1 Kings 7

1 domum autem suam aedificavit Salomon tredecim annis et ad perfectum usque perduxit

2 aedificavit quoque domum saltus Libani centum cubitorum longitudinis et quinquaginta cubitorum latitudinis et triginta cubitorum altitudinis et quattuor deambulacra inter columnas cedrinas ligna quippe cedrina exciderat in columnas

3 et tabulatis cedrinis vestivit totam cameram quae quadraginta quinque columnis sustentabatur unus autem ordo habebat columnas quindecim

4 contra se invicem positas

5 et e regione se respicientes aequali spatio inter columnas et super columnas quadrangulata ligna in cunctis aequalia

6 et porticum columnarum fecit quinquaginta cubitorum longitudinis et triginta cubitorum latitudinis et alteram porticum in facie maioris porticus et columnas et epistylia super columnas

7 porticum quoque solii in qua tribunal est fecit et texit lignis cedrinis a pavimento usque ad summitatem

8 et domuncula in qua sedetur ad iudicandum erat in media porticu simili opere domum quoque fecit filiae Pharaonis quam uxorem duxerat Salomon tali opere quali et hanc porticum

9 omnia lapidibus pretiosis qui ad normam quandam atque mensuram tam intrinsecus quam extrinsecus serrati erant a fundamento usque ad summitatem parietum et intrinsecus usque ad atrium maius

10 fundamenta autem de lapidibus pretiosis lapidibus magnis decem sive octo cubitorum

11 et desuper lapides pretiosi aequalis mensurae secti erant similiterque de cedro

12 et atrium maius rotundum trium ordinum de lapidibus sectis et unius ordinis dolata cedro necnon et in atrio domus Domini interiori et in porticu domus

13 misit quoque rex Salomon et tulit Hiram de Tyro

14 filium mulieris viduae de tribu Nepthali patre Tyrio artificem aerarium et plenum sapientia et intellegentia et doctrina ad faciendum omne opus ex aere qui cum venisset ad regem Salomonem fecit omne opus eius

15 et finxit duas columnas aereas decem et octo cubitorum altitudinis columnam unam et linea duodecim cubitorum ambiebat columnam utramque

16 duo quoque capitella fecit quae ponerentur super capita columnarum fusili aere quinque cubitorum altitudinis capitellum unum et quinque cubitorum altitudinis capitellum alterum

17 et quasi in modum retis et catenarum sibi invicem miro opere contextarum utrumque capitellum columnarum fusile erat septena versuum retiacula in capitello uno et septena retiacula in capitello altero

18 et perfecit columnas et duos ordines per circuitum retiaculorum singulorum ut tegerent capitella quae erant super summitatem malogranatorum eodem modo fecit et capitello secundo

19 capitella autem quae erant super capita columnarum quasi opere lilii fabricata erant in porticu quattuor cubitorum

20 et rursum alia capitella in summitate columnarum desuper iuxta mensuram columnae contra retiacula malogranatorum autem ducenti ordines erant in circuitu capitelli secundi

21 et statuit duas columnas in porticum templi cumque statuisset columnam dexteram vocavit eam nomine Iachin similiter erexit columnam secundam et vocavit nomen eius Booz

22 et super capita columnarum opus in modum lilii posuit perfectumque est opus columnarum

23 fecit quoque mare fusile decem cubitorum a labio usque ad labium rotundum in circuitu quinque cubitorum altitudo eius et resticula triginta cubitorum cingebat illud per circuitum

24 et scalptura subter labium circumibat illud decem cubitis ambiens mare duo ordines scalpturarum histriatarum erant fusiles

25 et stabat super duodecim boves e quibus tres respiciebant ad aquilonem et tres ad occidentem et tres ad meridiem et tres ad orientem et mare super eos desuper erat quorum posteriora universa intrinsecus latitabant

26 grossitudo autem luteris trium unciarum erat labiumque eius quasi labium calicis et folium repandi lilii duo milia batos capiebat

27 et fecit bases decem aereas quattuor cubitorum longitudinis bases singulas et quattuor cubitorum latitudinis et trium cubitorum altitudinis

28 et ipsum opus basium interrasile erat et scalpturae inter iuncturas

29 et inter coronulas et plectas leones et boves et cherubin et in iuncturis similiter desuper et subter leones et boves quasi lora ex aere dependentia

30 et quattuor rotae per bases singulas et axes aerei et per quattuor partes quasi umeruli subter luterem fusiles contra se invicem respectantes

31 os quoque luteris intrinsecus erat in capitis summitate et quod forinsecus apparebat unius cubiti erat totum rotundum pariterque habebat unum cubitum et dimidium in angulis autem columnarum variae celaturae erant et media intercolumnia quadrata non rotunda

32 quattuor quoque rotae quae per quattuor angulos basis erant coherebant subter basi una rota habebat altitudinis cubitum et semis

33 tales autem rotae erant quales solent in curru fieri et axes earum et radii et canti et modioli omnia fusilia

34 nam et umeruli illi quattuor per singulos angulos basis unius ex ipsa basi fusiles et coniuncti erant

35 in summitate autem basis erat quaedam rotunditas dimidii cubiti ita fabrefacta ut luter desuper possit inponi habens celaturas suas et scalpturas varias ex semet ipso

36 scalpsit quoque in tabulatis illis quae erant ex aere et in angulis cherubin et leones et palmas quasi in similitudinem stantis hominis ut non celata sed adposita per circuitum viderentur

37 in hunc modum fecit decem bases fusura una et mensura scalpturaque consimili

38 fecit quoque decem luteres aereos quadraginta batos capiebat luter unus eratque quattuor cubitorum singulosque luteres per singulas id est decem bases posuit

39 et constituit decem bases quinque ad dexteram partem templi et quinque ad sinistram mare autem posuit ad dexteram partem templi contra orientem ad meridiem

40 fecit ergo Hiram lebetas et scutras et amulas et perfecit omne opus regis Salomonis in templo Domini

41 columnas duas et funiculos capitulorum super capitella columnarum duos et retiacula duo ut operirent duos funiculos qui erant super capita columnarum

42 et malogranata quadringenta in duobus retiaculis duos versus malogranatorum in retiaculis singulis ad operiendos funiculos capitellorum qui erant super capita columnarum

43 et bases decem et luteres decem super bases

44 et mare unum et boves duodecim subter mare

45 et lebetas et scutras et amulas omnia vasa quae fecit Hiram regi Salomoni in domo Domini de aurichalco erant

46 in campestri regione Iordanis fudit ea rex in argillosa terra inter Socchoth et Sarthan

47 et posuit Salomon omnia vasa propter multitudinem autem nimiam non erat pondus aeris

48 fecitque Salomon omnia vasa in domo Domini altare aureum et mensam super quam ponerentur panes propositionis auream

49 et candelabra aurea quinque ad dexteram et quinque ad sinistram contra oraculum ex auro primo et quasi lilii flores et lucernas desuper aureas et forcipes aureos

50 et hydrias et fuscinulas et fialas et mortariola et turibula de auro purissimo et cardines ostiorum domus interioris sancti sanctorum et ostiorum domus templi ex auro erant

51 et perfecit omne opus quod faciebat Salomon in domo Domini et intulit quae sanctificaverat David pater suus argentum et aurum et vasa reposuitque in thesauris domus Domini

1 Kings 7 Commentary

Chapter 7

Solomon's buildings. (1-12) Furniture of the temple. (13-47) Vessels of gold. (48-51)

Verses 1-12 All Solomon's buildings, though beautiful, were intended for use. Solomon began with the temple; he built for God first, and then his other buildings. The surest foundations of lasting prosperity are laid in early piety. He was thirteen years building his house, yet he built the temple in little more than seven years; not that he was more exact, but less eager in building his own house, than in building God's. We ought to prefer God's honour before our own ease and satisfaction.

Verses 13-47 The two brazen pillars in the porch of the temple, some think, were to teach those that came to worship, to depend upon God only, for strength and establishment in all their religious exercises. "Jachin," God will fix this roving mind. It is good that the heart be established with grace. "Boaz," In him is our strength, who works in us both to will and to do. Spiritual strength and stability are found at the door of God's temple, where we must wait for the gifts of grace, in use of the means of grace. 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. There are full means provided for our cleansing; so that if we have our lot for ever among the unclean it will be our own fault. Let us bless God for the fountain opened by the sacrifice of Christ for sin and for uncleanness.

Verses 48-51 Christ is now the Temple and the Builder; the Altar and the Sacrifice; the Light of our souls, and the Bread of life; able to supply all the wants of all that have applied or shall apply to him. Outward images cannot represent, words cannot express, the heart cannot conceive, his preciousness or his love. Let us come to him, and wash away our sins in his blood; let us seek for the purifying grace of his Spirit; let us maintain communion with the Father through his intercession, and yield up ourselves and all we have to his service. Being strengthened by him, we shall be accepted, useful, and happy.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 7

This chapter gives an account of some buildings of Solomon for himself, 1Ki 7:1-12; and of other things for the use of the temple; of two pillars of brass, 1Ki 7:13-22; of the molten sea, 1Ki 7:23-26; and of ten bases, and ten layers on them, 1Ki 7:27-39; with other utensils and ornaments, 1Ki 7:40-51.