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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)
聖殿的建造（主前1004年）
¹ 所羅門為自己建造宮室，共用了十三年，方才建成。
² 他又建造黎巴嫩林宮；長一百肘，寬五十肘，高三十肘，其上有四行香柏木柱子，柱上有香柏木梁。
³ 上面以香柏木遮蓋，蓋在四十五根柱子上，每行十五根。
⁴ 有窗戶三層，窗戶與窗戶相對，共有三層。
⁵ 門和門柱都是方的，窗戶也是這樣；窗戶與窗戶相對，共有三層。
⁶ 他又造柱子的廊子，長五十肘，寬三十肘；這廊子在那些柱子和厚梁的前面。
⁷ 又為自己造審判的廊子，可以坐著審判百姓；這廊子從地到棚頂，都以香柏木遮蓋。
⁸ 他所住的宮室，在廊子之內另有一個院，工藝與此相同。所羅門又為所娶的法老的女兒建造一宮，工藝與這廊子一樣。
⁹ 建造這一切，所用的都是寶貴的石頭，按著鑿成之石的尺寸，內外都用鋸子鋸齊，從根基直到檐口，又在外院的院牆，都是如此。
¹⁰ 根基是寶貴的石頭，是大石頭，有長十肘的，有長八肘的。
¹¹ 上面有寶貴的石頭，按鑿成之石的尺寸，又有香柏木。
¹² 周圍的大院，是鑿成的石頭三層、香柏木梁一層；耶和華殿的內院和殿的廊子也是如此。
從來沒有人像所羅門那樣有那麼多建造的靈，也沒有人比他建造得更善用其才；他從聖殿開始——先為神建造，然後他一切其他的建造便都安舒。持久興旺最穩固的根基，就是早年所立的敬虔（太六33）。1. 他為自己建造宮室（王上七1），就是他「所住」之處（王上七8）。他父親已經建造了好的宮室；但他照著神所賜他的財富比例，建造一座更好的，並非對父親的批評。今世許多安舒與一座舒適的房屋有關。他用十三年建造這宮室，而建造聖殿用了不過七年多一點；這不是因為他在建造自己的宮室時更精細，而是因為他在建造神的家時更迫切、更專注。他對自己的宮殿並不急切，卻等不及聖殿完工、堪供使用。如此我們當將神的尊榮放在自己的安逸和滿足之前。2. 他建造「黎巴嫩林宮」（王上七2），據推測是耶路撒冷附近的一處鄉間行宮，因其地勢之美和周圍環繞的樹木而得名。我倒傾向認為它是建造在黎巴嫩林中的宮殿，雖然離耶路撒冷甚遠，所羅門既有極多戰車馬匹，又將它們分散到戰車城——那些城或許就是他旅途的中繼站——便可以經常輕易地退隱到那裏。他「審判的廊子」（王上七7所記）似乎並不在黎巴嫩林宮；他把盾牌放在那裏作兵器庫，也並非不當。聖經明說他的建築工程不僅在耶路撒冷，也在黎巴嫩（王上九19）；我們又讀到「朝向大馬色的利巴嫩塔樓」（歌七4），可能就是這宮殿的一部分。關於這宮殿有詳細記載：因為建造在以香柏木聞名的黎巴嫩，柱子、梁和屋頂都是香柏木（王上七2、3）；又因設計為了優美的眺望，每邊各有三排窗戶，「光與光相對」（王上七4、5），也可讀作「景與景相對」。凡被安置在鄉間的人，可以因這事而與鄉居生活和好：連最偉大的君王也認為他們在鄉間退隱的日子是最愉快的。3. 他在自己一座宮室（或在耶路撒冷，或在黎巴嫩）前建造廊子，極其著名——「柱子的廊子」（王上七6），或許是作為交易所或衛兵室，或供那些隨他辦事、等候覲見的人在裏面行走，或純粹為了威儀。他自己論到智慧建造房屋，「鑿出七根柱子」（箴九1），為要庇護那在三節之前（箴八34）所說「每日在她門口仰望、在她門框旁等候」的人。4. 他在耶路撒冷所住的宮室建造了一座大廳，即「審判的廊子」，其中設有寶座，或稱御座，為審理案件之用——這些案件是他親自受理的（「要在王面前審理的案件」）；這廊子以香柏木精細鑲嵌，從地板到屋頂（王上七7）。在那裏他又「在廊子之內另有一個院」，離他的宮室更近，工藝相同，為供侍從在其中行走（王上七8）。5. 他為妻子建造宮室，她有自己的朝廷（王上七8）。說它「與廊子相似」，是因為像廊子一樣以香柏木建造，雖然形式不同；無疑這宮室更靠近他自己的宮殿；然而倘若它本當更近，所羅門或許就不會像他那樣多娶妻妾了。
所有這些建築奇妙的宏偉都被留意到了（王上七9-12等）。一切材料都是上好的。根基的石頭因其體積而寶貴——四五碼見方，或至少有那麼長（王上七10）；建築物的石頭則因其工藝而寶貴——已鑿已鋸，各樣工藝都精細（王上七9、11）。他自己宮室的院子與聖殿的院子相似（王上七12，參王上六36）；他如此喜愛神院子的樣式，便照著它建造自己的。
¹³ 所羅門王差遣人往推羅去，把戶蘭召了來。
¹⁴ 他是拿弗他利支派一個寡婦的兒子，他父親是推羅人，作銅匠的。他滿有智慧、聰明、技能，能作各樣銅工。他來到所羅門王那裏，作他一切的工作。
¹⁵ 他鑄造兩根銅柱，每根高十八肘；每根周圍用線量，是十二肘。
¹⁶ 他用銅鑄了兩個柱頂，安在柱子上；一個柱頂高五肘，第二個柱頂也高五肘。
¹⁷ 為安在柱子上的柱頂所作的網子和鏈子，一個柱頂有七個，第二個柱頂也有七個。
¹⁸ 他作了柱子，又用兩行石榴，在網子周圍遮蓋柱頂；第二個柱頂也是如此。
¹⁹ 廊子裏柱子上的柱頂，是百合花的工藝，四肘。
²⁰ 兩根柱子上的柱頂，又在其網子旁邊的肚子上方，有石榴兩百個，周圍成行。
²¹ 他將柱子立在殿的廊子前頭；立起右邊的柱子，起名叫雅斤；立起左邊的柱子，起名叫波阿斯。
²² 柱頂上有百合花的工藝；於是造柱子的工便完畢了。
²³ 他又鑄了一個銅海，從這邊到那邊十肘，完全是圓的，高五肘，周圍用線量是三十肘。
²⁴ 在邊緣之下周圍有野瓜的裝飾，每肘十個，周圍環繞銅海；這些野瓜是鑄造時分兩行鑄上去的。
²⁵ 有十二隻銅牛馱著銅海：三隻向北，三隻向西，三隻向南，三隻向東；銅海安在牛上，牛尾都向內。
²⁶ 銅海厚一掌，邊如杯邊，又作百合花的工藝；可容二千罷特。
²⁷ 他用銅作了十座盆座，每座長四肘，寬四肘，高三肘。
²⁸ 盆座的造法是這樣：盆座有鑲板，鑲板在框子之間。
²⁹ 框子之間的鑲板上有獅子、牛和基路伯；框子上方有座；獅子和牛下面有精工的附飾。
³⁰ 每座有四個銅輪和銅板；四角上各有承口；盆以下也有承口，鑄在各附飾的旁邊。
³¹ 口在柱頂內部以上，高一肘；口是圓的，照盆座的造法，一肘半；口上也有雕刻，與框子一同是四方形的，並非圓的。
³² 四個輪子在鑲板之下；輪軸與盆座相連；輪高一肘半。
³³ 輪的造法如同戰車輪的造法；輪軸、輪輞、輪輻、輪轂，都是鑄的。
³⁴ 盆座四角各有承口四個，承口與盆座本身相連。
³⁵ 盆座頂上有圓的緣，高半肘；在盆座頂上，其框子和鑲板與盆座本體相連。
³⁶ 在框子的板上和鑲板上，他雕刻了基路伯、獅子和棕樹，各按其分量，周圍有附飾。
³⁷ 他如此造了十座盆座，都是一樣的鑄法、一樣的尺寸、一樣的形狀。
³⁸ 又作了十個銅盆，每盆可容四十罷特；每盆四肘；十座盆座每座上有一個銅盆。
³⁹ 他把五座放在殿的右邊，五座放在殿的左邊；又把銅海放在殿的右邊，就是朝東向南之處。
⁴⁰ 戶蘭又造了盆、鏟子和盤子。這樣，戶蘭為所羅門王所作耶和華殿的一切工作完畢了：
⁴¹ 就是兩根柱子，和柱頂上兩個球狀的裝飾；又有兩個網子，遮蓋柱頂上兩個球狀的裝飾；
⁴² 又有四百個石榴，為兩個網子，每個網子兩行石榴，遮蓋柱頂上兩個球狀的裝飾；
⁴³ 又有十座盆座和盆座上的十個盆；
⁴⁴ 又有一個銅海和銅海下的十二隻牛；
⁴⁵ 又有鍋、鏟子、盤子。戶蘭為所羅門王所作耶和華殿的這一切器皿，都是光亮的銅。
⁴⁶ 王在約旦平原，就是在疏割和撒拉但之間的膠泥地，鑄造了這一切。
⁴⁷ 這一切器皿，所羅門都沒有稱過，因為數量太多；銅的重量也無從查考。
此處我們看到聖殿銅工的記載。聖殿裏沒有鐵器，雖然我們讀到大衛為聖殿預備了「鐵器之用」（代上二十九2）。那些是甚麼我們沒有被告知，但有些銅器在此被描述，其餘的則被提及。
一、所羅門所用主持這部分工程的銅匠是戶蘭（代下四11作「希蘭」）；他母親是以色列人，屬拿弗他利支派；父親是推羅人（王上七14）。他若有推羅人的巧思，又有以色列人對神殿的愛心（推羅人的頭腦、以色列人的心），那麼兩國的血統在他身上混合便是美事，因為這使他有資格擔任所派給他的工作。正如會幕是用埃及的財寶建造的，聖殿是用推羅的智慧建造的。神要用世人普遍的恩賜來服事自己。
二、他所用的銅是他所能得到的最好的。一切銅器都是「光亮的銅」（王上七45）——迦勒底文作「好銅」——就是最堅固、最光亮的銅。神既是最好的，就當以最好的來事奉祂、尊榮祂。
三、所有銅器鑄造的地方是約旦平原，因為那裏的土又黏又稠，適於作鑄銅的模具（王上七46）；所羅門不要這又髒又煙的工作在耶路撒冷或其附近進行。
四、銅的數量沒有記賬。器皿是「沒有稱過的」（王上七47也可讀作「沒有數過的」），「因為數量太多」，要記賬便是無盡的事；「銅的重量」交給匠人時也沒有查問；匠人如此誠實，銅又如此豐富，絕無缺乏之虞。我們當把這歸功於所羅門的細心——他預備了這麼多；而不是他的疏忽——他沒有記賬。
五、銅工中幾件特別的器皿被描述：
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兩根銅柱，立在「殿的廊子前」（王上七21），至於在廊子的遮蓋之下或在露天，則不確定；它在聖殿和祭司的院子之間。這兩根柱子既不是為了掛門，也不是為了支撐建築，純粹是為了裝飾和意義。（1）作為裝飾它們是怎樣，我們可以從此處對其周圍精巧工藝的記載看出——格狀工藝、鏈狀工藝、網狀工藝、百合花工藝，並成行的石榴，都是光亮的銅，無疑是按最美的比例規則造成，以悅人眼目。（2）它們的意義在於所給的名字（王上七21）：「雅斤」——「他必堅立」；「波阿斯」——「在他裏面有力量」。有人認為它們是為紀念那引導以色列人經過曠野的雲柱火柱；我倒認為它們是給祭司和到神門前敬拜之人的提醒：[1.] 單單倚靠神，不倚靠自己任何的自恃，作一切宗教操練的力量和堅立。我們來等候神，發覺自己的心遊蕩不定之時，便當藉著信心從天上取得幫助：「雅斤」——「神必堅固這遊蕩的心。心中得了恩典的堅立，這是美事。」我們發覺自己軟弱，不能盡聖潔的本分，但這是我們的鼓勵：「波阿斯」——「我們的力量在他裏面」，是他在我們裏面運行，使我們「立志又行事」。「我要靠主耶和華的力量進去。」屬靈的力量和穩固，可以在神殿的門前得著——在那裏我們必須藉著恩典的媒介來等候恩典的賜予。[2.] 它提醒他們神在他們中間之聖殿的力量和堅立。讓他們緊緊跟從神和本分，就永不會失去他們的尊榮和特權，那賜予他們的必得著堅定，並永遠存留。福音的教會是神所要堅立、所要堅固的，陰間的門不能勝過它。但關於這殿，當它被毀之時，特別記下了這兩根柱子的毀壞（王上二十五13、17）——這原是它堅立的記號，若他們沒有離棄神，本會一直如此。
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一個銅海——一個極大的器皿，直徑超過五碼，可容五百多桶水，為祭司所用，用以洗淨自己和祭物，並保持聖殿院子的潔淨（王上七23-26等）。它安放在十二隻銅牛的雕像之上，高到一個地步，必須有梯子爬上去，或在底部有水龍頭取水。基遍人，即尼提寧——就是為神家打水的人——負責裝滿它。有人認為所羅門造牛的像來支撐這大水池，是為了藐視以色列人從前所敬拜的金牛犢——正如帕特里克主教所言，使百姓看見那些形象中沒有甚麼配受敬拜的；它們更適合作柱子，不適合作神。然而這仍不能攔阻耶路撒冷後來設立牛犢為神明。會幕的院子裏只預備了一個銅盆供洗滌之用，但聖殿的院子裏卻有一個銅海——表明藉著基督的福音，為我們的潔淨作了遠比摩西律法更豐富的預備。律法有盆，福音有海——「開了一個泉源」（亞十三1）。
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十個銅座（又稱座或承座），其上放置十個銅盆，用以盛水為聖殿事奉之用，因為銅海旁邊容不下所有要洗手的人。盆座在此被很詳細地描述（王上七27-30等）。它們裝飾精巧，又裝有輪子，使銅盆可隨需要移動；但通常它們排成兩行，院子的一邊五個，另一邊五個（王上七39）。每個盆可容四十罷特，約十桶（王上七38）。「耶和華的器皿」必須非常潔淨。屬靈的祭司和屬靈的祭物必須在基督寶血和重生的盆中洗淨。我們當常常洗滌，因為我們天天沾染污穢，當潔淨我們的手、清潔我們的心。為我們的潔淨預備了豐盛的供應；所以我們若至終與不潔的人同分，那便是我們自己的錯失。
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此外又有為數極多的銅鍋，用以煮平安祭的肉——這肉祭司和獻祭者要在耶和華面前同吃（參撒上二14）；又有鏟子，用以從祭壇上取灰（有人認為這字是指「肉叉子」，用以從鍋中取肉）；又有銅盤，用以盛祭牲的血。這些代表了銅祭壇的一切用具（出三十八3）。他們既作此事，便作了許多，好在最初使用的那些損壞朽壞之時，有充足的儲備。如此所羅門既有能力，便為後代預備。
⁴⁸ 所羅門又作了耶和華殿的一切器皿：金壇和陳設餅的金桌；
⁴⁹ 內殿前的精金燈臺，右邊五個，左邊五個；又有金的花朵、燈盞和蠟剪；
⁵⁰ 又有金的碗、盤、勺子、火鼎；至聖所的門和殿的門上的鉸鏈也是金的。
⁵¹ 所羅門王為耶和華殿所作的一切工作都完畢了。所羅門把他父親大衛所分別為聖的金銀和器皿，都帶進來，放在耶和華殿的府庫裏。
此處我們看到：1. 聖殿金工的製作——這似乎是最後作的，因為神家的工程以它為結束。室內一切都是金的，又是新造的（除約櫃與其上的施恩座和基路伯以外）——舊的或被熔化，或被收存——金壇、金桌、金燈臺，並一切附屬之物。燒香的壇仍「只有一個」，因為基督和祂的代求只有一位；但他作了十張金桌子（代下四8；雖然此處只提到「陳設餅在其上」的那一張——王上七48，我們可以推想這一張比其餘的大，其餘的猶如旁桌）；他又作了「十個金燈臺」（王上七49），表明福音所賜給我們的屬靈糧食和天上亮光，遠比摩西律法所能提供的更為豐盛。連門上的鉸鏈都是金的（王上七50），使一切都同樣輝煌，並顯出所羅門的慷慨。有人認為神殿中一切都造得如此輝煌，是為使百姓不拜偶像，因為沒有任何偶像廟宇像這殿這樣富麗堂皇；但這方法在結果上幾乎毫無用處，正如後來的事所證明的。2. 將分別為聖之物帶進來——就是大衛獻給神為尊榮之物（王上七51）。建造和陳設中沒有用盡的，都收存在府庫裏，作修繕、應急和聖殿經常開支之用。父母獻給神的，兒女斷不可轉用或收回，倒當樂意將那定為敬虔和慈善之用的獻上，使他們與產業一同承受福分。
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.
正如在大衛的記述中，記述戰爭與得勝的一章接著一章；照樣在所羅門的記述中，論到他建築工程的一章也接著一章。本章我們可以看到：一、他為自己和自己的用途而建造的幾座宮室（王上七1-12）。二、他為自己所建造、歸給神的聖殿陳設器具：1. 兩根柱子（王上七13-22）。2. 一個銅海（王上七23-26）。3. 十個銅座（王上七27-37），以及其上的十個盆（王上七38、39）。4. 聖殿其餘一切的器具（王上七40-50）。5. 他父親所分別為聖的物件（王上七51）。這些物件詳細的描述在當時寫下時並非多餘，如今也非無用。