Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, by R.A. Torrey, [ca. 1880], at sacred-texts.com
3 Kings (1 Kings) Chapter 7
Overview
Kg1 7:1, The building of Solomon's house; Kg1 7:2, Of the house of Lebanon; Kg1 7:6, Of the porch of pillars; Kg1 7:7, Of the porch of judgment; Kg1 7:8, Of the house for Pharaoh's daughter; Kg1 7:13, Hiram's work of the two pillars; Kg1 7:23, Of the molten sea; Kg1 7:27, Of the ten bases; Kg1 7:38, Of the ten lavers, Kg1 7:40, and all the vessels.
thirteen years: Kg1 9:10; Ch2 8:1; Ecc 2:4, Ecc 2:5; Mat 6:33
Kg1 9:19, Kg1 10:17; Ch2 9:16; Sol 7:4
beams: Heb. ribs, Kg1 6:5 *marg.
windows: Kg1 7:5, Kg1 6:4; Isa 54:12; Eze 40:16, Eze 40:22, Eze 40:25, Eze 40:29, Eze 40:33, Eze 40:36, Eze 41:26
light was against light: Heb. sight against sight
doors and posts were square, with the windows: or, spaces and pillars were square in prospect, Kg1 7:5
before them: or, according to them
before them: or, according to them. Kg1 7:6
a porch: Kg1 6:3
for the throne: Kg1 10:18-20; Psa 122:5; Isa 9:7
of judgment: Kg1 3:9, Kg1 3:28; Pro 20:8
from one side of the floor to the other: Heb. from floor to floor
another court: Kg2 20:4
an house: Kg1 3:1, Kg1 9:24; Ch2 8:11
costly stones: Kg1 7:10, Kg1 7:11, Kg1 5:17
the foundation: Isa 28:16, Isa 54:11; Co1 3:10, Co1 3:11; Rev 21:19, Rev 21:20
stones of ten cubits: Reckoning the cubit at 21 inches, the ten cubits are 17 feet and a half, and the eight cubits are 14 feet. The magnitude of these stones was certainly extraordinary; but let us hear M. Volney, and our surprise will no longer be fixed on these stones, but transferred from Solomon's house to the ruins of Balbec: "What is still more astonishing is the enormous stones which compose the sloping wall. To the west, the second layer is formed of stones which are from 28 to 35 feet long, by about 9 in height. Over this layer, at the north-west angle, there are three stones, which alone occupy a space of 175 feet and a half; viz. the first, 58 feet 7 inches; the second, 58 feet 11 inches; and the third, exactly 58 feet; and each of these is 12 feet thick. These stones are of white granite, with large shining flakes, like gypsum: there is a quarry of this kind of stone under the whole city, and another in the adjacent mountains, which is open in several places. On the right, as we approach the city, there is still lying there a stone hewn on three sides, which is 69 feet 2 inches long, 12 feet 10 inches broad, and 13 feet 3 inches in thickness.
three rows: Kg1 6:36
the porch: Joh 10:23; Act 3:11, Act 5:12
Hiram: Kg1 7:40; Ch2 2:13, Ch2 4:11, Huram
a widow's son: Heb. the son of a widow woman
tribe: The mother of Hiram (not the Tyrian king mentioned before, but an intelligent coppersmith, of Jewish extraction by his mother's side) in Chronicles, is said to have been of "the daughters of Dan;" and she might have been of Naphtali by her father, and of Dan by her mother; or she might originally be of the tribe of Dan, and have been first married to a man of the tribe of Naphtali; and, in either case, she might be indifferently called "of the tribe of Naphtali," or of "the daughters of Dan."
Naphtali: Ch2 2:14
his father: Ch2 4:16
he was filled: Exo 31:2-6, Exo 35:30-35, Exo 36:1, Exo 36:2, Exo 36:8; Isa 28:26
cast: Heb. fashioned
two pillars: Kg1 7:21; Kg2 25:16, Kg2 25:17; Ch2 3:15-17, Ch2 4:12-22; Jer 52:21-23
eighteen cubits: That is, nearly thirty feet, English measure. But in the parallel place in Chronicles, these pillars are said to thirty-five cubits high. Tremellius reconciles this difference by observing, that the common cubit was but one-half of the cubit of the sanctuary; so that eighteen of the one would make thirty-six of the other; from which, if we deduct one cubit for the base, there will remain thirty-five. Notwithstanding the names of these pillars, they seem to have supported no part of the building, and appear to have been formed for ornament; and were no doubt also emblematical. The right pillar was called Jachin, which signifies, "He will establish;" while that on the left was named Boaz, "In it is strength." Some think they were intended for memorials of the pillars and cloud of fire, which led Israel through the wilderness; but Henry supposes them designed for memorandums to the priests and others that came to worship at God's door.
1st. To depend upon God only, and not upon any sufficiency of their own, for strength and establishment in all their religious exercises.
2nd. It was a memorandum to them of the strength and establishment of the temple of God among them.
When the temple was destroyed, particular notice is taken of the breaking up and carrying away of these brazen pillars, Kg2 25:13, Kg2 25:17, which had been the tokens of its establishment, and would have been still so, if they had not forsaken God.
Exo 36:38, Exo 38:17, Exo 38:19, Exo 38:28; Ch2 4:12, Ch2 4:13
Exo 28:14, Exo 28:22, Exo 28:24, Exo 28:25, Exo 39:15-18; Kg2 25:17
Exo 28:14, Exo 28:22, Exo 28:24, Exo 28:25, Exo 39:15-18; Kg2 25:17
lily work: Kg1 7:22, Kg1 6:18, Kg1 6:32-35
and the pomegranates: Kg2 25:17; Ch2 3:16, Ch2 4:13; Jer 52:22, Jer 52:23
And he set: Ch2 3:17; Gal 2:9; Rev 3:12
the porch: Kg1 7:12, Kg1 6:3; Eze 40:48, Eze 40:49
Boaz: Rut 4:21; Isa 45:24; Mat 16:18
he made: Exo 30:18-21, Exo 38:8
a molten sea: Kg2 25:13; Ch2 4:2; Jer 52:17, Jer 52:20
the one brim to the other: Heb. his brim to his brim
knops: Kg1 6:18; Exo 25:31-36, Exo 37:17-22
compassing the sea: Ch2 4:3
Ch2 4:4, Ch2 4:5; Jer 52:20; Eze 1:10; Mat 28:19; Mar 16:15, Mar 16:16; Luk 24:47; Co1 9:9; Rev 4:6, Rev 4:7
an hand breadth: Jer 52:21
with flowers: Kg1 7:19, Kg1 6:18, Kg1 6:32, Kg1 6:35
it contained: This immense laver, called a sea from it magnitude, held, at a moderate computation, 16,000 gallons. Besides this great brazen laver, there were in the temple ten lavers of brass of a less size, which moved on wheels, and were ornamented with the figures of various animals, having, probably, always some relation to the cherubim. These lavers were to hold water for the use of the priests in their sacred office, particularly to wash the victims that were to be offered as a burnt offering, as we learn from Ch2 4:6; but the brazen sea was for the priests to wash in. The knops are supposed to have been in the form of an ox's head (Ch2 4:3); and some think the water flowed out at their mouths.
two thousand: Kg1 7:38; Ch2 4:5; Eze 45:14
ten bases: These highly ornamental bases appear to have been square stands, or immense pedestals, for the purpose of supporting the lavers. Kg2 25:13, Kg2 25:16; Ch2 4:14; Jer 52:17, Jer 52:20
bases was on: It seems evident that these bases or pedestals rose with steps, and that the ornaments mentioned in the next verse appeared in front, forming so many entablatures. But the description of these bases is very difficult to comprehend: many of the original words are seldom, if at all, used elsewhere; and it would be impossible to give an explanation of each particular, without a labour and prolixity disproportioned to its importance to us. Kg1 7:28
lions: Kg1 7:25, Kg1 6:27; Eze 1:10, Eze 10:14, Eze 41:18, Eze 41:19; Hos 5:14; Rev 4:6, Rev 4:7, Rev 5:5
cherubims: Gen 3:24; Exo 25:18, Exo 37:7; Heb 9:5
certain additions: Pe1 2:5
wheels: Eze 1:15-21, Eze 3:13, Eze 10:10-13
had undersetters: It is probable that these undersetters were so many strong legs, somewhat shorter than the wheels, and were intended to prevent the laver from tilting, or falling, in case of any accident.
joined to the base: Heb. in the base, Kg1 7:32
graved cherubims: Kg1 7:29, Kg1 6:29, Kg1 6:32, Kg1 6:35; Eze 40:31, Eze 40:37, Eze 41:18-20, Eze 41:25, Eze 41:26
proportion: Heb. nakedness
ten lavers: Exo 30:17-21, Exo 30:28, Exo 38:8, Exo 40:11, Exo 40:12; 2Chr. 4:6-22; Zac 13:1; Heb 9:10; Heb 10:22; Jo1 1:7; Rev 7:14
side: Heb. shoulder
Hiram: Heb. Hirom, Kg1 7:13
the lavers: Kg1 7:28; Kg2 25:14, Kg2 25:15; Ch2 4:8, Ch2 4:11-16; Jer 52:18, Jer 52:19
the shovels: Kg1 7:45
the basins: Exo 24:6
So Hiram: Exo 39:32-43
two pillars: Kg1 7:15-22; Ch2 4:12
two networks: Kg1 7:17, Kg1 7:18
the pillars: Heb. the face of the pillars, Kg1 7:42
ten bases: Kg1 7:27-39
one sea: Kg1 7:23-26
the pots: Exo 27:3, Exo 38:3; Lev 8:31; Sa1 2:13, Sa1 2:14; Ch2 4:16; Eze 46:20-24; Zac 14:21
bright brass: Heb. brass made bright, or scoured
the clay ground: Heb. the thickness of the ground
Succoth: Gen 33:17
Zarthan: Zarthan is supposed to have been situated in the tribe of Manasseh, west of Jordan, near Jezreel and Bethshan or Scythopolis, and not far from the Jordan. Succoth we know was situated east of Jordan, in the tribe of Gad, and according to Jerome, in the district of Scythopolis. hence the "plain of Jordan," where Hiram cast the brazen vessels, must be the plain in which that river runs, Zarthan and Succoth being probably nearly opposite each other; but whether the precise spot of his operations was on this side or the other side, is uncertain. In this place he found that particular clay that was proper for his purpose; and it being a considerable distance from Jerusalem, that city would not be annoyed by the smoke and noxious vapours necessarily occasioned by the process. Kg1 4:12, Zartanah, Jos 3:16, Zaretan, Ch2 4:17, Zeredathah
because they were exceeding many: Heb. for the exceeding multitude, Ch2 4:18
found out: Heb. searched, Ch1 22:14, Ch1 22:16
the altar: Exo 30:1-5, Exo 37:25-28, Exo 39:38, Exo 40:26; Ch2 4:19
the table: Exo 25:23-30, Exo 37:10-16, Exo 39:36, Exo 40:22, Exo 40:23; Lev 24:5-9; Ch2 4:8; Eze 40:39, Eze 40:42, Eze 41:22, Eze 44:16; Mal 1:12; Co1 10:21
the candlesticks: Exo 25:31-40, Exo 37:17-24, Exo 39:37, Exo 40:24, Exo 40:25; Ch2 4:7; Zac 4:1-3, Zac 4:11-14; Mat 5:14-16; Rev 1:20, Rev 2:1
before the oracle: Ch2 4:20
censers: Heb. ash pans, Lev 16:12; Ch2 4:21, Ch2 4:22
was ended: Exo 40:33; Ezr 6:15; Zac 4:9
Solomon brought: It appears, therefore, that Solomon did not use any of the gold and silver in the structure of the temple which his father had provided.
things which David his father had dedicated: Heb. holy things of David, Sa2 8:7-11; Ch1 18:7, Ch1 18:8, Ch1 18:10, Ch1 18:11, Ch1 26:26-28, Ch1 28:11-18, Ch1 29:2-8; Ch2 5:1