Annotations Upon the Historical Books Part 2, 1 Kings · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
Verſ. 1. BUt Solomon was building his own houſe thirteen yeares.] Almoſt therefore twice as long was he in building his own houſe as in building the Temple, for he was but ſeven yeares building that, Chap. 6.38. the reaſons whereof may be, firſt, that David had before his death provided a great part of the materialls for the Temple in a readineſſe: ſecondly, that neither Solomon, nor his workemen were ſo forward and zealous for the haſtening and finiſhing theſe buildings, as for that of the Temple: and thirdly, that happely this was a far greater building, as indeed we may the better think it was, if we reckon the houſe of Lebanon and the Queens houſe as part of this royall palace, as moſt interpreters upon very probable grounds conceive they were.
Verſ. 2. He built alſo the houſe of the forreſt of Lebanon, &c.] Many Expoſitours hold, that this houſe of the forreſt of Lebanon, was no part of that houſe of Solomons, mentioned in the foregoing verſe, which was thirteen years in building, but another houſe which he built in the forreſt of Lebanon, after thoſe twenty yeares were expired that were ſpent in building the houſe of the Lord, and his own houſe, Chap, 9.10. to wit, when Solomon had taken Hamath, 2 Chron. 8.3. which was the royall citie they ſay of Libanus: and for the further confirmation of this, they alledge that place, Chap. 9.19. where it is ſaid, that Solomon built all that he deſired to build in Jeruſalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominions; but yet the moſt of Interpreters, and I think moſt probably, doe hold the contrary, namely, that it was a part of the Kings houſe which was thirteen years in building: and that for theſe reaſons; firſt, becauſe there the golden Targets and Shields were kept, which Solomon made, Chap. 10.17. the King put them in the houſe of the forreſt of Lebanon; and were thence taken by Shiſhak, when he came up againſt Jeruſalem, Chap. 14.25.26. and doubtleſſe, theſe were provided to be carried before the King by his Guard, as were thoſe of braſſe which Rehoboam made in ſtead of the golden ones, which the King of Egypt had carried away. Chap. 14.28. and therefore could not be ſo farre off as mount Lebanon was: ſecondly, becauſe it ſeemes to have beene the chiefe ſtore-houſe and magazine of Armes which the kings of Judah had, whence is that Eſay 22.8. Thou didst looke in that day to the armour of the houſe of the forreſt, and it is not likely, that Solomon would have his chiefe Magazine of Armes in mount Lebanon, which was in the very utmoſt parts of his kingdome: thirdly, becauſe it is not probable, that Hiram afforded not help, both of materials and builders for this houſe of Lebanon, as well as for the reſt of Solomons buildings, and it is manifeſt, Chap. 9.10.11. that Solomon gave Hiram his recompence, at the end of thoſe thirteen yeers ſpent in building his own houſe, when as it is ſaid there, verſe 1. Solomon had finiſhed the building of the houſe of the Lord, and the Kings houſe, and all Solomons deſire which he was pleaſed to doe: fourthly, becauſe his throne of Judgement (which we may well think was in Jeruſalem) was in a part of this houſe, as we ſee in the ſeventh verſe of this Chapter: and fifthly, becauſe his wives houſe, which is alſo here ſeverally mentioned, was a part of his owne houſe, as appeareth, 1 Kings. 3.1. And Solomon made affinitie with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and tooke Pharoahs daughter, and brought her into the citie of David, untill he had made an end of of building his own houſe, &c. under which, the Queens houſe muſt needs be comprehended, and why not then the houſe of Lebanon alſo? and therefore it is thought to have been called the houſe of the forreſt of Lebanon: firſt, becauſe of the multitude of Cedar pillars which were therein brought from Lebanon, it ſhewed like a forreſt of Cedar trees: ſecondly, becauſe in regard of the pleaſantneſſe of it, having many curious ſhadowy groves, and green cloſes about it, it did reſemble the forreſt of mount Lebanon: and thirdly, becauſe it was made of Cedars brought from Lebanon; as in the ſame regard alſo (according to the expoſition of many interpreters) the Temple is alſo called Lebanon, Zach. 11.1. Open thy doores O Lebanon, that the fire may devoure thy Cedars.
And the height thereof thirty cubits, upon foure rows of Cedar pillars, with Cedar beams upon the pillars, &c.] It is very hard to conceive the faſhion of the building of this houſe, by this ſhort deſcription which we here have of it, eſpecially becauſe here it is ſaid, that it ſtood upon foure rows of Cedar pillars, with Cedar beams upon the pillars, and it followes in the next verſe, And it was covered with Cedar above upon the beams, that lay on fourty five pillars, fifteen in a row, for if there were foure rows of pillars, as here it is ſaid, and fifteen in a row, as verſ. 3. then ſhould there be, may ſome ſay, threeſcore pillars and not fourty five, as it is expreſly there ſaid: but the moſt probable conjectures that I find in Expoſitours, concerning the contriving of this building, according to the deſcription that is here given of it, are theſe two; the firſt is, that it was built with three ſtories, in the firſt whereof, which was next to the ground, there were foure rows of Cedar pillars, which are thoſe here mentioned; and the Cedar beams upon the pillars, were thoſe which were laid for the floore of the ſecond ſtorie; then in the ſecond ſtorie there was fourty five pillars, fifteen in a row, ſo that there was not in this ſtorie foure rows of pillars, as there was in that next the ground, but three rows, fifteen in a row, which makes fourty five pillars; and over theſe, there were alſo beams laid, which were for the floore of the third ſtorie, which had no beams, but a roofe of Cedar on the top, all which they ſay, is comprehended in thoſe words, verſe 3. And it was covered with Cedar above upon the beams, that lay on fourty five pillars, fifteen in a row: the ſecond is, that this houſe was built with three galleries on each ſide, one over the other, each one borne up with two rows of pillars, whereof one row joyned to the wall of the houſe on either ſide, and the other ſtood on the outſide of the Galleries on either ſide the houſe, and that theſe were the foure rows of pillars mentioned in this verſe, where it is ſaid, that the houſe ſtood upon foure rows of Cedar pillars, with Cedar beams upon the pillars, and that in the next verſe it is ſaid, that it was covered with Cedar above upon the beams, that lay on fourty five pillars, fifteen in a row, becauſe, there the outmoſt pillars are only counted on one ſide of the houſe, whereof there were fifteen in a row, in each of the three Galleries, one over the other, which makes in all fourty five pillars, each Gallery having beams of Cedar upon the pillars, and thoſe alſo covered with Cedar boards. However, that this houſe was provided not only for ſtore-houſes, but alſo for publick feaſts, and for a ſummer houſe, happely for the king to dwell in at times, we may gather from that place, chap. 10.21. All king Solomons drinking veſſells were of gold, and all the veſſels of the houſe of the forreſt of Lebanon were of pure gold, &c.
Verſ. 4. And there were windows in three rows, and light was againſt light in three ranks.] The meaning of this may be either, that the windows in each of the three galleries on one ſide of the houſe, were right againſt the windows on the other ſide; or elſe, that as the windows ſtood ſide wayes in even rows, ſo alſo perpendicularly they were one directly over the other.
Verſ. 5. And all the doores and posts were ſquare, with the windows.] That is, both doores and poſts, and windows were all ſquare.
Verſ. 6. And he made a porch of pillars, the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth thereof thirty cubits.] It was therefore in length anſwerable to the breadth of the houſe, and the breadth of it thirty cubits, being added to the length of the houſe, made the houſe (porch and all) one hundred and thirty cubits long.
And the porch was before them, and the other pillars, and the thick beam were before them.] That is, the porch beneath was before the doores, and poſts of the houſe mentioned verſ. 5. the walls and pillars of the porch being every way correſpondent to thoſe in the houſe; and then upon theſe pillars in the porch were beams laid, which did ſupport other pillars above, as it was in the houſe, verſ. 2.3. and ſo the beams, and upper pillars in the porch, were right againſt the beams and upper pillars in the houſe; and thus alſo the height of the porch is alſo implyed to have been the ſame with the height of the houſe, which was not before expreſſed.
Verſ. 7. Then he made a porch for the throne, where he might judge, &c.] To wit, for the throne of Ivory, which is largely deſcribed, chap. 10.18. the joyning of this we ſee here, with that which went before, makes it probable, that this was built in the ſame place, though not juſt before the houſe of Lebanon, but before that part where the king uſually dwelt, onelyonly there was a court between, to which the words in the following verſe ſeem to have reference.
Verſ. 8. And his houſe where he dwelt, had another court within the porch, which was of the like work.] Hereby it appears, that the porch of judgement ſpoken of in the verſe before, was not juſt before the kings dwelling houſe, to wit, as joyning to it, for within that porch, was the court of the houſe of the like work, that is, having porches and galleries about it, as that had; as alſo that without that porch of judgement there was a great court, where the people met, that came thither for matters of juſtice, for what court elſe ſhould this be referred to, where it is ſaid, that the kings houſe had another court, within the porch, which is therefore called the middle court, 2. Kings 20.4. Iſaiah was gone into the middle court.
Solomon made alſo an houſe for Pharaohs daughter, &c.] Concerning which, ſee 2. Chron. 8.11.
Verſ. 9. All theſe were of coſtly ſtones, &c.] Hereby it is evident that the walls of all theſe buildings before mentioned, were of ſtone, to wit, coſtly ſtones, Marble, and Porphyrie, &c. though the pillars and galleries were of cedar, as is before deſcribed, and the walls alſo within doubtleſſe covered with cedar; yea and though they were ſuch coſtly ſtones, yet were they according to the meaſure of hewed ſtones, as great, that is every way as great, as other ordinary hewed ſtones, even from the foundation unto the coping, that is, the top of the wall, whereon the beams were laid.
And ſo on the outſide toward the great court.] That is, the court that did compaſſe about, or lay as a great court-yard before all theſe buildings.
Verſ 12. And the great court round about was with three rows of hewed ſtones, &c.] That is, the great court mentioned verſ. 9. and whereas it is ſaid, that it 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, the meaning is, either that it was built about with three ſtories of ſtone building, and one ſtory of cedar, both outwards towards the court of the houſe of the Lord, and towards the porch of the kings houſe; or elſe, that as the inner court of the Temple was built with three rows of hewed ſtones, and a row of cedar beams (concerning which, ſee the note, chap. 6.36. ſo was alſo this that lay before the porch of the kings pallace.
Verſ. 14. He was a widows ſonne of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, &c.] This Hiram 2. Chron. 2.14. is ſaid to have been the ſonne of a woman, of the daughters of Dan, yet here it is ſaid, that he was a widows ſonne of the tribe of Naphtali, to wit, becauſe his father was of that tribe (though his mother was of the tribe of Dan, 2. Chron. 2.14. and withall it is ſaid, that his father was a man of Tyre, either becauſe ſome skilfull Tyrian that taught him his skill, adopted him for his ſonne; or rather, becauſe his father had long inhabited that place: yet ſome rather conceive, that his mother is here ſaid to have been of the tribe of Naphtali, and that it was the errour of the king to ſay ſhe was of the tribe of Dan, as we ſee he did, 2. Chron. 2.14. Now though here it is onelyonly ſaid, that he was a worker in braſſe, yet he was alſo skilfull to work in gold and in ſilver, in iron, in ſtone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, in fine linnen, and in crimſon: alſo to grave any manner of graving, to find out every device, &c. as is expreſſed in that 2. Chron. 2.14. ſo that Solomon out of the great reſpect he bore him, uſed to call him his father, 2. Chron. 4.16. All their inſtruments did Hiram his father make to king Solomon, for the houſe of the Lord, of bright braſſe.
Verſ. 15. For he caſt two pillars of braſſe, of eighteen cubits high a piece.] In 2. Chron. 3.15. it is ſaid, that theſe pillars were thirty five cubits high, which ſeeming difference is three ſeverall wayes reconciled by Interpreters: firſt, that here is ſet down the complete length of the pillars, even the baſis or pedeſtal of the pillars, being reckoned in, but according to the account of the ſacred cubit, or the cubit of the Sanctuary, which contained two common cubits: but in the Chronicles the length of them is reckoned according to the common cubit, onelyonly the baſis is left out, and ſo they are ſaid to be thirty five cubits long, and ſo (ſhould the baſe have been added) there had been thirty ſix cubits, twice as many as in this place, where the length is taken according to the ſacred cubit: ſecondly, that here the length of one pillar is ſet down, and in the Chronicles the length of both together; and whereas againſt this it might be objected, that one pillar being eighteen cubits long, the length of both muſt need be thirty ſix cubits, not thirty five, as it is in the Chronicles; to this, two anſwers are given: firſt, that happely the pillars were but ſeventeen cubits and a half high, a piece (which being put together, make thirty five cubits) but are ſaid here to be eighteen cubits high, becauſe it is uſuall in the Scripture, not to expreſſe ſuch broken meaſures, but rather to expreſſe it in a full number: and ſecondly, that happely each pillar was eighteen cubits high, but half a cubit of each pillar being within the chapiters that were put upon them, being ſo meaſured, they made together but thirty five cubits: and thirdly, that the Scapus or body of each pillar was but eighteen cubits high, but that the baſe, the chapiters, and all other the additions and appurtenances of the pillars being meaſured in, they were indeed thirty five cubits high, and indeed this laſt ſeems to me the plaineſt and moſt probable anſwer, and leaſt lyable to exceptions; yet any of them are probable enough, and ſufficient to remove the ſeeming contradiction betwixt theſe two places; in Jer. 52.21. it is alſo added, that theſe pillars were hollow and foure fingers thick.
Verſ. 16. The height of the one chapiter was five cubits.] In 2. Kings 25.17. it is ſaid, that the chapiters were but three cubits high; but there by the chapiters, are meant onelyonly the pomels of the chapiters, as they are called, 2, Chron. 4.12. which were indeed but three cubits high, but here the net-work which ether compaſſed thoſe pomels and ſtood hollow from the pomels, or elſe were as a freez above the pomels are alſo comprehended, and ſo theſe chapiters were five cubits high; and foure cubits in height they were with lillie-work, verſ. 19, yet ſome hold, it was the cornice on the top that was three cubits high, 2. Kings 25.17.
Verſ. 17. And nets of checker-work, and wreaths of chain-work, &c.] Some underſtand this of certain borders, ſome of checker-work wrought after the manner of nets, and others of chain-work, which were on the lower part of the chapiters, or in the midſt as a freez; but others conceive that the bowls of each chapiter were compaſſed within theſe nets of braſſe, and that theſe ſeven wreaths of chain did in ſeverall places compaſſe the net which was faſtened to theſe wreaths, for the better ſtrengthening of them.
Verſ. 18. And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the one net-work to cover the chapiters that were upon the top with pomegranates.] Some undeſtand this alſo, of two borders made with pomegranates an hundred in each border, or row, which were above the borders of net-work, and wreaths of chain-work; others rather think, that theſe two borders went round about on the outſide of the grates and chain-wreaths, from which the pomegranates did hang down in the midſt of the open ſpaces in the net-work.
Verſ. 19. And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars, were of lilie-work in the porch foure cubits.] That is, they were made in leaves after the manner of lilies, foure cubits high, and it was ſuch lilie-work as was in the porch, before which theſe pillars ſtood: ſee the note above, verſ. 16. But yet ſome referre this, in the porch, to pillars, not to lilie-work, as if it had been thus expreſſed, And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars in the porch were of lilie-work.
Verſ. 20. And the chapiters upon the two pillars had pomegranates alſo above, &c.] The meaning of this is, that in the upper part of the chapiters, which is called the cornice, right over above the belly which was by the net-work, which is above called the freez, there were alſo pomegranates; now whereas it follows concerning the number of the pomegranates, and the pomegranates were two hundred, &c. for this we muſt know, that there were two rows or borders, as is noted before, verſ. 18. above the net-work wreaths in each chapiter, now there being a hundred pomegranates hanging down from each of theſe rows or borders, which are thoſe mentioned, 2. Chron. 3.16. And he made an hundred pomegranates and put them on the chains, there were conſequently two hundred pomegranates upon the freez of each chapiter, as it is here ſaid, and in the chapiters of both pillars foure hundred, as is noted, verſ. 42. of this chapter, and again 2. Chron. 4.13. Indeed, Jer. 52.23. it is ſaid, that there were but Ninety and ſix pomegranates on a ſide, that is, on one of the rows; but then it ſeems there were eight other pomegranates between checker and checker, which made up the two rows of ninety ſix full two hundred, and thence it is, that even in that place of Jeremy before cited, there is an intimation that all the pomegranates in one row were an hundred, there were ninety and ſix on a ſide, and all the pomegranates upon the net-work, were an hundred round about.
Verſ. 21. And he ſet up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin, &c.] The two pillars the one called Jachin, that is, he ſhall eſtabliſh: the other called Boaz, that is, in it is ſtrength: ſignified, firſt, the ſtrength and ſtabilitie of the temple, even that God would preſerve and uphold it in caſe the people would keep covenant with him: ſecondly, the invincible ſtrength and ſtabilitie of the church whereof the temple was a ſigne, and that her ſtrength ſhould be merely of God: thirdly, the certain perſeverance of every true believer through Gods help and ſupport, who will never ſuffer the gates of hell utterly to prevail againſt them: and fourthly, that God would in all ages raiſe up ſome in his church, Martyrs, Confeſſours, and others, that ſhould as farre excell others in all eminencie of grace as theſe pillars did excell the reſt of the building in curious workmanſhip; men that ſhould be the glory of the churches whereof they are members, and that by their courage, conſtancie and patience, ſhould notably ſtrengthen and ſupport others, whence it is, that Saint John ſpeaking of thoſe that ſhould continue conſtant in times of perſecution, as alluding to theſe two pillars, ſaith of them, Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he ſhall go no more out, and I will write upon him the name of my God, &c.
Verſ. 23. And he made a molten ſea, &c.] At this the prieſts were to waſh their hands and feet, for ſo it is expreſſed, 2. Chron. 4.6. The ſea was for the prieſts to waſh in, as formerly they had done at the laver in the tabernacle, Exod. 30.19, 20, 21. (concerning which, ſee the note there,) and hence we may gather, that it had pipes or cocks to let out the water; it was called a ſea, becauſe it was ſuch a huge veſſel, ten cubits, that is, five yards from the one brim to the other, and five cubits, that is two yards and a half high; and this was to ſignifie both the exceeding filthineſſe of ſinne, that would require a ſea for the cleanſing of it; and alſo the infinite virtue there had need to be in the bloud, whereby the ſinne of all Gods elect people muſt be waſhed away: the reaſon why not onelyonly the breadth of it is expreſſed, but alſo the meaſure of the circumference of it round, a line of thirty cubits, that is, fifteen yards did compaſſe it round about, is to intimate, that it was exactly round, for the diameter of a circumference is the third part of the circumference and a little more, and ſo it was here, it was thirty cubits round in compaſſe, and ſo the diameter of it from brim to brim was ten cubits, and perhaps a little more, which is not therefore expreſſed. In the Chronicles there is alſo mention of the braſen altar which Hiram made, which is not here ſet down, 2. Chron. 4.1. Moreover he made an altar of braſſe, twenty cubits the length thereof, &c.
Verſ. 24. And under the brim of it round about, there were knops compaſſing it, ten in a cubit, &c.] That is, under the lilie work of the brim there were knops, ten in a cubit, to wit, three hundred knops, caſt in two rows (for the ſea was thirty cubits in compaſſe) and out of each of theſe knops there did iſſue forth, as it were, the figure of an Oxe-head (out of which perhaps the water did run) 2 Chron. 4.3.
Verſ. 26. It contained two thouſand baths.] That is, ſo much water was uſually put into it, but it held, if filled up to the brim, three thouſand baths, 2 Chro. 4.5. And if a bath contained eight gallons or thereabout, as is uſually held, then foure baths made a barrell, and conſequently, there was uſually put into this ſea five hundred barrels of water, and if filled up to the brim, it could contain ſeven hundred and fifty barrels. If this anſwer doth not ſatisfie, we muſt yield that the meaſure of the bath differed, and that the biggeſt held an ordinary bath and an half, whence is the ſeeming contradiction of theſe two places.
Verſ. 27. And he made ten baſes of braſſe, &c.] Whereon the ten lavers ſtood, ver. 38. and whereon they were drawn from place to place, as occaſion ſerved, for the waſhing of the ſacrifices, 2 Chron. 4.6.
Verſ. 28. They had borders, and the borders were between the ledges, &c.] That is, the baſe being made like a cheſt of foure brazen tables, foure cubits long, and three cubits high, joyned in the corners to foure pillaſters, in the upper part of each ſide, which was above the wheels, there were ledge, …ound about, betwixt which there were borders like the panes of wainſcot, whereon were engraven lyons, and oxen, and Cherubims.
Verſ. 29. And upon the ledges, there was a baſe above.] That is, the cover or lid of theſe baſes, which was peculiarly called the baſe, becauſe thereon the l…ver ſtood: but others underſtand this of a neck of braſſe, that went up from the cover like a funnell.
And beneath the lyons and oxen were certain additions of thin work.] That is, certaine finiſhings or ornaments of thin work, which were not of the body of the baſe, but hung down beneath the bottom of the baſe, betwixt the two wheels, and therefore called additions, and happely they are ſaid to have been beneath the lyons and the oxen, (not the Cherubims) becauſe the Cherubims ſtood outmoſt on each ſide, and ſo were over the wheels, and then the lyons and the oxen being in the middeſt of the ſide boards, beneath them the additions were.
Verſ. 30. And every baſe had foure brazen wheels, and plates of braſſe.] Thorough which the ends of the axletrees went on each ſide, and whereon they were born up,
And the foure corners thereof had underſetters.] From each corner of this baſe there roſe up certaine ſtrong ſtayes or underſetters, whereon the belly of the laver did reſt, that ſo, when the baſe was ſtirred, it might ſtand faſt and firm; and theſe underſetters are ſaid to be at the ſide of every addition; either with reſpect to thoſe additions beneath mentioned, verſe 29. that hung down between the wheels, implying, that theſe underſetters were certain pillaſters, the lower part whereof was in the bottom of the baſe, by the ſide of thoſe additions, or elſe rather, with reſpect unto thoſe additions that were on the upper edge of the baſe, for as there were certain finiſhings, and trimming ornaments on the lower edge of the baſe, hanging downe betweene the wheeles, whereof there is mention, verſe 29. ſo alſo it ſeemes there were the like, or other additions or ornaments, on the upper edge of the baſe, whereof mention is made, verſe 36. and at the ſide of theſe additions in each corner of the baſe were theſe underſetters, whereon the laver reſting, was kept ſteady.
Verſ. 31. And the mouth of it within the chapiter and above was a cubit, &c.] For the underſtanding of this, we muſt know, that in the midſt of the cover or lid of theſe baſes, there did riſe up another leſſer baſe, about halfe a cubit high, which is here called the chapiter, from the lid or cover of the great baſe, it did aſcend foure ſquare, and ſtreight up halfe a cubit, and thence afterwards it did aſcend with a round compaſſe, ſtill growing wider and wider, like the mouth of a funnell, for halfe a cubit more (as is expreſſed, verſe 35. in the top of the baſe was there a round compaſſe of half a cubit high) that ſo in the mouth or hollow thereof, the lower part of the lavers might reſt: now of this it is here ſaid, that the mouth of it within the chapiter, that is, within the lower part that went ſtraight up, and above, that is, in that part which went up with a round compaſſe on the top, it was a cubit, that is, a cubit high; the round compaſſe in the top whereinto the Lavers were ſet, was half a cubit high, verſe 35. and the chapiter or baſe beneath was alſo it ſeemes halfe a cubit high, and therefore both together were a cubit in height, and then for the circumference, as it followeth in the next words, the mouth thereof was round, after the work of the baſe, a cubit and an half, that is, it was round in compaſſe a cubit and an half, and made after the work of the baſe with borders, and ledges, and gravings, to wit, of Cherubims and lyons, &c. in the borders; which were as thoſe in the baſe, foure ſquare, not round. Some Expoſitours do indeed otherwiſe underſtand theſe words; namely, that the mouth of this baſe was a cubit broad from one ſide to the other, in that part of it, which was encompaſſed with a crowne or cornice, called here the chapiter; but the firſt expoſition is the beſt.
Verſ. 33. And the work of the wheeles was like the work of a chariot wheele.] That is, curiouſly wrought.
Verſ. 34. And there were foure underſetters to the foure corners of one baſe, &c.] See the notes, verſe 30.
Verſ. 35. And in the top of the baſe was there a round compaſſe of half a cubit high.] The whole mouth of the baſe was a cubit high, (as was expreſſed before, verſe 31.) but the upper part of it, where it began to riſe with a ſpreading compaſſe, fitted to the bottome of the Laver that was to be ſet into it, that was but half a cubit high; but yet ſome underſtand this of a round hollow place on the top of the baſe, which was to receive the water that ran out of the cocks.
And on the top of the baſe, the ledges thereof, and the borders thereof, were of the ſame.] That is, the ledges of the cover or lid of the baſe.
Verſ. 36. And Additions round about.] That is, certaine finiſhings on the uppermoſt edges of the baſe.
Verſ. 38. One laver contained fourty baths.] That is, ten barrels. See the note above, verſ. 26.
Verſ. 39. And he put five baſes on the right ſide of the houſe, &c.] That is, on the ſouth ſide of the prieſts court, as is expreſſed in the latter end of the verſe.
And he ſet the ſea on the right ſide of the houſe eaſtward, over against the ſouth.] So that the ſea was placed near to the entring in at the gate, which was in the eaſt ſide of the Court, that the Prieſts might preſently waſh ſo ſoone as they entred to miniſter in the holy place, but yet withall on the ſouth ſide of the gate, which was counted the right ſide of the court.
Verſ. 45. And the pots, and the ſhovels, and the baſons, &c.] And ſo the fleſh-hooks alſo, 2 Chron, 4.16.
Verſ. 48. And Solomon made all the veſſels that pertained unto the houſe of the Lord.] That is, Hiram made them by Solomons direction, according to the pattern which his father David had given him from the Lord, 1 Chron. 28.19.
The Altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon the ſhew-bread was.] In the 2 Chron. 4.19. it is the tables, in the plurall number, ſo that one is here figuratively put for all, for he made alſo ten tables, and placed them in the Temple, five on the right ſide, and five on the left, 2 Chron. 4.8. concerning the altar here mentioned, ſee the note, chap. 8.20.
Verſ. 49. And the Candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right ſide, and five on the left, before the Oracle.] In the Tabernacle of Moſes there was but one candleſtick, and one table of ſhew-bread, (concerning which, ſee the notes Exod. 25, 23. &c.) but now in the Temple there were ten candleſticks, and (as is noted in the former verſe) ten tables of ſhew-bread, and this was (as many Expoſitours conceive) to ſignifie, that after the coming of Chriſt, of whom Solomon was a type, the Church ſhould have more plentifull means of grace, and more aboundant light from heaven than ever it had under Moſes. As for the allotting of a candleſtick to every table to give light thereto, it might alſo ſignifie, that unleſſe light from above goes along with every Ordinance, appointed for the feeding of mens ſouls, it will be to them of no advantage.
With the flowers and the lamps, and the tongs of gold, &c.] Like thoſe in the Candleſtick that Moſes made for the tabernacle, Exod. 25.31. of which ſee the note there.
Verſ. 50. And the bowls, and the ſnuffers, and the baſons.] 2. Chron. 4.8. It is expreſſed that there were an hundred baſons.