1 Kings 7:13-51 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

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¹³ And king ^H4428 Solomon ^H8010 sent ^H7971 and fetched ^H3947 Hiram ^H2438 out of Tyre. ^H6865

¹⁴ He was a widow's ^H802 ^H490 son ^H1121 of the tribe ^H4294 of Naphtali, ^H5321 and his father ^H1 was a man ^H376 of Tyre, ^H6876 a worker ^H2790 in brass: ^H5178 and he was filled ^H4390 with wisdom, ^H2451 and understanding, ^H8394 and cunning ^H1847 to work ^H6213 all works ^H4399 in brass. ^H5178 And he came ^H935 to king ^H4428 Solomon, ^H8010 and wrought ^H6213 all his work. ^H4399

¹⁵ For he cast ^H6696 two ^H8147 pillars ^H5982 of brass, ^H5178 of eighteen ^H8083 ^H6240 cubits ^H520 high ^H6967 apiece: ^H5982 ^H259 and a line ^H2339 of twelve ^H8147 ^H6240 cubits ^H520 did compass ^H5437 either ^H8145 of them about. ^H5437

¹⁶ And he made ^H6213 two ^H8147 chapiters ^H3805 of molten ^H3332 brass, ^H5178 to set ^H5414 upon the tops ^H7218 of the pillars: ^H5982 the height ^H6967 of the one ^H259 chapiter ^H3805 was five ^H2568 cubits, ^H520 and the height ^H6967 of the other ^H8145 chapiter ^H3805 was five ^H2568 cubits: ^H520

¹⁷ And nets ^H7638 of checker ^H7639 work, ^H4639 and wreaths ^H1434 of chain ^H8333 work, ^H4639 for the chapiters ^H3805 which were upon the top ^H7218 of the pillars; ^H5982 seven ^H7651 for the one ^H259 chapiter, ^H3805 and seven ^H7651 for the other ^H8145 chapiter. ^H3805

¹⁸ And he made ^H6213 the pillars, ^H5982 and two ^H8147 rows ^H2905 round about ^H5439 upon the one ^H259 network, ^H7639 to cover ^H3680 the chapiters ^H3805 that were upon the top, ^H7218 with pomegranates: ^H7416 and so did ^H6213 he for the other ^H8145 chapiter. ^H3805

¹⁹ And the chapiters ^H3805 that were upon the top ^H7218 of the pillars ^H5982 were of lily ^H7799 work ^H4639 in the porch, ^H197 four ^H702 cubits. ^H520

²⁰ And the chapiters ^H3805 upon the two ^H8147 pillars ^H5982 had pomegranates also above, ^H4605 over against ^H5980 the belly ^H990 which was by ^H5676 the network: ^H7639 and the pomegranates ^H7416 were two hundred ^H3967 in rows ^H2905 round about ^H5439 upon the other ^H8145 chapiter. ^H3805

²¹ And he set up ^H6965 the pillars ^H5982 in the porch ^H197 of the temple: ^H1964 and he set up ^H6965 the right ^H3233 pillar, ^H5982 and called ^H7121 the name ^H8034 thereof Jachin: ^H3199 and he set up ^H6965 the left ^H8042 pillar, ^H5982 and called ^H7121 the name ^H8034 thereof Boaz. ^H1162

²² And upon the top ^H7218 of the pillars ^H5982 was lily ^H7799 work: ^H4639 so was the work ^H4399 of the pillars ^H5982 finished. ^H8552

²³ And he made ^H6213 a molten ^H3332 sea, ^H3220 ten ^H6235 cubits ^H520 from the one brim ^H8193 to the other: ^H8193 it was round ^H5696 all about, ^H5439 and his height ^H6967 was five ^H2568 cubits: ^H520 and a line ^H6957 ^H6961 of thirty ^H7970 cubits ^H520 did compass ^H5437 it round about. ^H5439

²⁴ And under the brim ^H8193 of it round about ^H5439 there were knops ^H6497 compassing ^H5437 it, ten ^H6235 in a cubit, ^H520 compassing ^H5362 the sea ^H3220 round about: ^H5439 the knops ^H6497 were cast ^H3333 in two ^H8147 rows, ^H2905 when it was cast. ^H3332

²⁵ It stood ^H5975 upon twelve ^H8147 ^H6240 oxen, ^H1241 three ^H7969 looking ^H6437 toward the north, ^H6828 and three ^H7969 looking ^H6437 toward the west, ^H3220 and three ^H7969 looking ^H6437 toward the south, ^H5045 and three ^H7969 looking ^H6437 toward the east: ^H4217 and the sea ^H3220 was set above ^H4605 upon them, and all their hinder parts ^H268 were inward. ^H1004

²⁶ And it was an hand breadth ^H2947 thick, ^H5672 and the brim ^H8193 thereof was wrought ^H4639 like the brim ^H8193 of a cup, ^H3563 with flowers ^H6525 of lilies: ^H7799 it contained ^H3557 two thousand ^H505 baths. ^H1324

²⁷ And he made ^H6213 ten ^H6235 bases ^H4350 of brass; ^H5178 four ^H702 cubits ^H520 was the length ^H753 of one ^H259 base, ^H4350 and four ^H702 cubits ^H520 the breadth ^H7341 thereof, and three ^H7969 cubits ^H520 the height ^H6967 of it.

²⁸ And the work ^H4639 of the bases ^H4350 was on this manner: they had borders, ^H4526 and the borders ^H4526 were between the ledges: ^H7948

²⁹ And on the borders ^H4526 that were between the ledges ^H7948 were lions, ^H738 oxen, ^H1241 and cherubims: ^H3742 and upon the ledges ^H7948 there was a base ^H3653 above: ^H4605 and beneath the lions ^H738 and oxen ^H1241 were certain additions ^H3914 made of thin ^H4174 work. ^H4639

³⁰ And every ^H259 base ^H4350 had four ^H702 brasen ^H5178 wheels, ^H212 and plates ^H5633 of brass: ^H5178 and the four ^H702 corners ^H6471 thereof had undersetters: ^H3802 under the laver ^H3595 were undersetters ^H3802 molten, ^H3332 at the side ^H5676 of every ^H376 addition. ^H3914

³¹ And the mouth ^H6310 of it within ^H1004 the chapiter ^H3805 and above ^H4605 was a cubit: ^H520 but the mouth ^H6310 thereof was round ^H5696 after the work ^H4639 of the base, ^H3653 a cubit ^H520 and an half: ^H2677 and also upon the mouth ^H6310 of it were gravings ^H4734 with their borders, ^H4526 foursquare, ^H7251 not round. ^H5696

³² And under ^H8478 the borders ^H4526 were four ^H702 wheels; ^H212 and the axletrees ^H3027 of the wheels ^H212 were joined to the base: ^H4350 and the height ^H6967 of a ^H259 wheel ^H212 was a cubit ^H520 and half ^H2677 a cubit. ^H520

³³ And the work ^H4639 of the wheels ^H212 was like the work ^H4639 of a chariot ^H4818 wheel: ^H212 their axletrees, ^H3027 and their naves, ^H1354 and their felloes, ^H2839 and their spokes, ^H2840 were all molten. ^H3332

³⁴ And there were four ^H702 undersetters ^H3802 to the four ^H702 corners ^H6438 of one ^H259 base: ^H4350 and the undersetters ^H3802 were of the very base ^H4350 itself.

³⁵ And in the top ^H7218 of the base ^H4350 was there a round ^H5696 compass ^H5439 of half ^H2677 a cubit ^H520 high: ^H6967 and on the top ^H7218 of the base ^H4350 the ledges ^H3027 thereof and the borders ^H4526 thereof were of the same.

³⁶ For on the plates ^H3871 of the ledges ^H3027 thereof, and on the borders ^H4526 thereof, he graved ^H6605 cherubims, ^H3742 lions, ^H738 and palm trees, ^H8561 according to the proportion ^H4626 of every one, ^H376 and additions ^H3914 round about. ^H5439

³⁷ After this manner he made ^H6213 the ten ^H6235 bases: ^H4350 all of them had one ^H259 casting, ^H4165 one ^H259 measure, ^H4060 and one ^H259 size. ^H7095

³⁸ Then made ^H6213 he ten ^H6235 lavers ^H3595 of brass: ^H5178 one ^H259 laver ^H3595 contained ^H3557 forty ^H705 baths: ^H1324 and every ^H259 laver ^H3595 was four ^H702 cubits: ^H520 and upon every one ^H259 of the ten ^H6235 bases ^H4350 one ^H259 laver. ^H3595

³⁹ And he put ^H5414 five ^H2568 bases ^H4350 on the right ^H3225 side ^H3802 of the house, ^H1004 and five ^H2568 on the left ^H8040 side ^H3802 of the house: ^H1004 and he set ^H5414 the sea ^H3220 on the right ^H3233 side ^H3802 of the house ^H1004 eastward ^H6924 over against ^H4136 the south. ^H5045

⁴⁰ And Hiram ^H2438 made ^H6213 the lavers, ^H3595 and the shovels, ^H3257 and the basons. ^H4219 So Hiram ^H2438 made ^H3615 an end of doing ^H6213 all the work ^H4399 that he made ^H6213 king ^H4428 Solomon ^H8010 for the house ^H1004 of the LORD: ^H3068

⁴¹ The two ^H8147 pillars, ^H5982 and the two bowls ^H1543 of the chapiters ^H3805 that were on the top ^H7218 of the two ^H8147 pillars; ^H5982 and the two ^H8147 networks, ^H7639 to cover ^H3680 the two ^H8147 bowls ^H1543 of the chapiters ^H3805 which were upon the top ^H7218 of the pillars; ^H5982

⁴² And four ^H702 hundred ^H3967 pomegranates ^H7416 for the two ^H8147 networks, ^H7639 even two ^H8147 rows ^H2905 of pomegranates ^H7416 for one ^H259 network, ^H7639 to cover ^H3680 the two ^H8147 bowls ^H1543 of the chapiters ^H3805 that were upon ^H6440 the pillars; ^H5982

⁴³ And the ten ^H6235 bases, ^H4350 and ten ^H6235 lavers ^H3595 on the bases; ^H4350

⁴⁴ And one ^H259 sea, ^H3220 and twelve ^H8147 ^H6240 oxen ^H1241 under the sea; ^H3220

⁴⁵ And the pots, ^H5518 and the shovels, ^H3257 and the basons: ^H4219 and all these vessels, ^H3627 which Hiram ^H2438 made ^H6213 to king ^H4428 Solomon ^H8010 for the house ^H1004 of the LORD, ^H3068 were of bright ^H4178 brass. ^H5178

⁴⁶ In the plain ^H3603 of Jordan ^H3383 did the king ^H4428 cast ^H3332 them, in the clay ^H4568 ground ^H127 between Succoth ^H5523 and Zarthan. ^H6891

⁴⁷ And Solomon ^H8010 left ^H3240 all the vessels ^H3627 unweighed, because they were exceeding ^H3966 ^H3966 many: ^H7230 neither was the weight ^H4948 of the brass ^H5178 found out. ^H2713

⁴⁸ And Solomon ^H8010 made ^H6213 all the vessels ^H3627 that pertained unto the house ^H1004 of the LORD: ^H3068 the altar ^H4196 of gold, ^H2091 and the table ^H7979 of gold, ^H2091 whereupon the shewbread ^H3899 ^H6440 was,

⁴⁹ And the candlesticks ^H4501 of pure ^H5462 gold, ^H2091 five ^H2568 on the right ^H3225 side, and five ^H2568 on the left, ^H8040 before ^H6440 the oracle, ^H1687 with the flowers, ^H6525 and the lamps, ^H5216 and the tongs ^H4457 of gold, ^H2091

⁵⁰ And the bowls, ^H5592 and the snuffers, ^H4212 and the basons, ^H4219 and the spoons, ^H3709 and the censers ^H4289 of pure ^H5462 gold; ^H2091 and the hinges ^H6596 of gold, ^H2091 both for the doors ^H1817 of the inner ^H6442 house, ^H1004 the most ^H6944 holy ^H6944 place, and for the doors ^H1817 of the house, ^H1004 to wit, of the temple. ^H1964

⁵¹ So was ended ^H7999 all the work ^H4399 that king ^H4428 Solomon ^H8010 made ^H6213 for the house ^H1004 of the LORD. ^H3068 And Solomon ^H8010 brought in ^H935 the things which David ^H1732 his father ^H1 had dedicated; ^H6944 even the silver, ^H3701 and the gold, ^H2091 and the vessels, ^H3627 did he put ^H5414 among the treasures ^H214 of the house ^H1004 of the LORD. ^H3068

Commentary on 1 Kings 7 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill Keil & Delitzsch Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Chapter 7

As, in the story of David, one chapter of wars and victories follows another, so, in the story of Solomon, one chapter concerning his buildings follows another. In this chapter we have,

I. His fitting up several buildings for himself and his own use (v. 1-12).
II. His furnishing the temple which he had built for God,
- 1. With two pillars (v. 13-22).
- 2. With a molten sea (v. 23-26).
- 3. With ten basins of brass (v. 27-37), and ten layers upon them (v. 38, 39).
- 4. With all the other utensils of the temple (v. 40-50).
- 5. With the things that his father had dedicated (v. 51). The particular description of these things was not needless when it was written, nor is it now useless.

1Ki 7:1-12

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, Mt. 6:33.

1. He built a house for himself (v. 1), where he dwelt, v. 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 (v. 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 v. 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 (ch. 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 (v. 2, 3), and, being designed for pleasant prospects, there were three tiers of windows on each side, light against light (v. 4, 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 (v. 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 (ch. 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, v. 7. He had there also another court within the porch, nearer his house, of similar work, for his attendants to walk in, v. 8.
5. He built a house for his wife, where she kept her court, v. 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, v. 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 (v. 10), and the stones of the building were costly for the workmanship, hewn and sawn, and in all respects finely wrought, v. 9, 11. The court of his own house was like that of the temple (v. 12, compare ch. 6:36); so well did he like the model of God's courts that he made his own by it.

1Ki 7:13-47

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, 1 Chr. 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 (2 Chr. 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, v. 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 (v. 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 (v. 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, v. 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 (v. 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 (v. 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 (2 Ki. 25:13, 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, v. 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, Zec. 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, v. 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, v. 39. Each laver contained forty baths, that is, about ten barrels, v. 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 1 Sa. 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, Ex. 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.

1Ki 7:48-51

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, 2 Chr. 4:8 (though here mention is made of that one only on which the show-bread was, v. 48, which we may suppose was larger than the rest and to which the rest were as side-boards), and ten golden candlesticks (v. 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 (v. 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, v. 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.

Worthy.Bible » STRONG » 1 Kings » Chapter 7 » Verse 13-51

1 Kings 7:13-51 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Kings 7

Commentary on 1 Kings 7 Matthew Henry Commentary

Chapter 7