A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Volume 3 · Commentary on 1 and 2 Kings · Chapter 5
1 Kings CHAP. V.
GIves an Account of Solomon's preparations for his Building the Temple, wherein all the four Cauſes do concurr, 1 Matter, 2. Form, 3. Efficient, and 4. The Final End.
Remarks upon the Firſt are,
Firſt, The Materials for Building it are procured by a double Embaſſage, Firſt, Hiram King of Tyre and Sidon (two Sea Towns in Phoenicia, bordering upon Galilce near Lebanon, the People whereof came in multitudes to Jeſus, Mar. 3.8. and Jeſus alſo went into their Borders, Mar. 7.24.) call'd Huram, 2 Chron. 2, 3. ſent his Embaſſadors to Solomon ſo ſoon as he heard of his ſucceſſion to his Father David (of whom he had always been a firm Lover, and a faſt friend to him) to congratulate his coming to the Crown of Iſrael, v. 1. and Peter Martyr obſerves well here, that tho' theſe Embaſſadors of King Hiram had been ſent long before this time, yet now only is mention made thereof, becauſe an occaſion is related here of Solomon's requeſting of him materials for the building of his Temple: and Grotius mentions the loving Letters paſſed between them.
The Second Remark is, Solomon ſends ſecondly his Embaſſadors to this Hiram, v. 2. upon theſe well ſuppoſed Reaſons.
Firſt, Becauſe Hiram probably was a Proſelyte Prince, one believing in the God of Iſrael, v. 7. where his thankfulneſs to the true God (for ſetting up Solomon over Iſrael) was a good ſign of true Grace: the Greeks have but one word [foreign,] to expreſs both grace and thanks.
Secondly, Becauſe of that Love and League that had formerly been betwixt Hiram and his Father David to whom he had done the like Courteſies, 2 Sam. 5.11. which inward, intire, and continual affection both to the pious Father, and to the pious Son, was no ſmall evidence of true piety in Hiram, and whoſe congratulatory meſſage before, encouraged Solomon to ſend now to him.
Thirdly, Becauſe King Hiram was the only Prince that could gratifie Solomon in his ſuit: None elſe had that Ability to ſupply Solomon with Materials for the Temple, as Hiram was able, and therefore the Son renews the League 'twixt Hiram and his Father ver. 11.
The Third Remark is, The moſt Elegant and effectual Oration Solomon ſent by his Embaſſadors to King Hiram here, v. 3, 4, 5, 6. wherein,
Mark Firſt, The Preface [thou knoweſt, &c.] v. 3. both firſt that David could not build the Temple (tho' it was in his heart to do it) becauſe of his continual Wars, which gave him no time for it.
N. B. This good Son would not lay open to Foreigners his Father's nakedneſs as curſed Cham did his, Gen. 9.22, 25. for the Reaſon rendred of David's Divine Prohibition was his ſhedding much blood (as that of Ʋriah's and his fellow Souldiers that fell with him) 2 Sam. 7.5. 1 Chron. 22.8.28.3. but Solomon comes off only with his Father's unceſſant Wars, to ſhew that Children ought to ſpeak the beſt things of their Parents, for to ſpeak evil either of them or to them was death by the Law of God, Math. 15.4. yea, and by Solon's Law too, tho' but a Pagan Lawgiver, one of the Seven Wiſe Men of Greece, &c.
And Secondly, Solomon in his Preface tells Hiram the Reaſon why he reſolved to erect the Temple which his Father had no capacity nor opportunity to accompliſh, becauſe of his Wars, but now the Lord hath given me an Ʋniverſal Peace, v. 4. which he aſcribes not to his Earthly Father as the effect of all his Victories Foreign and Domestick, nor to his own prudence, but to the Lord, by whom Kings Reign, Prov. 8.15. and from whom all peace and promotion cometh, Pſal. 75.6, 7. ſaying (as Peter Martyr ſaith here) I may not abuſe my eaſe, which my Heavenly Father hath granted me, to idleneſs and luxury, but having no work in Wars abroad, I will reſtore Religion at home, ver. 5.
Mark Secondly, Solomon's Propoſition after his Preface, he requeſts of Hiram ſuch Materials as were requiſite for building the Temple, both Wood and Stone, v. 6, 18. for tho' David before his death had prepared abundantly both Wood and Workmen, 1 Chron. 22.2, 3, 4, &c. & 29.3. yet nothing near enough for ſo great a work, and Hiram muſt help him with Workmen alſo, becauſe none were ſo Skilful for ſquaring Stone and hewing Timber as the Sidonians, who lived (ſaith Grotius) among Woods and Quarries, ſo they were train'd up therein.
Mark Thirdly, Several Men have their ſeveral gifts (ſaith Peter Martyr) and ſeveral Countries their ſeveral Abilities and Commodities: Solomon had Materials within himſelf (for Lebanon was either wholly or in part in his jurisdiction, ſaith Peter Martyr) therefore he deſires not Hiram to give him Cedars which were his own already, but Hiram had the Artificers whom Solomon deſired him to ſend to exerciſe their Curious Art and Skill upon his Materials.
N. B. This was not without a Mystery that the Sydonians and Tyrians (who were ingenious Gentiles) muſt be called in to aſſiſt Solomon's Servants (who were Hebrews) in this building of a Temple for God: Not only (ſaith Peter Martyr) to teach us that it is lawful for pious perſons to make uſe of Impious Ethnicks Arts both Writings and Handy-works, as occaſion is offered; but more eſpecially it holds forth the call of the Gentiles: Tho' the Jews only meddled with the Tabernacle of Moſes in the Wilderneſs, yet Solomon's Temple muſt not be built in that Holy City Jeruſalem, the Metropolis of Canaan, without the aid of thoſe Gentile Tyrians: The Jews (whether they will or not will) muſt not build up the Gospel Temple, or Church of Chriſt without the concurrence of Gentile Believers; Paul ſaid, the Jews, together with us Gentiles, make up an Houſe for God, Eph. 2.13, 14.
Mark Fourthly, Solomon's Commutative Juſtice in promiſing a due proportion of wages for thoſe Tyrians true work, the Workman (he judged) was worthy of his wages which he propounded; Hiram gratefully accepts of his propoſal, v. 6, 7, 8. and Solomon as punctually performs the Contract, in ſending food, a ſcarce Commodity in Hiram's Country, having its ſupplies from Judea, Ezek. 27.17. Acts 12.20. Materials Hiram exchanges for meat with Solomon, v. 9, 10, 11.
The Second Cauſe (after the matter) is the form of the Temple implyed in ver. 12. namely in Solomon's Wiſdom, wherein he increaſed more and more, not only becauſe he ſhewed ſo much Wiſdom in tranſacting this important League with King Hiram, tending to the Temple building (as Peter Martyr ſaith) but 'tis ſaid here [the Lord gave Solomon Wiſdom] as an additional gift, to Chap. 3.12, and Chap. 4.29. namely, Architectonick Wiſdom] an artificial skill in contriving and carrying on ſtately Structures, a dexterous diſcretion for this preſent purpoſe, God giving him the Idea or notion of the Temple in his mind, as a model whereby the future fabrick was to be framed.
The Third is, The Efficient Cauſe, and this is twofold, Instrumental or principal; the Inſtruments were three.
(1.) Labourers, ſuch as were ſtone-cutters, and hewers of Timber.
(2.) Porters that bare burthens, as ſtones out of Quarries, and Timber to the Carpenter's hands; and
(3.) The Artificers that fitted both the Wood and the Stone for the Fabrick, v. 13, 14, 15, 17, 18. then the principal Officers were the Maſter-Builders over-ſeeing all, v. 16.
Remarks hereupon are,
Firſt, The poliſhed materials for this Typical Temple were two-fold, Firſt, the beſt of Wood, Cedars, which God himſelf did point out to be done, 2 Sam. 7.7. becauſe 'tis a wood moſt ſound, ſtrong, fragrant, and durable, not knotty nor ſubject to worms, &c. and ſecondly, the beſt of building-ſtones, call'd Costly, even for the foundation, v. 17. even Marble of all ſorts; the very foundation-ſtones were not rude and rugged, but they were both of great value, and well hewed that they might bed the better, tho' they could not afterwards be obvious to the eye when under ground: This was done not for neceſſity, (ſaith Peter Martyr) but for Magnificency, and to ſignifie to us that as the whole Temple did Typifie the whole Myſtical Body of Chriſt which is his Church built up with growing ſtones and green Timber ſanctified in Christ Jeſus, call'd to be Saints, 1 Cor. 1.3. Cant. 1.16, 17, &c. So this foundation repreſents Christ the Foundation of the Church, 1 Cor. 3.10. & Eph. 2.20. Iſa. 28.16. hid from the World, yet precious in himſelf, &c. And it teaches alſo, that God is not all for the eye, but pleaſes himſelf with his Saints hidden worth.
Remark the Second, is God's tenderneſs to Temple-Builders, thoſe Labourers were one mouth labouring in Lebanon, and two months at home by turns, v. 14. their time of reſt at home with their Relations was double to their time of labour.
N. B. Let Superiors learn from God and Solomon here to make the yoke as eaſie as they can to their Inferiours, leſt they loſe their Affections, and procure their Imprecations.
Remark the Third, is that of Dr. Hall, the Temple was all framed in Lebanon, but it was ſet up in Sion: So that neither Ax nor Hammer was heard in that Holy Structure, all the noiſe was in Lebanon, to fit every thing for its place, made nothing but noiſe there, but nothing in Sion ſave ſilence and peace, Chap. 6.7.
N. B. What ever tumults be in the World, let Concord be in the Church.
Remark the Fourth, Thoſe Stone-ſquaring Giblites, v. 18. were Pagans, Ezek. 27.9. Pſal. 83.7. yet uſed about the Temple for their Squaring skill. So Humane Learning may be uſed in Divine Diſcourſes, ſo it be not for vain oſtentation, for that is to make a Calf of the Ear-rings brought out of Egypt.
The Laſt Cauſe is the End for which this Temple was built. It was unto the Name of the Lord God of Iſrael, v. 5. when Solomon had no Satan or Adverſary againſt him, v. 4. the Devil was then Chain'd up, but after this broke looſe, and becauſe he could not hinder this, will not only imitate it, but endeavours to out-do it in Diana's Temple at Epheſus, Act. 19.27, 28. which was built unto the Devil's Name, and not only built of Cedar like this of Solomon's (as Vitruvius relateth) but was likewiſe longer and larger than was this at Jeruſalem, as other Authors do aſſure us, 220 years in Building, and built in a place where no Earthquake could move it, 'twas 425 foot long, 220 broad, and had 1…7 Pillars given by ſo many Kings, &c. The End why Solomon built his Temple, is mention'd again, Chap. 6. v. 12. he Built it for the Lord.