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英文原文
As, in the story of David, one chapter of wars and victories follows another, so, in the story of Solomon, one chapter concerning his buildings follows another. In this chapter we have, I. His fitting up several buildings for himself and his own use, 1Ki 7:1-12. II. His furnishing the temple which he had built for God, 1. With two pillars, 1Ki 7:13-22. 2. With a molten sea, 1Ki 7:23-26. 3. With ten basins of brass (1Ki 7:27-37), and ten layers upon them, 1Ki 7:38,39. 4. With all the other utensils of the temple, 1Ki 7:40-50. 5. With the things that his father had dedicated, 1Ki 7:51. The particular description of these things was not needless when it was written, nor is it now useless.
1-51
The Building of the Temple (1004 BC)
圣殿之建造（主前 1004 年）
¹ 所罗门为自己建造宫室，共十三年方才完毕。 ² 他又建造利巴嫩林宫，长一百肘，宽五十肘，高三十肘；有香柏木柱四行，柱上有香柏木梁。 ³ 其上以香柏木为盖，盖在四十五根柱子之上，每行十五根。 ⁴ 有窗棂三排，光与光相对，共有三层。 ⁵ 所有的门和门柱都有木窗，光与光相对，共有三层。 ⁶ 他又造柱廊，长五十肘，宽三十肘；廊前又有柱子和厚梁。 ⁷ 又为审断的宝座造一廊子，就是审判廊；以香柏木从地到顶都遮盖。 ⁸ 他所住的宫室，在廊内另有一院，作法与此相同。所罗门又为所娶法老的女儿造一宫室，与这廊子相仿。 ⁹ 建造这一切所用的，都是宝贵的石头，是按着凿成之石的尺寸锯齐的；里外都用锯锯过，从根基直到檐口，连外院的大院也是如此。 ¹⁰ 根基是宝贵的石头，是大石头，有十肘长的，有八肘长的。 ¹¹ 上面有宝贵的石头，按着凿成之石的尺寸，又有香柏木。 ¹² 大院周围有三层凿成的石头，一层香柏木梁；耶和华殿的内院和廊子也是如此。
从来没有人像所罗门那样有如此多的建造之心，也没有人将此心用得比他更好；他先从圣殿起首——先为神建造——然后他一切的建造都成为可喜的。持久昌盛最稳固的根基，乃是早早奠定之敬虔（太 6:33）。1. 他为自己建造宫室（王上 7:1），就是他所住之处（王上 7:8）。他父亲原已建造了一座好宫室；但按着神所赐他的丰盛家业，他建造一座更好的宫室，并不算对他父亲有何贬损。今生的安慰多半与一座相宜的居所相关。他建造自己这宫室用了十三年，而建造圣殿却只用七年多；这并非因他在建造自己宫室时更加精细，而是因他急切之心更少——建造神的殿比建造自己的家更加殷勤迫切。他对于自己的王宫并不急于求成，但对于圣殿竣工、可供使用却心急如焚。我们应当如此将神的荣耀置于自己的安逸满足之上。2. 他建造利巴嫩林宫（王上 7:2）——据推测是耶路撒冷附近的一处乡间别墅，因所在之地景色宜人、四周林木环绕而得名。我倒倾向认为它乃是建于利巴嫩林中的宫室；所罗门既有许多车马，又将其分置于各"车马之城"（这些大概便是他旅程的驿站），虽距耶路撒冷甚远，也可常常轻易退隐到那里。看不出来他的宝座（王上 7:7所提）是在利巴嫩林宫；将他的盾牌当作军械存放于此，也并无不妥。圣经明确提到他不仅在耶路撒冷，也在利巴嫩有所建造（王上 9:19）；我们又读到"利巴嫩塔面向大马士革"（歌 7:4），大概便是这宫室的一部分。关于这座宫室，特别记明一点：因建在以香柏木闻名的利巴嫩，其柱、梁、屋顶全是香柏木（王上 7:2,3）；又因是为观赏美景而设计，每边各有三层窗棂，光与光相对（王上 7:4,5），或可读作"景与景相对"。那些命运被抛在乡间的人，可因以下一事而与乡居生活相和好：最伟大的君王们也认为，他们在乡间退隐中所度的日子，乃是他们最愉快的时光。3. 他在自己一座宫室（或在耶路撒冷，或在利巴嫩）之前建造了廊子，极其著名——即"柱廊"（王上 7:6），或许是为交易市场，或许是为卫兵房，或许是为随他办事之人候见时在其中行走，或为彰显威仪华美。他自己论到智慧建造房屋，凿成七根柱子（箴 9:1），为要庇护那些——按三节之前所说（王上 8:34）——每日在她门口仰望、在她门框旁等候的人。4. 在他所住的耶路撒冷王宫，他建造了一座大堂，即审判廊，在其中设宝座、即君王的法庭，用以审断那些呈到他面前的案件（案件须在王面前审理），其内以香柏木从地到顶精工镶板（王上 7:7）。那里还有廊内的另一院，更近他的宫室，作工相同，为随从在其中行走（王上 7:8）。5. 他又为他的妻子建造宫室，她在那里自立其朝廷（王上 7:8）。圣经说这宫室如同廊子一样，因其像廊子一样以香柏木建成，虽然形式不必相同；无疑这是更贴近他自己的王宫的；然而或许，若是这宫室近得应当那样近，所罗门便不会像他所作的那样多娶妻妾。
这些工程所显的华美宏伟，在王上 7:9-12等处被特意记下。所用的一切材料都属上品。根基的石头因其体积而宝贵——四、五码见方，或至少也有那样长（王上 7:10）；房屋所用的石头因其工艺而宝贵——经过凿锯，各方面都精工细作（王上 7:9,11）。他自己宫室的院子与圣殿的内院相仿（王上 7:12，王上 6:36）；他是何等喜爱神院子的样式，竟照之建造自己的院子。
¹³ 所罗门王差遣人往推罗去，将户兰召了来。 ¹⁴ 他是拿弗他利支派一个寡妇的儿子，他父亲是推罗人，作铜匠的。户兰满有智慧、聪明、技能，善于作各样的铜工。他来到所罗门王那里，作他一切的工作。 ¹⁵ 他铸造两根铜柱，每根高十八肘，围十二肘。 ¹⁶ 又用铜铸两个柱顶，安在柱上；一个柱顶高五肘，那一个柱顶也高五肘。 ¹⁷ 又为柱子上所安的两个柱顶，造了网子和链子，如同花格子；这一个柱顶有七个，那一个柱顶也有七个。 ¹⁸ 又造了石榴，在网子周围一行一行排列，可以遮盖柱子上端的柱顶；那一个柱顶也是如此。 ¹⁹ 廊子里柱子上端的柱顶刻有百合花，长四肘。 ²⁰ 两根柱子上的柱顶，在网子旁边的肚腹以上，也有石榴；两行石榴环绕，共二百个。 ²¹ 他将两根柱子立在殿廊前头：右边的那根起名叫雅斤，左边的那根起名叫波阿斯。 ²² 柱子上端有百合花的装饰。这样，两根柱子的工程完毕。 ²³ 他又铸一个铜海，从这边缘到那边缘十肘，完全圆形，高五肘，周围三十肘。 ²⁴ 在海边以下，四周有野瓜的样式，每肘十个，环绕着铜海；铜海铸成之时，野瓜分作两行。 ²⁵ 有十二只铜牛驮着铜海：三只向北，三只向西，三只向南，三只向东；铜海安在牛上，牛尾都向内。 ²⁶ 铜海厚一掌，边如杯边，作百合花形；可容二千罢特。 ²⁷ 他用铜作十个带轮的座，每座长四肘，宽四肘，高三肘。 ²⁸ 座的造法乃是这样：座的四面有缘子，缘子在框子之间。 ²⁹ 框子之间的缘子上有狮子、牛和基路伯；框子之上有一座，狮子和牛以下有薄薄的璎珞。 ³⁰ 每座有四个铜轮和铜板；四角上都有支架；铜盆以下也有铸成的支架，在各璎珞旁边。 ³¹ 口部在座内往上有一肘，口部圆形如同座的工作，径一肘半；口上有雕刻，其缘子四方的，不是圆的。 ³² 四个轮子在缘子以下；轮轴连于座上；轮高一肘半。 ³³ 轮的造法如同战车轮的造法；轴、辋、辐、毂都是铸的。 ³⁴ 座的四角有四个支架，支架与座一同铸造。 ³⁵ 座顶上有半肘高的圆口；其上的框子和缘子与座一同铸造。 ³⁶ 在框子的板上和缘子上，他雕刻了基路伯、狮子和棕树，各按其分量，并在四周加上璎珞。 ³⁷ 他按这法作了十个座，都是一样的铸法、一样的尺寸、一样的样式。 ³⁸ 又用铜作十个盆，每盆可容四十罢特；每盆径四肘。十个座上各有一盆。 ³⁹ 他将五个座安在殿的右边，五个安在殿的左边；又将铜海安在殿的右边，向东，在朝南之处。 ⁴⁰ 户兰又造了盆、铲子和盘子。这样，户兰为所罗门王所作耶和华殿的一切工都完毕了： ⁴¹ 就是两根柱子，和柱上端的两个柱顶如球，以及遮盖柱顶如球之两个网子， ⁴² 和那两个网子上的四百石榴——每网两行，遮盖柱上柱顶的两个如球之物； ⁴³ 又有十个座和座上的十个盆； ⁴⁴ 一个铜海和铜海下的十二只牛； ⁴⁵ 还有锅、铲子、盘子。户兰为所罗门王所作耶和华殿的这一切器皿，都是光亮的铜。 ⁴⁶ 是王在约旦平原、疏割和撒拉但之间的胶泥地铸造的。 ⁴⁷ 这一切器皿所罗门都没有过秤，因为极多；铜的重量也未查考。
此处我们读到关乎圣殿铜工的记述。圣殿不用铁，虽然我们看到大卫为圣殿预备了铁为铁器之用（代上 29:2）。这些铁器是什么，圣经未明说；但其中一些铜器在此被描述，其余的也被提及。
I. 所罗门所雇用、主持这部分工程的铜匠，是户兰（代下 4:11作"户兰"），其母系是以色列人，属拿弗他利支派；其父系是推罗人（王上 7:14）。他若兼有推罗人的手艺，与以色列人对神殿的爱戴（推罗人的头脑，以色列人的心），那便是可喜之事——他两国之血在他身中相混，正使他有资格担任所派定的工程。会幕是用埃及的财物建造的，圣殿是用推罗的智慧建造的。神要借世人共通的恩赐来成就祂自己的事。
II. 他所用的铜，是他所能得着的上品。一切铜器都是光亮的铜（王上 7:45），迦勒底文译作"好"铜——即最强、最美观的铜。神既是至善者，就当以最好的来事奉祂、尊荣祂。
III. 一切铜器铸造之处，乃在约旦平原；因为那里的土质粘硬，适于作铸铜的范型（王上 7:46）；所罗门不愿这污浊多烟之工在耶路撒冷城中或附近进行。
IV. 器皿的数量未加清点。这些器皿是没有数算的（王上 7:47如此可读，亦可读作"没有过秤"），因为极其繁多，若一一记账便成无尽之事；铜交付工匠时，其重量也未搜索查问；工匠如此诚实，铜又如此丰盈，毫无匮乏之忧。所罗门能供应如此之多，当归功于他的细心；他未留账目，却不可归咎于他的疏忽。
V. 铜工中一些具体之物，在此有所描述。
1. 两根铜柱，立于殿廊之中（王上 7:21）；究竟在廊子遮盖之下，还是在露天，不能确定；其位置在圣殿和祭司院之间。这两根柱子既不是为悬挂门扇，也不是为承重建筑，纯粹是为装饰与象征。(1.) 它们是怎样的装饰，可从本处所记环绕其上的精巧工艺而得知——格状工、链状工、网状工、百合花工，以及排列的石榴，全是光亮的铜，无疑按着最美的比例制成，以悦人眼目。(2.) 它们的象征意义，在于所给它们的名称（王上 7:21）：雅斤——"他必建立"；波阿斯——"在他里面有能力"。有人认为它们是记念那曾引导以色列走过旷野的云柱火柱；我倒认为它们是给祭司和一切来在神门前敬拜之人的记念品：[1.] 当专一倚靠神，不靠自己任何充足的能力，在一切敬虔的操练中得着力量与坚立。当我们来等候神，发觉自己的心飘忽不定之时，便当借着信心从天上支取帮助：雅斤——"神必坚定这游移的心。心以恩典得坚立，乃是美事。"我们发觉自己在圣洁的本分上软弱无能，但我们的安慰乃是：波阿斯——"我们的力量在他里面"，是他在我们心里运行，使我们立志行事。我要靠主神的力量前往。 属灵的力量与稳定，可在神殿的门口得着，我们当在恩典之具的使用中等候恩典之赐。[2.] 这也是给他们的记念，提醒他们神在他们中间的殿有何等的稳固与坚立。他们当紧紧跟随神与本分，便永不会失去他们的尊荣与特权，那赐予必然得着坚证并永存。福音的教会，是神所要建立的，是神所要坚固的，阴间的权柄不能胜过。然而论到这座圣殿，当它被毁之时，特别记下了这两根柱子被毁的事（王下 25:13,17）——它们原是它得坚立的凭证，若他们不离弃神，本会继续如此。
2. 一个铜海——极大的器皿，直径超过五码，可容五百余桶水，供祭司洗身、洗祭物，并保持圣殿院宇清洁之用（王上 7:23-26等）。它高置于十二只铜牛的雕像之上；高度如此，要么必须有阶梯攀爬上去，要么底部必须有开关放水。基遍人，即尼提宁——就是为神殿挑水的人——负责为铜海注水。有人认为所罗门铸造牛像来承托这个大水池，是因着对以色列从前所拜之金牛犊的蔑视，要（如帕特里克主教所言）使百姓看见这些像中并无可敬拜之物——它们更适合作柱子，不适合作神明。然而这并未能阻止耶路撒冷日后将牛犊奉为神明。会幕的院子只有一个铜盆供洗濯之用，圣殿的院子却有铜海——这暗示基督的福音为我们洁净所作的预备，远比摩西律法更为丰盛。律法只有一盆，福音却有一海，有泉源敞开（亚 13:1）。
3. 十个带轮的铜座，其上放置十个铜盆，盛水为圣殿事奉之用，因为铜海那里无法容纳所有要洗的人。承载铜盆的座在此有详尽的描述（王上 7:27-30等）。其上有精巧的装饰，并装设轮子，可按需要移动铜盆；但通常它们分两排安放——院子这边五个，那边五个（王上 7:39）。每个铜盆可容四十罢特，约十桶（王上 7:38）。那抬耶和华器皿的，务要洁净。（参赛 52:11）属灵的祭司与属灵的祭物，必须在基督的宝血和重生的洁净之盆中洗涤。我们必须常常洗净，因为我们日日沾染污秽；必须洁净手、清洁心。洁净的供应极其丰盛；所以我们若终久与不洁之人同分，那必是我们自己的过错。
4. 此外还有大量的铜锅，用以煮平安祭的肉，祭司和献祭者要在耶和华面前赴席享用（参撒上 2:14）；又有铲子，用以从祭坛上取出灰烬。有人认为这字是指肉叉子，用以从锅中取肉。还有盘子，以铜制成，用以盛祭牲的血。这些代表了铜祭坛的一切器具（出 38:3）。他们既作这事，便造了许多，好在那些最先使用的器物损耗朽坏之时，仍有丰厚的存积。如此，所罗门因力所能及，便为后世作了预备。
⁴⁸ 所罗门又造耶和华殿内一切器皿：金坛和摆陈设饼的金桌， ⁴⁹ 内殿之前的精金灯台，右边五个，左边五个；又有金的花、灯、蜡剪， ⁵⁰ 与精金的碗、盘、勺、火鼎；以及内殿——至圣所——的门枢和殿门的门枢，也都是金的。 ⁵¹ 所罗门王为耶和华殿所作的一切工都完毕了。所罗门把他父亲大卫分别为圣的金银和器皿，都搬进来，放在耶和华殿的府库里。
此处记有：1. 圣殿金工的制作——看来这是最后才作的，因为神殿的工程到此才告完毕。门内一切尽是金的，且都是新造的（约柜及其上的施恩座和基路伯除外）——旧器物或被熔化，或被收起——金坛、金桌、金灯台，连同它们一切的附属之物。香坛仍然只有一个，因基督和祂的代求也是如此：但他造了十张金桌（代下 4:8；虽然此处只提到那摆陈设饼的一张，王上 7:48，我们可推测那一张比其余更大，其余的如同边桌）；又造了十个金灯台（王上 7:49），表明福音所赐给我们的属灵粮食与天上亮光，比摩西律法所能提供的丰盛得多。连门的枢轴也是金的（王上 7:50），使一切尽皆华美，彰显所罗门的慷慨。有人以为神殿中一切之所以如此辉煌，是为了使百姓远离偶像崇拜，因为没有任何偶像庙宇像这殿这般华美富丽；然而这事有多少实效，结局已经显明。2. 所献分别为圣之物被搬入殿中——大卫所献给神的（王上 7:51）。一切未用于建造与设备之物，都被存于府库之中，为修缮、为急需、为圣殿日常事奉的经常费用而备。父母所献给神的，儿女断不可挪用或收回，反当欣然将那定为敬虔与慈善之用之物献上，使他们与其产业一同承受福气。
英文原文
The Building of the Temple (1004 BC)
¹ But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house.
² He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length thereof was a hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars.
³ And it was covered with cedar above upon the beams, that lay on forty five pillars, fifteen in a row.
⁴ And there were windows in three rows, and light was against light in three ranks.
⁵ And all the doors and posts were square, with the windows: and light was against light in three ranks.
⁶ And he made a porch of pillars; the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth thereof thirty cubits: and the porch was before them: and the other pillars and the thick beam were before them.
⁷ Then he made a porch for the throne where he might judge, even the porch of judgment: and it was covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other.
⁸ And his house where he dwelt had another court within the porch, which was of the like work. Solomon made also a house for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had taken to wife, like unto this porch.
⁹ All these were of costly stones, according to the measures of hewed stones, sawed with saws, within and without, even from the foundation unto the coping, and so on the outside toward the great court.
¹⁰ And the foundation was of costly stones, even great stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits.
¹¹ And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones, and cedars.
¹² And the great court round about 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.
Never had any man so much of the spirit of building as Solomon had, nor to better purpose; he began with the temple, built for God first, and then all his other buildings were comfortable. The surest foundations of lasting prosperity are those which are laid in an early piety, Mt 6:33. 1. He built a house for himself (1Ki 7:1), where he dwelt, 1Ki 7:8. His father had built a good house; but it was no reflection upon his father for him to build a better, in proportion to the estate wherewith God had blessed him. Much of the comfort of this life is connected with an agreeable house. He was thirteen years building this house, whereas he built the temple in little more than seven years; not that he was more exact, but less eager and intent, in building his own house than in building God's. He was in no haste for his own palace, but impatient till the temple was finished and fit for use. Thus we ought to prefer God's honour before our own ease and satisfaction. 2. He built the house of the forest at Lebanon (1Ki 7:2), supposed to be a country seat near Jerusalem, so called from the pleasantness of its situation and the trees that encompassed it. I rather incline to think that it was a house built in the forest of Lebanon itself, whither (though far distant from Jerusalem) Solomon (having so many chariots and horses, and those dispersed into chariot-cities, which probably were his stages) might frequently retire with ease. It does not appear that his throne (mentioned 1Ki 7:7) was at the house of the forest of Lebanon, and it was not at all improper to put his shields there as in a magazine. Express notice is taken of his buildings, not only in Jerusalem, but in Lebanon (1Ki 9:19), and we read of the tower of Lebanon, which looks towards Damascus (So 7:4), which probably was part of this house. A particular account is given of this house, that being built in Lebanon, a place famed for cedars, the pillars, and beams, and roof, were all cedar (1Ki 7:2,3), and, being designed for pleasant prospects, there were three tiers of windows on each side, light against light (1Ki 7:4,5), or, as it may be read, prospect against prospect. Those whose lost i cast in the country may be well reconciled to a country life by this, that some of the greatest princes have thought those the most pleasant of their days which they have spent in their country retirements. 3. He built piazzas before one of his houses, either that at Jerusalem or that in Lebanon, which were very famous—a porch of pillars (1Ki 7:6), perhaps for an exchange or a guard-house, or for those to walk in that attended him about business till they could have audience, or for state and magnificence. He himself speaks of Wisdom's building her house, and hewing out her seven pillars (Pr 9:1), for the shelter of those that, three verses before (1Ki 8:34), are said to watch daily at her gates and to wait at the posts of her doors. 4. At his house where he dwelt in Jerusalem he built a great hall, or porch of judgment, where was set the throne, or king's bench, for the trial of causes, in which he himself was appealed to (placita coram ipso rege tenenda—causes were to be adjusted in the king's presence,) and this was richly wainscoted with cedar, from the floor to the roof, 1Ki 7:7. He had there also another court within the porch, nearer his house, of similar work, for his attendants to walk in, 1Ki 7:8. 5. He built a house for his wife, where she kept her court, 1Ki 7:8. It is said to be like the porch, because built of cedar like it, though not in the same form; this, no doubt, was nearer adjoining to his own palace, yet perhaps if it had been as near as it ought to have been Solomon would not have multiplied wives as he did.
The wonderful magnificence of all these buildings is taken notice of, 1Ki 7:9-12, etc. All the materials were the best of their kind. The foundation-stones were costly for their size, four or five yards square, or at least so many yards long (1Ki 7:10), and the stones of the building were costly for the workmanship, hewn and sawn, and in all respects finely wrought, 1Ki 7:9,11. The court of his own house was like that of the temple (1Ki 7:12, 1Ki 6:36); so well did he like the model of God's courts that he made his own by it.
¹³ And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre.
¹⁴ He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work.
¹⁵ For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about.
¹⁶ And he made two chapiters of molten brass, to set upon the tops of the pillars: the height of the one chapiter was five cubits, and the height of the other chapiter was five cubits:
¹⁷ And nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work, for the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars; seven for the one chapiter, and seven for the other chapiter.
¹⁸ And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the chapiters that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter.
¹⁹ And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits.
²⁰ And the chapiters upon the two pillars had pomegranates also above, over against the belly which was by the network: and the pomegranates were two hundred in rows round about upon the other chapiter.
²¹ And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz.
²² And upon the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished.
²³ And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.
²⁴ And under the brim of it round about there were knops compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about: the knops were cast in two rows, when it was cast.
²⁵ It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.
²⁶ And it was a hand breadth thick, and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it contained two thousand baths.
²⁷ And he made ten bases of brass; four cubits was the length of one base, and four cubits the breadth thereof, and three cubits the height of it.
²⁸ And the work of the bases was on this manner: they had borders, and the borders were between the ledges:
²⁹ And on the borders that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, and cherubims: and upon the ledges there was a base above: and beneath the lions and oxen were certain additions made of thin work.
³⁰ And every base had four brasen wheels, and plates of brass: and the four corners thereof had undersetters: under the laver were undersetters molten, at the side of every addition.
³¹ And the mouth of it within the chapiter and above was a cubit: but the mouth thereof was round after the work of the base, a cubit and a half: and also upon the mouth of it were gravings with their borders, foursquare, not round.
³² And under the borders were four wheels; and the axletrees of the wheels were joined to the base: and the height of a wheel was a cubit and half a cubit.
³³ And the work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel: their axletrees, and their naves, and their felloes, and their spokes, were all molten.
³⁴ And there were four undersetters to the four corners of one base: and the undersetters were of the very base itself.
³⁵ And in the top of the base was there a round compass of half a cubit high: and on the top of the base the ledges thereof and the borders thereof were of the same.
³⁶ For on the plates of the ledges thereof, and on the borders thereof, he graved cherubims, lions, and palm trees, according to the proportion of every one, and additions round about.
³⁷ After this manner he made the ten bases: all of them had one casting, one measure, and one size.
³⁸ Then made he ten lavers of brass: one laver contained forty baths: and every laver was four cubits: and upon every one of the ten bases one laver.
³⁹ And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward over against the south.
⁴⁰ And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, and the basons. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of the LORD:
⁴¹ The two pillars, and the two bowls of the chapiters that were on the top of the two pillars; and the two networks, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars;
⁴² And four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, even two rows of pomegranates for one network, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters that were upon the pillars;
⁴³ And the ten bases, and ten lavers on the bases;
⁴⁴ And one sea, and twelve oxen under the sea;
⁴⁵ And the pots, and the shovels, and the basons: and all these vessels, which Hiram made to king Solomon for the house of the LORD, were of bright brass.
⁴⁶ In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan.
⁴⁷ And Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because they were exceeding many: neither was the weight of the brass found out.
We have here an account of the brass-work about the temple. There was no iron about the temple, though we find David preparing for the temple iron for things of iron, 1Ch 29:2. What those things were we are not told, but some of the things of brass are here described and the rest mentioned.
I. The brasier whom Solomon employed to preside in this part of the work was Hiram, or Huram (2Ch 4:11), who was by his mother's side an Israelite, of the tribe of Naphtali, by his father's side a man of Tyre, 1Ki 7:14. If he had the ingenuity of a Tyrian, and the affection of an Israelite to the house of God (the head of a Tyrian and the heart of an Israelite), it was happy that the blood of the two nations mixed in him, for thereby he was qualified for the work to which he was designed. As the tabernacle was built with the wealth of Egypt, so the temple with the wit of Tyre. God will serve himself by the common gifts of the children of men.
II. The brass he made use of was the best he could get. All the brazen vessels were of bright brass (1Ki 7:45), good brass, so the Chaldee, that which was strongest and looked finest. God, who is the best, must be served and honoured with the best.
III. The place where all the brazen vessels were cast was the plain of Jordan, because the ground there was stiff and clayey, fit to make moulds of for the casting of the brass (1Ki 7:46), and Solomon would not have this dirty smoky work done in or near Jerusalem.
IV. The quantity was not accounted for. The vessels were unnumbered (so it may be read, 1Ki 7:47, as well as unweighed), because they were exceedingly numerous, and it would have been an endless thing to keep the account of them; neither was the weight of the brass, when it was delivered to the workmen, searched or enquired into; so honest were the workmen, and such great plenty of brass they had, that there was no danger of wanting. We must ascribe it to Solomon's care that he provided so much, not to his carelessness that he kept no account of it.
V. Some particulars of the brass-work are described.
1. Two brazen pillars, which were set up in the porch of the temple (1Ki 7:21), whether under the cover of the porch or in the open air is not certain; it was between the temple and the court of the priests. These pillars were neither to hang gates upon nor to rest any building upon, but purely for ornament and significancy. (1.) What an ornament they were we may gather from the account here given of the curious work that was about them, chequer-work, chain-work, net-work, lily-work, and pomegranates in rows, and all of bright brass, and framed no doubt according to the best rules of proportion, to please the eye. (2.) Their significancy is intimated in the names given them (1Ki 7:21): Jachin—he will establish; and Boaz—in him is strength. Some think they were intended for memorials of the pillar of cloud and fire which led Israel through the wilderness: I rather think them designed for memorandums to the priests and others that came to worship at God's door, [1.] To depend upon God only, and not upon any sufficiency of their own, for strength and establishment in all their religious exercises. When we come to wait upon God, and find our hearts wandering and unfixed, then by faith let us fetch in help from heaven: Jachin—God will fix this roving mind. It is a good thing that the heart be established with grace. We find ourselves weak and unable for holy duties, but this is our encouragement: Boaz—in him is our strength, who works in us both to will and to do. I will go in the strength of the Lord God. Spiritual strength and stability are to be had at the door of God's temple, where we must wait for the gifts of grace in the use of the means of grace. [2.] It was a memorandum to them of the strength and establishment of the temple of God among them. Let them keep close to God and duty, and they should never lose their dignities and privileges, but the grant should be confirmed and perpetuated to them. The gospel church is what God will establish, what he will strengthen, and what the gates of hell can never prevail against. But, with respect to this temple, when it was destroyed particular notice was taken of the destroying of these pillars (2Ki 25:13,17), which had been the tokens of its establishment, and would have been so if they had not forsaken God.
2. A brazen sea, a very large vessel, above five yards in diameter, and which contained above 500 barrels of water for the priests' use, in washing themselves and the sacrifices, and keeping the courts of the temple clean, 1Ki 7:23-26, etc. It stood raised upon the figures of twelve oxen in brass, so high that either they must have stairs to climb up to it or cocks at the bottom to draw water from it. The Gibeonites, or Nethinim, who were to draw water for the house of God, had the care of filling it. Some think Solomon made the images of oxen to support this great cistern in contempt of the golden calf which Israel had worshipped, that (as bishop Patrick expresses it) the people might see there was nothing worthy of adoration in those figures; they were fitter to make posts of than to make gods of. Yet this prevailed not to prevent Jerusalem's setting up the calves for deities. In the court of the tabernacle there was only a laver of brass provided to wash in, but in the court of the temple a sea of brass, intimating that by the gospel of Christ much fuller preparation is made for our cleansing than was by the law of Moses. That had a laver, this has a sea, a fountain opened, Zec 13:1.
3. Ten bases, or stands, or settles, of brass, on which were put ten lavers, to be filled with water for the service of the temple, because there would not be room at the molten sea for all that had occasion to wash there. The bases on which the lavers were fixed are very largely described here, 1Ki 7:27-30, etc. They were curiously adorned and set upon wheels, that the lavers might be removed as there was occasion; but ordinarily they stood in two rows, five on one side of the court and five on the other, 1Ki 7:39. Each laver contained forty baths, that is, about ten barrels, 1Ki 7:38. Those must be very clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. Spiritual priests and spiritual sacrifices must be washed in the laver of Christ's blood and of regeneration. We must wash often, for we daily contract pollution, must cleanse our hands and purify our hearts. Plentiful provision is made for our cleansing; so that if we have our lot for ever among the unclean it will be our own fault.
4. Besides these, there was a vast number of brass pots made to boil the flesh of the peace-offerings in, which the priests and offerers were to feast upon before the Lord (see 1Sa 2:14); also shovels, wherewith they took out the ashes of the altar. Some think the word signifies flesh-hooks, with which they took meat out of the pot. The basins also were made of brass, to receive the blood of the sacrifices. These are put for all the utensils of the brazen altar, Ex 38:3. While they were about it they made abundance of them, that they might have a good stock by them when those that were first in use wore out and went to decay. Thus Solomon, having wherewithal to do so, provided for posterity.
⁴⁸ And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained unto the house of the LORD: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon the showbread was,
⁴⁹ And the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold,
⁵⁰ And the bowls, and the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and the censers of pure gold; and the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, to wit, of the temple.
⁵¹ So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the LORD. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated; even the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, did he put among the treasures of the house of the LORD.
Here is, 1. The making of the gold work of the temple, which it seems was done last, for with it the work of the house of God ended. All within doors was gold, and all made new (except the ark, with its mercy-seat and cherubim), the old being either melted down or laid by—the golden altar, table, and candlestick, with all their appurtenances. The altar of incense was still one, for Christ and his intercession are so: but he made ten golden tables, 2Ch 4:8 (though here mention is made of that one only on which the show-bread was, 1Ki 7:48, which we may suppose was larger than the rest and to which the rest were as side-boards), and ten golden candlesticks (1Ki 7:49), intimating the much greater plenty both of spiritual food and heavenly light which the gospel blesses us with than the law of Moses did our could afford. Even the hinges of the door were of gold (1Ki 7:50), that every thing might be alike magnificent, and bespeak Solomon's generosity. Some suggest that every thing was made thus splendid in God's temple to keep the people from idolatry, for none of the idol-temples were so rich and fine as this: but how little the expedient availed the event showed. 2. The bringing in of the dedicated things, which David had devoted to the honour of God, 1Ki 7:51. What was not expended in the building and furniture was laid up in the treasury, for repairs, exigencies, and the constant charge of the temple-service. What the parents have dedicated to God the children ought by no means to alienate or recall, but should cheerfully devote what was intended for pious and charitable uses, that they may, with their estates, inherit the blessing.
在大卫的事迹中，记载战争与得胜的章节一章接一章；照样，在所罗门的事迹中，关于建筑的章节也是一章接一章。本章记载如下：I. 他为自己及己用建造并装修的数座宫殿，王上7:1-12。II. 他为神所建的圣殿陈设器具：1. 两根铜柱，王上7:13-22。2. 铸造的铜海，王上7:23-26。3. 十个铜座（王上7:27-37），以及其上的十个铜盆，王上7:38-39。4. 圣殿中一切其余的器具，王上7:40-50。5. 他父亲所分别为圣的器物，王上7:51。这些物品的详细记述，在成书之时并非多余，如今读来亦非无用。