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Great and long preparation had been making for the building of the temple, and here, at length, comes an account of the building of it; a noble piece of work it was, one of the wonders of the world, and taking in its spiritual significancy, one of the glories of the church. Here is, I. The time when it was built (1Ki 6:1), and how long it was in the building, 1Ki 6:37,38. II. The silence with which it was build, 1Ki 6:7. III. The dimensions of it, 1Ki 6:2,3. IV. The message God sent to Solomon, when it was in the building, 1Ki 6:11-13. V. The particulars: windows (1Ki 6:4), chambers (1Ki 6:5,6,8-10), the walls and flooring (1Ki 6:15-18), the oracle (1Ki 6:19-22), the cherubim (1Ki 6:23-30), the doors (1Ki 6:31-35), and the inner court, 1Ki 6:36. Many learned men have well bestowed their pains in expounding the description here given of the temple according to the rules of architecture, and solving the difficulties which, upon search, they find in it; but in that matter, having nothing new to offer, we will not be particular or curious; it was then well understood, and every man's eyes that saw this glorious structure furnished him with the best critical exposition of this chapter.
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The Building of the Temple (1011 BC)
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聖殿的建造（主前1011年）
¹ 以色列人出埃及地後第四百八十年，就是所羅門作以色列王第四年西弗月，就是二月，他開始為耶和華建造殿宇。
² 所羅門王為耶和華所建的殿，長六十肘，寬二十肘，高三十肘。
³ 殿前的廊子長二十肘，與殿的寬度相同；殿前寬十肘。
⁴ 又為殿作了窗櫺，是寬窗、窄欞。
⁵ 靠著殿的牆壁，他又建造了圍著殿的廂房，圍著殿和內殿的牆壁，造成四周的廂房。
⁶ 下層的廂房寬五肘，中層寬六肘，第三層寬七肘；因為殿外的牆壁有階層，免得梁木插入殿牆之內。
⁷ 建殿之時，是用已經鑿好的石頭建造的；所以建殿之時，在殿裏聽不見錘子、斧子和任何鐵器的聲音。
⁸ 中層廂房的門在殿的右邊；人要上中層，要從螺旋樓梯上去，從中層上到第三層。
⁹ 他這樣建造殿，把它建造完畢；又用香柏木的梁和板遮蓋殿。
¹⁰ 靠著全殿他又建造廂房，高五肘；用香柏木的梁擱在殿上。
此處我們看到：一、聖殿被稱為「耶和華的殿」（王上六1），因為它是：1. 由祂設計和定規的。無限的智慧是建築師，並藉著靈將圖樣、模式賜給大衛——不僅是口傳，更是為更確定、更精準的緣故，用文字寫下（代上二十八11、12），正如祂曾「在摩西口中」賜下會幕的圖樣。2. 奉獻並分別出來歸給祂、為祂的尊榮，用以事奉祂——這殿之為祂所有，是任何別的房子所沒有的；因為祂在其中彰顯祂的榮耀（是在任何別處所未曾彰顯的），所用的方式與那時代的安排相合；因為既有屬肉體的條例，便有「屬世界的聖幕」（來九1、10）。這賦予它「聖潔之美」，遠勝過它其他一切的美麗。
二、開始建造的時間被準確記下。1. 這是以色列人出埃及之後整整四百八十年。把摩西的四十年、約書亞的十七年、士師的二百九十九年、以利的四十年、撒母耳和掃羅的四十年、大衛的四十年、所羅門開始這工程之前的四年加起來，正好是四百八十年。這聖潔的國家建立之後這麼久，這座聖殿才建造；而在不到四百三十年之後，它就被尼布甲尼撒焚燒了。如此延遲，是因為以色列因自己的罪使自己不配得這尊榮，也是因為神要表明祂多麼不看重事奉中的外在排場和輝煌：祂並不急於有一座聖殿。大衛的帳幕雖然潔净、合用——既不宏偉，也不富麗，也未見有任何奉獻之禮——卻被稱為「耶和華的殿」（撒下十二20），與所羅門的聖殿一樣有用；然而當神賜所羅門極大財富時，便把這樣使用它的心意放在他心裏，又恩慈地悅納他——主要是因為它要成為「將來美事的影兒」（來九9）。2. 這是在所羅門作王第四年——頭三年用以安頓國事，免得這工程受其攪擾。為神的工作而在安頓自己、解脫一切可能使我們分心之事上所花的時間，並不是浪費。在這段時間內，他繼續增添他父親所作的預備（代上二十二14），鑿石頭、修整木料，把一切都準備妥當；所以他不該因拖延如此之久而被責為懈怠。當我們為事奉神而預備、為之裝備自己之時，我們實在是在事奉神。
三、材料被運來，已經備好放在當放之處（王上六7），預備到一個地步，當各部分組合起來之時，「殿在建築的時候，其中聽不見錘子、斧子的聲音」。所羅門在一切建造上都以審慎為原則：「在外面預備好材料，然後建造房屋」（箴二十四27）。但此處的預備似乎格外充分、格外精確，以至於當各部分組合之時，沒有缺的要補上，沒有錯的要改正。這是和平之神的殿，所以其中不可聽見鐵器的聲音。安靜與緘默既合乎宗教操練，也有助於宗教操練：神的工作當以最謹慎、最小喧嘩的方式去作。聖殿是用斧子和錘子拆毀的，拆毀它的人「在會中吼叫」（詩七十四4、6）；但它是在靜默之中建立起來的。喧嚷和暴力常常阻撓神的工作，卻從未促進它。
四、尺寸被記下（王上六2、3），是按比例的規則。有人觀察到，長和寬正好是會幕的兩倍。如今以色列人數增多，他們聚集之處便需要擴大（賽五十四1、2）；如今他們更富足，也更有能力擴建。神在哪裏大量撒種，就期望在那裏大量收割。
五、關於窗戶的記載（王上六4）：「內寬外窄」（旁註）。我們心思的眼目也當如此——對自己的反省比對別人的更近，多向內看以審判自己，少向外看以批評弟兄。窗戶的窄小表明那個時代是黑暗的，與福音的日子相比。
六、廂房被描述（王上六5、6），用作更衣室，會幕的器皿小心收藏其中，祭司也在其中穿脫衣服，並留下他們供職時所穿的衣袍：他們或許也在其中一些廂房裏吃聖物。所羅門並非只專注於殿的宏偉，而忽略了供職所需的一切便利；他要使凡事都「按著次序」和「端正」而行。他小心使梁木不插入殿牆之內，免得削弱牆壁（王上六6）。不可藉著增添美觀或便利之名，而削弱教會的力量。
¹¹ 耶和華的話臨到所羅門說：
¹² 「論到你所建造的這殿，你若遵行我的律例，謹守我的典章，遵行我的一切誡命，我必照著我所應許你父親大衛的話，向你應驗；
¹³ 我必住在以色列人中間，必不撇棄我的民以色列。」
¹⁴ 於是所羅門建造殿宇，把它建造完畢。
此處我們看到：一、所羅門從事聖殿建造之時神給他的話。神讓他知道，祂留意他所作的事——「你現在正在建造的這殿」（王上六12）。凡為神而作工的人，神的眼目都在他們身上。「我知道你的作為」——你那些好的作為。神向他保證：他若繼續並恆忍順服神的律法，並行在盡本分和真敬拜神的路上，神那慈愛必向他本人伸展（「我必向你應驗我的話」），也必向他的國度伸展：「以色列必永遠被承認為我的民；我必『住在他們中間』，『必不撇棄他們』。」神大概是藉著一位先知把這話傳給他：1. 藉著應許鼓勵他、安慰他在工作之中。有時這工程所要求的極大關注、開支和勞累，或許使他幾乎想要從未開始；但這話能幫助他度過其中的艱難——所應許的他和他的家、他的國的堅立，必充充足足地補償他一切的勞苦。注目應許能使我們愉快地走過工作；凡關心公眾利益的人，凡能為保全並延續神同在的記號而作的，他們都會不以為太多。2. 藉著附帶的條件提醒他：即使他把殿建造得極其堅固，他和百姓若不繼續「遵行神的律例」，其中的榮耀不久便會離去。神坦白告訴他：他和百姓在建殿上所費的一切心力，既不能使他們免去順從神律法的本分，也不能在悖逆之時庇護他們免受刑罰。遵守神的誡命比建造教堂更好，也更討神喜悅。
二、所羅門為神所作的工：「於是他建造殿宇」（王上六14）——「於是」是因神所傳的信息而得激勵，「於是」是因蒙提醒不要期望神會承認他的建造，除非他順從祂的律法：「主啊，我在這些條件上前行，堅決定意遵行你的律例。」神嚴厲的管治絕不會把好人從事奉中趕走，反而會激發他在其中更加殷勤。所羅門建造並完成，他繼續這工作，神也與他同行直到完工。這話既為讚美神，也為讚美他：他沒有厭倦這工作，沒有遇到任何阻礙（如拉四24），沒有超過自己的財力，也沒有作一半便停；他既開始建造，便有能力也有意願完成，因為他是個有智慧的建造者。
¹⁵ 他用香柏木板建造殿內的牆，從殿的地板到牆壁的頂棚，都用香柏木板遮蔽；他又用松木板鋪殿的地。
¹⁶ 他在殿的後面建造二十肘長的內殿，就是至聖所；無論地板、牆壁，都用香柏木板遮蔽。
¹⁷ 內殿前面的聖所，長四十肘。
¹⁸ 殿內的香柏木上雕刻著野瓜和敞開的花朵；一切都是香柏木，看不見石頭。
¹⁹ 他在殿內預備了內殿，為要安放耶和華的約櫃。
²⁰ 內殿長二十肘，寬二十肘，高二十肘，內部都貼上精金；又把香柏木作的壇貼上精金。
²¹ 所羅門用精金貼殿內部；又用金鏈子隔開內殿前的空間，也貼上精金。
²² 全殿都貼上精金，直到把全殿都貼完；內殿旁的壇也用精金貼上。
²³ 他在內殿用橄欖木作兩個基路伯，各高十肘。
²⁴ 這一個基路伯的一個翅膀長五肘，那一個翅膀也長五肘；從這翅膀的尖到那翅膀的尖，共有十肘。
²⁵ 第二個基路伯也是十肘；兩個基路伯的尺寸、大小都是一樣。
²⁶ 這一個基路伯高十肘，那一個基路伯也是這樣。
²⁷ 他把兩個基路伯安在內殿之中；他們展開基路伯的翅膀，使這一個基路伯的翅膀挨著這邊的牆，那一個基路伯的翅膀挨著那邊的牆；他們的翅膀在殿的中間彼此相接。
²⁸ 又用金子包裹基路伯。
²⁹ 殿內四周的牆壁上，都雕刻著基路伯、棕樹和敞開的花朵，內外都是如此。
³⁰ 殿的地板，內外都貼上精金。
³¹ 又用橄欖木作內殿的門扇、門楣和門框，佔牆的五分之一。
³² 兩扇門都是橄欖木的；上面雕刻著基路伯、棕樹和敞開的花朵，又貼上精金，把金子適当地鋪在基路伯和棕樹上。
³³ 又為聖所的門用橄欖木作門楣和門框，佔牆的四分之一。
³⁴ 又用松木作兩扇門，這一扇門的兩扇是摺疊的，那一扇門的兩扇也是摺疊的。
³⁵ 上面雕刻著基路伯、棕樹和敞開的花朵，又用金子貼上，與雕刻的工藝相配。
³⁶ 他又建造內院，三層鑿成的石頭，一層香柏木梁。
³⁷ 所羅門王第四年西弗月，立了耶和華殿的根基。
³⁸ 到了第十一年布勒月，就是八月，殿的各部分都按照一切樣式建造完畢。他建殿共用了七年。
此處我們看到：一、關於建築細節的詳盡記載。
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聖殿的鑲板。它是香柏木的（王上六15），堅固耐用，氣味芬芳。鑲板上精巧地雕刻著野瓜（如同蛋或蘋果）和花朵，無疑是按當時的樣式（王上六18）。
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鍍金。它不像我們如今那樣只是塗上一層，而是「全殿」——聖殿內部的一切（王上六22），連地板（王上六30）——他都「貼上精金」，至聖所更是「精金」（王上六21）。所羅門不惜任何使它各方面都華貴所需的開支。在那裏金子被踐在腳下，正如在一切活的殿中當如此：金子的豐盛反而使其價值減少。
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內殿，或作「發言之處」（因這字就是這個意思），即「至聖所」——如此稱呼，是因為神從那裏向摩西說話，或許也向大祭司說話——當他藉著決斷的胸牌求問之時。在這個地方，「約櫃要安放其中」（王上六19）。所羅門把一切都更新了，比從前更加宏偉，只有約櫃例外——約櫃仍是摩西所作的，連同其上的施恩座和基路伯；那是神同在的記號——無論百姓在帳幕或聖殿中聚會，這同在總是一樣的，並不隨他們的境遇而改變。
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基路伯。除了施恩座兩端遮蓋約櫃的之外，（1）所羅門又立了兩個極大的——照某些人所想，是少年的像——有翅膀，用橄欖木造成，全部貼上精金（王上六23-28等）。這至聖所比方才會幕中的大多得多，所以約櫃在其中便顯得失落在其中，而光禿的牆壁也會難看——若不如此裝飾的話。（2）他在殿的一切牆壁上雕刻了基路伯（王上六29）。外邦人立神像來敬拜；但這些是要代表以色列之神的僕人和侍從，就是聖潔的天使——並非要受人敬拜（「千萬不可」），而是要表明我們當敬拜的那一位是何等偉大。
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門。通往內殿的摺門只佔牆壁的五分之一（王上六31），通往聖所的佔四分之一（王上六33）；但兩者都刻有基路伯作為裝飾（王上六32、35）。
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內院，祭司在其中事奉的銅祭壇就在這裏。這內院與百姓所在的院子之間，有一道矮牆隔開——三層鑿成的石頭，頂上有一層香柏木的飛簷（王上六36）；百姓可以越過它看見所作的事，聽見祭司對他們說的話；因為即使在那時代的安排之下，他們也沒有完全被留在黑暗中或遠處。
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建造這殿所用的時間。從立根基到完工，不過七年半（王上六38）。考慮到工程的浩大和精美，以及使其堪用所必需的許多附屬之物，這實在很快完工了。所羅門在這事上真誠殷勤，錢財充足，又沒有甚麼能使他分心，並且人手多，工程便快。他把殿連同「一切附屬之物」和「一切條例」（如旁註所讀）都完工了——不僅建造了地方，也設立了為此而建造的工作。
二、現在讓我們看看這聖殿所預表的。1. 基督就是真聖殿；祂自己論到祂身體的殿（約二21）。神親自為祂預備了身體（來十5）。「神本性一切的豐盛都有形有體地居住在基督裏面」，正如「舍吉拿」在聖殿中。在祂裏面，神一切屬靈的以色列人都聚集。藉著祂，我們得以坦然無懼地進到神面前。神所有的天使，那些蒙福的基路伯，都奉命敬拜祂。2. 每一個信徒都是活的聖殿，神的靈住在其中（林前三16）。連身體也因與靈魂聯合而成為如此（林前六19）。我們不僅因神的護理奇妙地被造，更因神的恩典奇妙地被重新再造。這活的殿建造在基督這根基上，並將在適當的時候完成。3. 福音的教會是奧祕的聖殿；她「漸漸成為主的聖殿」（弗二21），以聖靈的恩賜和美德為裝飾、為美麗，正如所羅門的聖殿以金子和寶石為裝飾。會幕只有猶太人建造，聖殿卻有外邦人一同建造。連「外人和客旅」也被建造「成為神藉著聖靈居住的所在」（弗二19、22）。聖殿分為聖所和至聖所，它的院子分為外院和內院；照樣也有有形的教會和無形的教會。進聖殿的門比進內殿的門更寬。許多人進到信仰的表白裏，卻達不到救恩。這聖殿建造在磐石上，堅定穩固，不像舊約的會幕那樣要被拆毀。聖殿的預備雖然歷時長久，至終卻建成了。福音教會的房角石至終必在歡呼聲中被帶進來；可惜在建造它的過程中竟有斧子和錘子的碰撞聲。天使是服役的靈，在四圍服事教會和教會一切肢體。4. 天堂是永遠的聖殿。在那裏教會要被建立，不再遷移。新耶路撒冷的街道，為與聖殿的地板相對照，據說是「精金的」（啟二十一21）。在那裏基路伯永遠侍立在榮耀的寶座旁。聖殿是統一和諧的；在天上有完全的美麗與和諧。在所羅門的聖殿裏，沒有斧子和錘子的聲音。在天上一切都安靜和平靜；凡要作為那建築之石頭的，在如今這試煉和預備的景況中，必須被神的恩典鑿成、修整，使之配得其中的地位。
英文原文
The Building of the Temple (1011 BC)
¹ And 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 began to build the house of the LORD.
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.
³ And the porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house; and ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the house.
⁴ And for the house he made windows of narrow lights.
⁵ And against the wall of the house he built chambers round about, against the walls of the house round about, both of the temple and of the oracle: and he made chambers round about:
⁶ The nethermost chamber was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad: for without in the wall of the house he made narrowed rests round about, that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the house.
⁷ And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.
⁸ The door for the middle chamber was in the right side of the house: and they went up with winding stairs into the middle chamber, and out of the middle into the third.
⁹ So he built the house, and finished it; and covered the house with beams and boards of cedar.
¹⁰ And then he built chambers against all the house, five cubits high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.
Here, I. The temple is called the house of the Lord (1Ki 6:1), because it was, 1. Directed and modelled by him. Infinite Wisdom was the architect, and gave David the plan or pattern by the Spirit, not by word of mouth only, but, for the greater certainty and exactness, in writing (1Ch 28:11,12), as he had given to Moses in the mouth a draught of the tabernacle. 2. Dedicated and devoted to him and to his honour, to be employed in his service, so his as never any other house was, for he manifested his glory in it (so as never in any other) in a way agreeable to that dispensation; for, when there were carnal ordinances, there was a worldly sanctuary, Heb 9:1,10. This gave it its beauty of holiness, that it was the house of the Lord, which far transcended all its other beauties.
II. The time when it began to be built is exactly set down. 1. It was just 480 years after the bringing of the children of Israel out of Egypt. Allowing forty years to Moses, seventeen to Joshua, 299 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 480. So long it was after that holy state was founded before that holy house was built, which, in less than 430 years, was burnt by Nebuchadnezzar. It was thus deferred because Israel had, by their sins, rendered themselves unworthy of this honour, and because God would show how little he values external pomp and splendour in his service: he was in no haste for a temple. David's tent, which was clean and convenient, though it was neither stately nor rich, nor, for aught that appears, ever consecrated, is called the house of the Lord (2Sa 12:20), and served as well as Solomon's temple; yet, when God gave Solomon great wealth, he put it into his heart thus to employ it, and graciously accepted him, chiefly because it was to be a shadow of good things to come, Heb 9:9. 2. It was in the fourth year of Solomon's reign, the first three years being taken up in settling the affairs of his kingdom, that he might not find any embarrassment from them in this work. It is not time lost which is spent in composing ourselves for the work of God, and disentangling ourselves from every thing which might distract or divert us. During this time he was adding to the preparations which his father had made (1Ch 22:14), hewing the stone, squaring the timber, and getting every thing ready, so that he is not to be blamed for slackness in deferring it so long. We are truly serving God when we are preparing for his service and furnishing ourselves for it.
III. The materials are brought in, ready for their place (1Ki 6:7), so ready that there was neither hammer nor ax heard in the house while it was in building. In all building Solomon prescribes it as a rule of prudence to prepare the work in the field, and afterwards build, Pr 24:27. But here, it seems, the preparation was more than ordinarily full and exact, to such a degree that, when the several parts came to be put together, there was nothing defective to be added, nothing amiss to be amended. It was to be the temple of God of peace, and therefore no iron tool must be heard in it. Quietness and silence both become and befriend religious exercises: God's work should be done with as much care and as little noise as may be. The temple was thrown down with axes and hammers, and those that threw it down roared in the midst of the congregation (Ps 74:4,6); but it was built up in silence. Clamour and violence often hinder the work of God, but never further it.
IV. The dimensions are laid down (1Ki 6:2,3) according to the rules of proportion. Some observe that the length and breadth were just double to that of the tabernacle. Now that Israel had grown more numerous the place of their meeting needed to be enlarged (Isa 54:1,2), and now that they had grown richer they were the better able to enlarge it. Where God sows plentifully he expects to reap so.
V. An account of the windows (1Ki 6:4): They were broad within, and narrow without, Marg. Such should the eyes of our mind be, reflecting nearer on ourselves than on other people, looking much within, to judge ourselves, but little without, to censure our brethren. The narrowness of the lights intimated the darkness of that dispensation, in comparison with the gospel day.
VI. The chambers are described (1Ki 6:5,6), which served as vestries, in which the utensils of the tabernacle were carefully laid up, and where the priests dressed and undressed themselves and left the clothes in which they ministered: probably in some of these chambers they feasted upon the holy things. Solomon was not so intent upon the magnificence of the house as to neglect the conveniences that were requisite for the offices thereof, that every thing might be done decently and in order. Care was taken that the beams should not be fastened in the walls to weaken them, 1Ki 6:6. Let not the church's strength be impaired under pretence of adding to its beauty or convenience.
¹¹ And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying,
¹² Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father:
¹³ And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.
¹⁴ So Solomon built the house, and finished it.
Here is, I. The word God sent to Solomon, when he was engaged in building the temple. God let him know that he took notice of what he was doing, the house he was now building, 1Ki 6:12. None employ themselves for God without having his eye upon them. "I know thy works, thy good works." He assured him that if he would proceed and persevere in obedience to the divine law, and keep in the way of duty and the true worship of God, the divine loving-kindness should be drawn out both to himself (I will perform my word with thee) and to his kingdom: "Israel shall be ever owned as my people; I will dwell among them, and not forsake them." This word God sent him probably by a prophet, 1. That by the promise he might be encouraged and comforted in his work. Perhaps sometimes the great care, expense, and fatigue of it, made him ready to wish he had never begun it; but this would help him through the difficulties of it, that the promised establishment of his family and kingdom would abundantly recompense all his pains. An eye to the promise will carry us cheerfully through our work; and those who wish well to the public will think nothing too much that they can do to secure and perpetuate to it the tokens of God's presence. 2. That, by the condition annexed, he might be awakened to consider that though he built the temple ever so strong the glory of it would soon depart, unless he and his people continued to walk in God's statutes. God plainly let him know that all this charge which he and his people were at, in erecting this temple, would neither excuse them from obedience to the law of God nor shelter them from his judgments in case of disobedience. Keeping God's commandments is better, and more pleasing to him, than building churches.
II. The work Solomon did for God: So he built the house (1Ki 6:14), so animated by the message God had sent him, so admonished not to expect that God should own his building unless he were obedient to his laws: "Lord, I proceed upon these terms, being firmly resolved to walk in thy statutes." The strictness of God's government will never drive a good man from his service, but quicken him in it. Solomon built and finished, he went on with the work, and God went along with him till it was completed. It is spoken both to God's praise and his: he grew not weary of the work, met not with any obstructions (as Ezr 4:24), did not out-build his property, nor do it by halves, but, having begun to build, was both able and willing to finish; for he was a wise builder.
¹⁵ And he built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar, both the floor of the house, and the walls of the ceiling: and he covered them on the inside with wood, and covered the floor of the house with planks of fir.
¹⁶ And he built twenty cubits on the sides of the house, both the floor and the walls with boards of cedar: he even built them for it within, even for the oracle, even for the most holy place.
¹⁷ And the house, that is, the temple before it, was forty cubits long.
¹⁸ And the cedar of the house within was carved with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.
¹⁹ And the oracle he prepared in the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of the LORD.
²⁰ And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof: and he overlaid it with pure gold; and so covered the altar which was of cedar.
²¹ So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he made a partition by the chains of gold before the oracle; and he overlaid it with gold.
²² And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the house: also the whole altar that was by the oracle he overlaid with gold.
²³ And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree, each ten cubits high.
²⁴ And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits.
²⁵ And the other cherub was ten cubits: both the cherubims were of one measure and one size.
²⁶ The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was it of the other cherub.
²⁷ And he set the cherubims within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.
²⁸ And he overlaid the cherubims with gold.
²⁹ And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, within and without.
³⁰ And the floor of the house he overlaid with gold, within and without.
³¹ And for the entering of the oracle he made doors of olive tree: the lintel and side posts were a fifth part of the wall.
³² The two doors also were of olive tree; and he carved upon them carvings of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubims, and upon the palm trees.
³³ So also made he for the door of the temple posts of olive tree, a fourth part of the wall.
³⁴ And the two doors were of fir tree: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.
³⁵ And he carved thereon cherubims and palm trees and open flowers: and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work.
³⁶ And he built the inner court with three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams.
³⁷ In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the LORD laid, in the month Zif:
³⁸ And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.
Here, I. We have a particular account of the details of the building.
1. The wainscot of the temple. It was of cedar (1Ki 6:15), which was strong and durable, and of a very sweet smell. The wainscot was curiously carved with knops (like eggs or apples) and flowers, no doubt as the fashion then was, 1Ki 6:18.
2. The gilding. It was not like ours, washed over, but the whole house, all the inside of the temple (1Ki 6:22), even the floor (1Ki 6:30), he overlaid with gold, and the most holy place with pure gold, 1Ki 6:21. Solomon would spare no expense necessary to make it every way sumptuous. Gold was under foot there, as it should be in all the living temples: the abundance of it lessened its worth.
3. The oracle, or speaking-place (for so the word signifies), the holy of holies, so called because thence God spoke to Moses, and perhaps to the high priest, when he consulted with the breast-plate of judgment. In this place the ark of the covenant was to be set, 1Ki 6:19. Solomon made every thing new, and more magnificent than it had been, except the ark, which was still the same that Moses made, with its mercy-seat and cherubim; that was the token of God's presence, which is always the same with his people whether they meet in tent or temple, and changes not with their condition.
4. The cherubim. Besides those at the ends of the mercy-seat, which covered the ark, (1.) Solomon set up two more, very large ones, images of young men (as some think), with wings made of olive-wood, and all overlaid with gold, 1Ki 6:23-28, etc. This most holy place was much larger than that in the tabernacle, and therefore the ark would have seemed lost in it, and the dead wall would have been unsightly, if it had not been thus adorned. (2.) He carved cherubim upon all the walls of the house, 1Ki 6:29. The heathen set up images of their gods and worshipped them; but these were designed to represent the servants and attendants of the God of Israel, the holy angels, not to be themselves worshipped (see thou do it not), but to show how great he is whom we are to worship.
5. The doors. The folding doors that led into the oracle were but a fifth part of the wall (1Ki 6:31), those into the temple were a fourth part (1Ki 6:33); but both were beautified with cherubim engraven on them, 1Ki 6:32,35.
6. The inner court, in which the brazen altar was at which the priests ministered. This was separated from the court where the people were by a low wall, three rows of hewn stone tipped with a cornice of cedar (1Ki 6:36), that over it the people might see what was done and hear what the priests said to them; for, even under that dispensation, they were not kept wholly either in the dark or at a distance.
7. The time spent in this building. It was but seven years and a half from the founding to the finishing of it, 1Ki 6:38. Considering the vastness and elegance of the building, and the many appurtenances to it which were necessary to fit it for use, it was soon done. Solomon was in earnest in it, had money enough, had nothing to divert him from it, and many hands made quick work. He finished it (as the margin reads it) with all the appurtenances thereof, and with all the ordinances thereof, not only built the place, but set forward the work for which it was built.
II. Let us now see what was typified by this temple. 1. Christ is the true temple; he himself spoke of the temple of his body, Joh 2:21. God himself prepared him his body, Heb 10:5. In him dwelt the fulness of the Godhead, as the Shechinah in the temple. In him meet all God's spiritual Israel. Through him we have access with confidence to God. All the angels of God, those blessed cherubim, have a charge to worship him. 2. Every believer is a living temple, in whom the Spirit of God dwells, 1Co 3:16. Even the body is such by virtue of its union with the soul, 1Co 6:19. We are not only wonderfully made by the divine providence, but more wonderfully made anew by the divine grace. This living temple is built upon Christ as its foundation and will be perfected in due time. 3. The gospel church is the mystical temple; it grows to a holy temple in the Lord (Eph 2:21), enriched and beautified with the gifts and graces of the Spirit, as Solomon's temple with gold and precious stones. Only Jews built the tabernacle, but Gentiles joined with them in building the temple. Even strangers and foreigners are built up a habitation of God, Eph 2:19,22. The temple was divided into the holy place and the most holy, the courts of it into the outer and inner; so there are the visible and the invisible church. The door into the temple was wider than that into the oracle. Many enter into profession that come short of salvation. This temple is built firm, upon a rock, not to be taken down as the tabernacle of the Old Testament was. The temple was long in preparing, but was built at last. The top-stone of the gospel church will, at length, be brought forth with shoutings, and it is a pity that there should be the clashing of axes and hammers in the building of it. Angels are ministering spirits, attending the church on all sides and all the members of it. 4. Heaven is the everlasting temple. There the church will be fixed, and no longer movable. The streets of the new Jerusalem, in allusion to the flooring of the temple, are said to be of pure gold, Re 21:21. The cherubim there always attend the throne of glory. The temple was uniform, and in heaven there is the perfection of beauty and harmony. In Solomon's temple there was no noise of axes and hammers. Every thing is quiet and serene in heaven; all that shall be stones in that building must in the present sate of probation and preparation be fitted and made ready for it, must be hewn and squared by divine grace, and so made meet for a place there.
為建造聖殿，長久而周詳的預備早已進行；如今終於記述到殿的建造本身。這是一件宏偉的工程，是世間奇觀之一；若從其屬靈的意義來看，更是教會的榮耀之一。本章記述：I. 建造的時間（1Ki 6:1），以及建造歷時多久（1Ki 6:37,38）。II. 建造時的靜默（1Ki 6:7）。III. 殿的尺寸（1Ki 6:2,3）。IV. 建造之時神差遣給所羅門的信息（1Ki 6:11-13）。V. 各項細節：窗戶（1Ki 6:4）、廂房（1Ki 6:5,6,8-10）、牆壁與地面（1Ki 6:15-18）、內殿（1Ki 6:19-22）、基路伯（1Ki 6:23-30）、門扇（1Ki 6:31-35），以及內院（1Ki 6:36）。許多博學之士曾費心按照建築的法則來闡明此處聖殿的描述，並解決他們在研讀中所發現的疑難；但在這方面我並無新見可陳，便不作詳細或好奇的考究——當時這一切既已為人所明白，凡親眼見過這榮耀結構的人，他們的眼睛就為本章提供了最好的考據註釋。