REFLECTION.

a

in this chapter. But it is better to forbear it, for fear of dishonouring the scripture, and substituting fanciful allusions for divine truths. It is sufficient in general to observe, that every thing here is suited to give us grand ideas of God's worship, and to excite reverence and seriousness in the worshippers; in particular, the most holy place, the angels drawn about it, &c. We have none of this pomp and splendor to engage our attention; but we have brighter discoveries of the nature and excellencies of God to assist our devotion: God is a spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth; then the worship will be acceptable wherever it is performed.

CHAP. VII.

A further account of Solomon's buildings, and the furniture of the temple.

UT Solomon was building his own house thirteen years,
Solomon was he did not begin his own house

'BUT

;

till he had finished the temple, that nothing might interfere with 2 that. He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon ;* the length thereof [was] a hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows 3 of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars. And [it was] covered with cedar above upon the beams, that [lay] on - 4 forty five pillars, fifteen [in] a row. And [there were] windows

[in] three rows, and light [was] against light [in] three ranks. 5 And all the doors and posts [were] square, with the windows: 6 and light [was] against light [in] three ranks. And he made a porch of pillars, a portico, or piazza, for his guards who attended him to be under cover; it seems probable that this was at his palace at Jerusalem; the length thereof [was] fifty cubits, and the breadth thereof thirty cubits: and the porch [was] before them : and the [other] pillars and the thick beam [were] before them. 7 Then he made a porch for the throne where he might judge, [even] the porch of judgment, where he was to hear and determine causes and [it was] covered with cedar from one side of 8 the floor to the other. And his house where he dwelt [had] another court within the porch, [which] was of the like work; this was another building, adjoining the queen's palace. Solomon made also an house for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had taken [to wife,] like unto this porch. It was customary in the east for 9 the women and men to have separate apartments. All these [were

Some suppose this was a country seat in Lebanon; but I rather think it was near Jerusalem, and so called, because it was principally built of the cedars of Lebanon. In 2 Chren. ix. 16. we find that he put the golden shields there, which in his son's time the king of Egypt took away when he came against Jerusalem. It was probably a magazine for arms.

of] costly stones, according to the measures of hewed stones, sawed with saws, within and without, even from the foundation unto the coping, and [so] on the outside toward the great court. 10 And the foundation [was of] costly stones, [even] great stones,

stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits, very large and 11 valuable. And above [were] costly stones, after the measures of 12 hewed stones, and cedars. And the great court round about [was] with three rows of hewed stones, and a row of cedar beams, both for the inner court of the house of the LORD, and for the porch of the house.

13

And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre. 14 He [was] a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father [was] a man of Tyre, a worker in brass and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work. He was a man of extraordinary skill, and gave him remark15 able assistance in these great works. For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about. They were two yards in 16 diameter, and had beautiful ornaments about them. And he made two chapiters [of] molten brass, to set upon the tops of the pillars: the height of the one chapiter [was] five cubits, and the 17 height of the other chapiter [was] five cubits: [And] nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work, for the chapiters which [were] upon the top of the pillars; seven for the one 18 chapiter, and seven for the other chapiter. And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the chapiters that [were] upon the top, with pomegran19 ates and so did he for the other chapiter. And the chapiters that [were] upon the top of the pillars, [were] of lily work in 20 the porch, four cubits. And the chapiters upon the two pillars [had pomegranates] also above, over against the belly which [was] by the net work: and the pomegranates [were] two hun21 dred in rows round about upon the other chapiter. And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin, that is, he shall establish and he set up the left pillar, and called the name 22 thereof Boaz, that is, in it is strength.† And upon the top of the pillars [was] lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished.

23

And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other [it was] round all about, and his height [was] five cubits and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about. 24 And under the brim of it round about [there were] knops compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about: the 25 knops [were] cast in two rows, when it was cast. It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking

Ia 2 Chron. iv. 11. he is called Huram.

†These were not to support any of the building, but were designed for ornaments, and to be significant mementos to the worshippers to look to God for assistance and strength; and were also an expression of Solomon's expectations that God would strengthen his people, and establish the temple.

27

toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea [was set] above upon them, 26 and all their hinder parts [were] inward. And it [was] an hand breadth thick, and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it contained two thousand baths.* And he made ten bases, or stands, of brass, with wheels, for the convenience of moving it from place to place; four cubits [was] the length of one base, and four cubits the breadth thereof, and 28 three cubits the height of it. And the work of the bases [was] on this [manner :] they had borders, and the borders [were] 29 between the ledges: And on the borders that [were] between the ledges [were] lions, oxen, and cherubims; and upon the ledges [there was] a base above and beneath the lions and 30 oxen [were] certain additions made of thin work. And every base had four brazen wheels, and plates of brass: and the four corners thereof had undersetters: under the laver [were] un31 dersetters molten, at the side of every addition. And the mouth of it within the chapiter and above [was] a cubit: but the mouth thereof [was] round [after] the work of the base, a cubit and an half and also upon the mouth of it [were] gravings with their 32 borders, four square, not round. And under the borders [were] four wheels; and the axletrees of the wheels [were joined] to the base and the height of a wheel [was] a cubit and half a 83 cubit. And the work of the wheels [was] like the work of a chariot wheel: their axletrees and their naves, and their felloes, 34 and their spokes [were] all molten. And [there were] four

undersetters to the four corners of one base: [and] the under35 setters [were] of the very base itself. And in the top of the base [was there] a round compass of half a cubit high and on the top of the base the ledges thereof and the borders thereof 36 [were] of the same. For on the plates of the ledges thereof, and on the borders thereof, he graved cherubims, lions, and palm trees; according to the proportion of every one, and addi37 tions round about. After this [manner] he made the ten bases: all of them had one casting, one measure, [and] one size.

38

Then made he ten lavers, or washing vessels, of brass, which were placed on the ten stands: one laver contained forty baths, about five barrels: [and] every laver was four cubits: [and] 39 upon every one of the ten bases one laver. And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house and he set the sea on the right side of the house east ward, over against the south.

"

40

And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, for the fire, and the basons, to receive the blood of the sacrifice. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of the LORD: The two pillars, and the [two] bowls of the

This sea was about sixteen feet in diameter, and held near two hundred and fifty barrels. It was the business of the Nethinims, the remnant of the Gibeonites, to fill it. It was uted for washing the sacrifice, and the hands and feet of the Levites; for which purpose the water came out of pipes at the bottom. It stood upon twelve oxen, which were both a sup port, and ornament to it

chapiters that [were] on the top of the two pillars; and the two networks, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters which [were] 42 upon the top of the pillars; And four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, [even] two rows of pomegranates for one network, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters that [were] upon 43 the pillars; And the ten bases, and ten lavers on the bases; 44 And one sea, and twelve oxen under the sea: And the pots, to 45 boil the parts of the peace offering which were allowed to the priest, and the shovels, and the basons; and all these vessels which Hiram made to king Solomon for the house of the LORD, [were 46 of] bright brass, all made of the best polished brass. In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan, that being a proper place to make the moulds. 47 And Solomon left all the vessels [unweighed,] because they were exceeding many; neither was the weight of the brass found out; it was so great, that keeping an exact account was burdensome; and the workmen were all honest and faithful.

48

And Solomon made all the vessels that [pertained] unto the house of the LORD, according to the pattern given him by David from God; (1 Chron, xxviii. 19.) the altar of gold, and the table 49 of gold, whereupon the shew bread [was,] Exod. xxv. 30. And the candlesticks of pure gold, the large sconces or branches, five on the right [side,] and five on the left, before the oracle, with 50 the flowers and the lamps, and the tongs [of] gold, And the bowls, and the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and the censers [of] pure gold; and the hinges [of] gold, [both] for the doors of the inner house, the most holy [place, and] for the doors of the house, [to wit,] of the temple; that every thing might be alike magnificent, even the hinges of the doors were of $1 gold. So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the LORD. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated; [even] the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, did he put among the treasures of the house of the LORD; that is, what remained above what was consumed in the temple; and likewise the remains of the tabernacle.

1.

A

REFLECTIONS.

LL this wealth, splendor, and magnificence, was intended to excite veneration in the worshippers, and to prevent idolatry. The temples of idols were splendid, and seduced many that were led away by the sight of the eye; but none were so glorious as this temple. All the pains and expense Solomon was at, suggest to us, how ready we should be to honour the Lord with our substance, and devote our wealth to his service. Grand and sumptuous churches are of no real service now; but every thing ought to be decent and convenient. To contribute, to supply our brethren with such places, is an important and excellent charity. Solo mon did not build his own till he had finished God's house. He should have the first and best of our services.

2. Whatever we do to support the house and worship of God, we should look to him for assistance and strength. The two pillars Jachin and Boaz, suggest this thought to us. While we keep close to him and his worship, we may hope for a continuance of his favours. He will guard our temples in peace, and strengthen the heart of every sincere and humble worshipper.

3. The frequent washing, for which the laver was designed, is often represented in scripture as an emblem of that purity and ho liness, which, God under the gospel requires of his worshippers. It is not the putting away the filth of the flesh only: but it consists in washing the heart from all wickedness; in having clean hands, free from every act of injustice, dishonesty, and every thing contrary to Gospel purity. If we desire the acceptance of our prayers and services, let us wash our hands in innocency, and humbly seek acceptance through the blood of Christ, which cleanseth from all sin.

CHAP. VIII. 1-30.

The bringing of the ark into the temple, and its solemn dedication Solomon's address to the people on the nature and design of this appearance; and his prayer to God.

HEN Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the 2 city of David, which [is] Zion.* And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon, multitudes of the common people, as well as the grandees, at the feast in the month Ethanim, which [is] the seventh month, that is, at the feast of 3 tabernacles. And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark. It was properly the business of the Levites to carry the ark, but the priests did it on some extraordinary occa4sions, as here, when the ark was to be fixed. And they brought up the ark of the LORD, and the tabernacle of the congregation, that which Moses made, (Exodus xxxvi. 8.) which they now laid up in the temple, as a sacred monument, never to be removed again, and all the holy vessels that [were] in the tabernacle, all the utensils belonging to it, and holy vessels, the candlesticks, table, 5 c. even those did the priests and the Levites bring up. And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, [were] with him before the ark, sacrificing. sheep, and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multi

tes generally supposed that this was the year of jubilee, when there was a greater concourse of people at Jerusalem, and it was a season of great joy. He assembled all the princes of the tribes, the heads of families or clans; and their business was to bring up the ark from Zion, that part of the city which David had built, to mount Moriah, where the temple now goed; till that time, the temple was an house without an inhabitant.