 another H3671 in the midst H8432 of the house. H1004

28 And he overlaid H6823 the cherubims H3742 with gold. H2091

29 And he carved H7049 all the walls H7023 of the house H1004 round about H4524 with carved H6603 figures H4734 of cherubims H3742 and palm trees H8561 and open H6362 flowers, H6731 within H6441 and without. H2435

30 And the floor H7172 of the house H1004 he overlaid H6823 with gold, H2091 within H6441 and without. H2435

Commentary on 1 Kings 6 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 6

1Ki 6:1-4. The Building of Solomon's Temple.

2. the house which king Solomon built for the Lord—The dimensions are given in cubits, which are to be reckoned according to the early standard (2Ch 3:3), or holy cubit (Eze 40:5; 43:13), a handbreadth longer than the common or later one. It is probable that the internal elevation only is here stated.

3. the porch—or portico, extended across the whole front (see on 2Ch 3:4).

4. windows of narrow lights—that is, windows with lattices, capable of being shut and opened at pleasure, partly to let out the vapor of the lamps, the smoke of the frankincense, and partly to give light [Keil].

1Ki 6:5-10. The Chambers Thereof.

5. against the wall of the house he built chambers—On three sides, there were chambers in three stories, each story wider than the one beneath it, as the walls were narrowed or made thinner as they ascended, by a rebate being made, on which the beams of the side floor rested, without penetrating the wall. These chambers were approached from the right-hand side, in the interior of the under story, by a winding staircase of stone, which led to the middle and upper stories.

7. there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house while it was in building—A subterranean quarry has been very recently discovered near Jerusalem, where the temple stones are supposed to have been hewn. There is unequivocal evidence in this quarry that the stones were dressed there; for there are blocks very similar in size, as well as of the same kind of stone, as those found in the ancient remains. Thence, probably, they would be moved on rollers down the Tyropean valley to the very side of the temple [Porter, Tent and Kahn].

9, 10. built the house—The temple is here distinguished from the wings or chambers attached to it—and its roofing was of cedar-wood.

10. chambers … five cubits high—The height of the whole three stories was therefore about fifteen cubits.

they rested on the house with timber of cedar—that is, because the beams of the side stones rested on the ledges of the temple wall. The wing was attached to the house; it was connected with the temple, without, however, interfering injuriously with the sanctuary [Keil].

1Ki 6:11-14. God's Promises unto It.

11-13. the word of the Lord came to Solomon—probably by a prophet. It was very seasonable, being designed: first, to encourage him to go on with the building, by confirming anew the promise made to his father David (2Sa 7:12-16); and secondly, to warn him against the pride and presumption of supposing that after the erection of so magnificent a temple, he and his people would always be sure of the presence and favor of God. The condition on which that blessing could alone be expected was expressly stated. The dwelling of God among the children of Israel refers to those symbols of His presence in the temple, which were the visible tokens of His spiritual relation to that people.

1Ki 6:15-22. The Ceiling and Adorning of It.

15-21. he built the walls of the house within—The walls were wainscotted with cedar-wood; the floor, paved with cypress planks; the interior was divided (by a partition consisting of folding doors, which were opened and shut with golden chains) into two apartments—the back or inner room, that is, the most holy place, was twenty cubits long and broad; the front, or outer room, that is, the holy place, was forty cubits. The cedar-wood was beautifully embellished with figures in relievo, representing clusters of foliage, open flowers, cherubims, and palm trees. The whole interior was overlaid with gold, so that neither wood nor stone was seen; nothing met the eye but pure gold, either plain or richly chased.

31-35. for the entering of the oracle—The door of the most holy place was made of solid olive tree and adorned with figures. The door of the holy place was made of cypress wood, the sides being of olive wood.

36. the inner court—was for the priests. Its wall, which had a coping of cedar, is said to have been so low that the people could see over it.

1Ki 6:37, 38. The time Taken to Build It.

37. In the fourth year was the foundation laid—The building was begun in the second month of the fourth year and completed in the eighth month of the eleventh year of Solomon's reign, comprising a period of seven and a half years, which is reckoned here in round numbers. It was not a very large, but a very splendid building, requiring great care, and ingenuity, and division of labor. The immense number of workmen employed, together with the previous preparation of the materials, serves to account for the short time occupied in the process of building.