Verse 1

Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

Moriah — It was the belief of the ancient Jews, that the temple was built on that very place, where Abraham offered up Issac.

Verse 3

Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God. The length by cubits after the first measure was threescore cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.

Instructed — By David, and by the Spirit of God.

The measure — According to he measure which was first fixed.

Verse 4

And the porch that was in the front of the house, the length of it was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the height was an hundred and twenty: and he overlaid it within with pure gold.

The height — This being a kind of turret to the building.

Verse 5

And the greater house he cieled with fir tree, which he overlaid with fine gold, and set thereon palm trees and chains.

Greater house — The holy place, which was thrice as large as the holy of holies.

Verse 9

And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold.

Nails — Each of the nails, screws, or pins, by which the golden plates were fastened to the walls, weighed, or rather was worth, fifty shekels, workmanship and all.

Upper chambers — Rather, the roof.

Verse 10

And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of image work, and overlaid them with gold.

Image work — Or, of moveable work, not fixed to the mercy-seat, as the Mosaical cherubim, but in a moving posture. It seems, they were designed to represent the angels, who attend the Divine Majesty.

Verse 13

The wings of these cherubims spread themselves forth twenty cubits: and they stood on their feet, and their faces were inward.

Inward — Heb. towards the house, that is, the most holy house.

Verse 14

And he made the vail of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon.

The veil — The inner veil before the most holy place. This denoted the darkness of that dispensation and the distance at which the worshippers were kept. But at the death of Christ this veil was rent; for thro' him we are brought nigh, and have boldness, or liberty, not only to look, but to enter into the holiest.

Verse 17

And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz.

Jachin — That is, He shall establish.

Boaz — That is, In it is strength.