grew, which was most open to the incursions of their enemies.

empire, which Solomon also maintained in that extent. And so God's promise concerning the giving the whole land, as far as Euphrates, to the Israel- Verse 26. Solomon had forty thousand stalls of ites, was fulfilled. And if the Israelites had multi-horses for chariots-In 2 Chron. ix. 25, it is said, plied so much that the land of Canaan would not have sufficed them, having God's grant of all the land as far as Euphrates, they might have seized upon it whensoever occasion required. The land of the Philistines-Which is to be understood inclusively; for the Philistines were within Solomon's dominion. The border of Egypt-Unto the river Sihor, which was the border between Egypt and Canaan. And served-By tribute, or other ways, as he needed and required.

Verses 22, 23. Thirty measures of fine flour Hebrew, cors; each of which contained ten ephahs. So this provision was sufficient for near three thou- | sand persons. Meal--Of a coarser sort for common Ten fat oxen-Fatted in stalls. Out of pastures-Well fleshed, tender, and good, though not so fat as the former.

use.

Verse 24. From Tiphsah even to Azzah-Either that Tiphsah (2 Kings xv. 16) which was in the kingdom of Israel within Jordan; or, rather, another place of that name upon the Euphrates, even that eminent city which is mentioned by Ptolemy, and Strabo, and Pliny, called Thapsarum. And this best agrees with the following Azzah, which was the border of Canaan in the south and west, as Tiphsah was in the north and east. And so his dominion is described by both its borders. Over all kings-Who owned subjection, and payed tribute to him.

Verse 25. Under his vine-Enjoying the fruit of his own labour with safety and comfort. Under these two trees, which were most used and cultivated by the Israelites, he understands all other fruit-bearing trees, and all other comforts. And they are brought in as sitting or dwelling under these trees, partly for recreation or delight in the shade, and partly for the comfort or advantage of the fruit; and withal, to signify their great security, not only in their strong cities, but even in the country, where the vines and fig-trees

he had but four thousand. And Bochart thinks
that the Hebrew word here used should be render-
ed four, not forty, or that some error has crept into
the text in regard to the number here mentioned.
It is justly observed, however, by Poole, that the
Hebrew word translated stalls here, is not exactly
the same word which is used, and so translated, in
Chronicles; and that, therefore, there may well be
allowed some difference in the signification ; the one
signifying, properly, stables; of such there were
four thousand; the other stalls, or partitions for
each horse, which were forty thousand. For his
chariots-Both for his military chariots, which
seem to be those fourteen hundred, chap. x. 26, and
for divers other uses, as respecting his great and va-
rious buildings, and merchandises, and other occa-
sions, which might require some thousands of other
chariots. And twelve thousand horsemen-Ap-
pointed partly for the defence of his people in
peace, and partly for attendance upon his person,
and for the splendour of his government.
Verses 27, 28. Those officers-Named above,
verse 7.
They lacked nothing-Or, rather, they
suffered nothing to be lacking to any man that came
to Solomon's table, but plentifully provided all
things necessary. This is repeated to show their
diligence, exactness, and care, which was remarka-
ble; especially since they took care of his stables
as well as of his house, as it follows in the next
verse. Barley also and straw-Barley was an-
ciently horse-corn, as appears by many places in
Homer. For the horses and dromedaries-The
Hebrew word, rechesh, signifies swift horses, as
Abarbinel thinks; see Esther viii. 14; but others
take them for mules. Where the officers were—Or,
rather, Where the beasts were; for there is no
word for officers in the Hebrew. Every man ac-
cording to his charge-Which lasted for a month
every year.

CHAPTER V.

Hiram congratulates Solomon on his accession, and agrees to furnish him with workmen and timber for the temple, 1–9.

The work is well done, and the workmen paid, 10-18.

Hiram, king of Tyre,

A. M. 2990.
B. C. 1014.

AND

B. C. 1014.

ND Hiram king of Tyre sent || servants shall be with thy servants: A. M. 2990. his servants unto Solomon; for and unto thee will I give hire for thy he had heard that they had anointed him king servants according to all that thou shalt 2apin the room of his father: for Hiram was ever point: for thou knowest that there is not among a lover of David. us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians.

с

2 And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,

3 Thou knowest how that David my father could not build a house unto the name of the LORD his God, for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.

4 But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.

NOTES ON CHAPTER V. Verse 1. Hiram sent his servants unto Solomon -Namely, as soon as he heard of his succession in the throne, as the following words show, he sent to congratulate him, as the manner of princes is. For Hiram was ever a lover of David—And therefore was desirous to continue in friendship with his son. This Hiram was probably the son of him who sent David timber and artificers to build his palace. Josephus assures us, that in his time, the letters which passed between him and Solomon were preserved in the archives of Tyre.

し

7 And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be the LORD this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people.

8 And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have 3 considered the things which thou sentest to me for and I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir. 9 My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.

4

1 Heb. say - 2 Sam. vii. 13; 1 Chron. xvii. 12; xxii. 10. h 2 Chron. ii. 8, 10.2 Hebrew, say.- 3 Hebrew, heard. i 2 Chron. ii. 16. Heb. send. Ezra iii. 7; Ezek. xxvii. 17; Acts xii. 20.

jurisdiction; and therefore he doth not desire that Hiram would give him the cedars, because they were his own already, but only that his servants might hew them for him, which the ingenious Tyrians well understood. My servants shall be with thy servants--Either to be employed as they shall direct, or to receive the cedars from their hands, and transmit them to me. And unto thee will I give hire for thy servants-Pay them for their labour and art. Sidonians-Or Tyrians; for these places and people, being near each other, are promiscuously used one for another. This assistance, which these Gentiles gave to the building of Solomon's temple, was a type of the calling of the Gentiles, and that they should be instrumental in building and constituting Christ's spiritual temple.

Verses 3-5. A house unto the name of the Lord -For his worship and service. For the wars which were about him on every side-Which diverted his cares and thoughts to other things, and occasioned God's denying him the honour of that work. Until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet-That is, made them subject to him, that he could trample upon them at his pleasure. Compare Psa. viii. 6; 1 Cor. xv. 27. I purpose to build a house unto the name of the Lord-That shall be called by his name, namely, the house of Jehovah;-A letter, 2 Chron. ii. 11. Timber of fir—The and be appropriated to his honour and glory.

Verse 6. Now therefore command thou, that they-That is, thy servants, who are skilful in such work; hew me cedar-trees-Which, for their soundness, and strength, and fragrancy, and durableness, were most proper for his design. Of these David had procured some, but not a sufficient number. Out of Lebanon--Which was in Solomon's

Verses 7, 8. He rejoiced greatly-Being a faithful friend to David and his house; and though it is not probable he was a sincere proselyte, yet he had received much information concerning the nature and excellence of the God of Israel, and had honourable thoughts of him. And Hiram sent to Solomon

word which we translate fir, others think signifies pine, or cypress; but their conjecture is the most reasonable, who think it was a kind of cedar, and therefore comprehended under that name, verse 6, where Solomon desires of him only that his servants might hew him cedar-trees.

Verse 9. From Lebanon unto the sea--The Medi||terranean sea, on which his city stood. I will con

Solomon makes a levy

CHAPTER V.

of men in Israel. AM. 2990. 10 So Hiram gave Solomon cedar- || all Israel; and the levy was thirty A. M. 2990. trees and fir-trees according to all his thousand men.

B. C. 1014.

desire.

B. C. 1014.

14 And he sent them to Lebanon ten thou

And

11' And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand a month by courses; a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home. "Adoniram was over the levy.

sand 'measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by

15 And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;

16 Besides the chief of Solomon's officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that

13¶ And King Solomon raised a 6 levy out of wrought in the work.

Chap. iii. 12. Heb. tribute of men.- Chap. iv. 6.—o Chap. ix. 21; 2 Chr. ii. 17.

other, that there may be a mutual correspondence and dependance, to the glory of God our common parent.

rey them-in floats-Or rafts. It is thought the pieces of timber were tied together in the water, as now is usual, and so, by the help of boats or Verse 13. Solomon raised a lery-Which were ships, conveyed to the appointed place, which was to be employed in the most honourable and easy at no great distance. Unto the place thou shalt parts of the work elating to the temple, in the appoint me-Which was Joppa, a famous seaport manner expressed verse 14; and these were Isin the country of Israel, 2 Chron. ii. 16. Will cause raelites; but those one hundred and fifty thousand them to be discharged there-Hebrew, dispersed, or mentioned verse 15 were strangers. If it seem dissolved; which implies that they were tied to- strange that so many thousands should be emgether. In giving food for my household-My fa-ployed about so small a building as the temple was, mily and court; which, most properly, is called his it must be considered, 1st, That the temple, all its household. Though they had plenty of money, parts being considered, was far larger than men being great merchants, yet they wanted corn and imagine: 2d, That it is probable they were emother provisions: and in after times, it appears, they ployed by turns, as the thirty thousand were, (verse were supported by provisions from Judea, Acts 13,) else they had been oppressed with hard and uninterrupted labours: 3d, That the timber and stone hewed and carried by them were designed, not only for the temple, but also for Solomon's own houses and buildings; because we read of no other levy of men, nor of any care and pains taken, after the building of the temple, for the procurement or preparation of materials for his own houses, or his other buildings; nay, that this very levy of men was made and employed for the building of the Lord's house, and Solomon's house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer, is expressed chap. ix. 15.

xii. 20.

Verses 10, 11. So Hiram gave Solomon cedartrees-That is, he agreed to give him all that he desired; but the trees were not yet cut down and prepared. Twenty thousand measures of wheat- || Each measure spoken of here is supposed to contain six hundred and forty-eight pounds weight, so that the weight of the wheat yearly given to Hiram was two millions one hundred and sixty thousand pounds. Twenty measures of pure oil-In the parallel place, 2 Chron. ii. 10, it is twenty thousand baths of oil, which has the sanction of many of the versions, and seems the most probable reading in Verses 15, 16. That bare burdens-Namely, porthis place; and so in verse 16, instead of three hunters, carters, seamen, and such like. Fourscore thoudred, it is six hundred in the Chronicles; a varia- sand hewers in the mountains-That is, hewers of tion which it is not easy to reconcile without sup- stone, for timber was hewed by Hiram's servants in posing an error, most probably in this place, as the Lebanon. Officers over the work three thousand Seventy give their authority to the reading in the three hundred-Whereof three thousand were set Chronicles. But it is thought by some that the place over the one hundred and fifty thousand mentioned in Chronicles speaks of what was given to the work- verse 15, each of these over fifty of them, and the mea, who had other things, there mentioned, be odd three hundred were set over these three thousides, to support them in their labour; but that this sand; each of them to have the oversight of ten, place speaks of what was given for the use of Hi- to take an account of the work from them. But in ram's family. Thus gave Solomon to Hiram year 2 Chron. ii. 18, these overseers are said to be three by year-Either for sustenance to the workmen du- thousand six hundred. The three hundred added ring the years wherein they were employed in cut-in 2 Chron. ii. might be a reserve to supply the ting down or hewing of timber, or for the yearly places of the other three thousand; yea, or of the support of the king's house during the said time. three thousand six hundred, as any of them should Thus, by the wise disposal of Providence, one coun- be taken off from the work by death, or sickness, or try has need of another, and is benefited by an

weakness, or any necessary occasion; which was a

The year

B. C. 1014.

in which Solomon

I. KINGS.

B. C. 1014.

begins to build the temple. A. M. 2990. 17 And the king commanded, and 18 And Solomon's builders and Hi- A. M. 2990 they brought great stones, costly ram's builders did hew them, and the stones, and Phewed stones, to lay the founda-stone-squarers: so they prepared timber and tion of the house. stones to build the house.

P1 Chron. xxii. 2.

prudent provision, and not unusual in like cases. And so there were three thousand six hundred commissioned for the work, but only three thousand three hundred employed at one time; and therefore both computations fairly stand together.

7 Or, Giblites, as Ezra xxvii. 9.

have served. Christ, who is laid for a foundation, is
an elect and precious stone, (Isaiah xxviii.,) and the
foundations of the church are said to be laid with
sapphires, Isa. liv. 11. and Rev. xxi. 19. Sincerity
obligeth us to lay our foundation firm, and to be-
stow most pains on that part of our religion which
lies out of the sight of men."

Verse 17. Costly stones-Marble and porphyry,
or other stones of great size and value. To lay the
foundation of the house-Where they could not af-
terward be seen; and therefore that this was done,
is mentioned only as a point of magnificence, ex-
cept it was intended for a type or mystical signifi-
cation of the preciousness of Christ, who is the
foundation of the true temple, and the church of||
God. "It should seem," says Henry," that Solomon
was himself present at the founding of the temple,
and that the first stone, as has been usual in famous
buildings, was laid with great solemnity. Solomon
commanded, and they brought costly stones-For a
foundation; though, being out of sight, worse might || but to raise the superstructure.

Verse 18. Solomon's builders and Hiram's did hew them-It seemed Solomon's servants learned of Hiram's, or, at least, were directed by them to assist in the work. And the stone-squarers-Hebrew, the Giblites, the inhabitants of Gebal, a place near Zidon, mentioned Psa. lxxxiii. 7; Ezek. xxvii. 9, samous for artificers and architects, Josh. xiii. 5. These are here distinguished from the rest of Hiram's builders, as the most eminent of them. So they prepared timber and stones to build the house -Made all ready, not only to lay the foundation,

A. M. 2992. AND

B. C. 1012.

CHAPTER VI.

The windows, chambers, materials, doors, 4-10.
The oracle and cherubim, 19–30. The doors and

'began to build the house of the A. M. 2992.
LORD.

The time when the temple was built, 1. The dimensions of it, 2, 3.
God's message to Solomon, 11-13. The walls and flooring, 14-18.
inner court, 31-36. How long it was building, 37, 38.
it came to pass in the
four hundred and eightieth year
after the children of Israel were come out
of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year
of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month
Zif, which is the second month, that he

a 2 Chron. iii. 1, 2.- b Acts vii. 47.

NOTES ON CHAPTER VI.

Verse 1. In the four hundred and eightieth year-Allowing forty years to Moses, seventeen to Joshua, two hundred and ninety-nine to the Judges, forty to Eli, forty to Samuel and Saul, forty to David, and four to Solomon before he began the work, we have just the sum of four hundred and eighty. So long it was before that holy house was built, which in less than four hundred and thirty years was burned by Nebuchadnezzar. It was thus deferred, because Israel had, by their sins, made themselves unwor- || thy of this honour: and because God would show how little he values external pomp and splendour in his service. And God ordered it now, chiefly to be a shadow of good things to come. In the fourth year of Solomon's reign-Solomon was occupied more than three years in making the necessary preparations; for although, his father had amassed

B. C. 1012.

2 And the house which King Solomon built
for the LORD, the length thereof was threescore
cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits,
and the height thereof thirty cubits.

1 Heb. built. e Ezek. xli. 1, &c.
much treasure, had left him a plan, and provided
many things necessary for the undertaking, yet as
these materials, it appears, lay at a considerable
distance, and were left rude and unfashioned, it
could not cost less time to form them into the exact
symmetry in which the Scripture represents them
to have been before they were used, and to bring
them together to Jerusalem. In the month Zif-
The second of the ecclesiastical year. The word
signifying splendour, beauty, comeliness, it was a
very proper name for that month when the trees
and the whole vegetable creation first break forth,
and the beauty of the spring begins to appear. He
began to build the house of the Lord-Either to lay
the foundation of it, or to build on the foundation
before mentioned.

Verse 2. The house-Properly so called, as dis-
tinct from all the walls and buildings adjoining to