1 Kings 7

1Ki 7:1  But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house.

Thirteen years - The thirteen years counting from the end of the seven 1Ki_6:38. Solomon’s buildings thus occupied him twenty years 1Ki_9:10 And it happened at the end of twenty years, Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the LORD and the king's house. 2Ch_8:1, from the fourth year of his reign to the twenty-fourth. The time occupied in building his palace was nearly double that spent in the erection of the temple [1Ki_6:38], because neither had there been the same previous preparations for it, nor was there the same urgency as in providing a place of worship, on which the national well-being so much depended.

Building his own house - This house is said to have been situated in Jerusalem, and probably was, what some call it, his winter’s residence. It is called the king’s house, 1Ki_9:10.

1Ki 7:2  He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length thereof was an 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.

The house of the forest of Lebanon - This name was probably given from the supposed resemblance of the mass of cedar pillars, which was its main feature, to the Lebanon cedar forest. Its length of “a hundred cubits,” or 150 feet, was nearly twice as long as the entire temple without the porch. (Some of the great halls in Assyrian palaces were occasionally as much as 180 feet.) The breadth “of fifty cubits,” or 75 feet, is a breadth very much greater than is ever found in Assyria, and one indicative of the employment in the two countries of quite different methods of roofing. By their use of pillars the Jews, like the Persians, were able to cover in a very wide space.

The house of the forest of Lebanon - why it was called the house of the forest of Lebanon appears to be because it was built almost entirely of materials brought from that place.

the length, and the breadth, and the height - so that it was in every measure larger than the temple; and, there was good reason for it, since into that only the priests entered; whereas into this went not only Solomon's family but his courtiers and nobles, and all foreign ambassadors, and whoever had any business with him, which required various rooms to receive them in:

1Ki 7:3  And it was covered with cedar above upon the beams, that lay on forty five pillars, fifteen in a row.

And it was covered with cedar above - On the second floor were three rows of pillars, fifteen in a row, which made forty five, that stood to east, north, and south; and upon these pillars beams, which were the floor of the third story, over which was a roof of cedar wood. So in this second story were only three rows of pillars, which was sufficient for the ornament of the second and for the support of the third story.

1Ki 7:4  And there were windows in three rows, and light was against light in three ranks.

And there were windows in three rows - Both in the second and third stories, east, north, and south, there being none in the west, where the porch stood:

light was against light – one directly opposite to the other, as is usual in well - contrived buildings. I

1Ki 7:5  And all the doors and posts were square, with the windows: and light was against light in three ranks.

All the doors and posts - The doorways, and the posts which formed them, seem to be intended. These were square at top, not arched or rounded. The doorways also, like the windows, exactly faced one another.

1Ki 7:6  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.

And he made a porch of pillars - At the west end of the house:

the length thereof was fifty cubits - answerable to the breadth of the house:

1Ki 7:7  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.

A porch for the throne - One porch appears to have been devoted to the purposes of administering judgment, which Solomon did in person. The porch or gate of justice still kept alive the likeness of the old patriarchal custom of sitting in judgment at the gate. An ivory throne on which he sat to hear and try causes, 1Ki_10:18 And the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold.

1Ki 7:8  And his house where he dwelt had another court within the porch, which was of the like work. Solomon made also an house for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had taken to wife, like unto this porch.

Like unto this porch - of similar materials, hewn stone and cedar.

A house for Pharaoh’s daughter - This appears to have been a third house; probably the whole three made but one building, and were in the same place, but distinguished from each other; the first as Solomon’s palace, the second as a house of judgment, a court-house; the third, the harem, or apartments for the women.

Solomon made also a house for Pharaoh's daughter - whom he had taken to wife; 1Ki_3:1 And Solomon made an alliance by marriage with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her into the city of David until he finished building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall around Jerusalem.

1Ki 7:9  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.

The stones were uniform - all cut to certain fixed measures of length, breadth, and thickness. They were not squared only on the face which showed, but also on the sides which fell within the wall and were not seen. They were all hewed, and squared, and polished.

1Ki 7:10  And the foundation was of costly stones, even great stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits.

And the foundation was of costly stones, even great stones - Of a great price, and very large: Not only the walls from the foundation to the roof beams were built of large hewn stones, but the spacious court around the palace was also paved with great square stones.

1Ki 7:11  And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones, and cedars.

1Ki 7:12  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.

for the inner court of the house of the Lord — should be, as in the inner court of the house of the Lord; the meaning is, that in this palace, as in the temple, rows of hewed stones and the cedar beams formed the enclosing wall.

1Ki 7:13  And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre.

Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre - This was not the Tyrian king, mentioned before, but a very intelligent coppersmith, of Jewish extraction by his mother’s side, who was probably married to a Tyrian.

1Ki 7:14  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.

He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali - In 2Ch_2:14, this woman is said to be of the daughters of Dan, but here in 1 Kings 7:14 of the tribe of Naphtali. The king of Tyre, who gives the account as we have it in Chronicles, might have made the mistake, and confounded the two tribes. One commentator states that both statements may easily be united thus: she was a Danite by birth, and married into the tribe of Naphtali. When her husband died, she was married again as the widow of a Naphtalite, and became the wife of a Tyrian, to whom she bore a son, Hiram.

He was a widow’s son of the tribe of Naphtali — In 2Ch_2:14 his mother is said to have been of the daughters of Dan. The apparent discrepancy may be reconciled thus: Hiram’s mother, though belonging to the tribe of Dan, had been married to a Naphtalite, so that when married afterwards to a Tyrian, she might be described as a widow of the tribe of Naphtali. Or, if she was a native of the city Dan (Laish), she might be said to be of the daughters of Dan, as born in that place; and of the tribe of Naphtali, as really belonging to it.

He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali - In 2Ch_2:14, his mother is said to be of the daughters of Dan, as she might be, and yet her son of the tribe of Naphtali; for either she was of the city of Dan, which is placed in the tribe of Naphtali (m), or her mother was of the tribe of Dan; and therefore she is said to be of the daughters of Dan, when her father was of the tribe of Naphtali, as it is expressed by the Targum on 2Ch_2:14, and in which way most of the Jewish commentators reconcile this; or she was of Dan, and her husband of Naphtali besides, if there was any mistake, it must be ascribed, not to the sacred historians, but to the king of Tyre, whose words they are in the above place, and who might not be so well acquainted with the tribe this man and his parents were of:

a worker in brass — This refers particularly to the works described in this chapter. But in 2Ch_2:13 his artistic skill is represented as extending to a great variety of departments. In fact, he was appointed, from his great natural talents and acquired skill, to superintend the execution of all the works of art in the temple.

1Ki 7:15  For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about.

He cast two pillars of brass - These famous pillars, which were broken in pieces by the Babylonians when they destroyed Jerusalem 2Ki_25:13 And the bronze pillars in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the bronze sea in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans broke into pieces and carried the bronze from them to Babylon. Jer_52:17 Also the Chaldeans broke the pillars of bronze that were in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the bronze sea in the house of the LORD, and carried all the bronze of them to Babylon. were probably for ornament, standing by themselves under or in front of the porch.

eighteen cubits high apiece - Eighteen cubits appear to have been the height of the shaft only. Adding the capital 1Ki_7:16, 1Ki_7:19, the entire metal pillar was 27 cubits high; and if it had a stone base of eight cubits, which would not be greatly out of proportion, the height of 35 cubits would have been reached, as stated in 2Ch_3:15 He also made two pillars of thirty-five cubits high in front of the house, and the capital on the tops of each of them was five cubits.

Notwithstanding the names of these pillars, they seem to have supported no part of the building, and appear to have been formed for ornament; and were no doubt also emblematical. The right pillar was called Jachin, which signifies, "He will establish;" while that on the left was named Boaz, "In it is strength." Some think they were intended for memorials of the pillars and cloud of fire, which led Israel through the wilderness; but Henry supposes them designed for memorandums to the priests and others that came to worship at God's door.

1Ki 7:16  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:

And he made two chapiters of molten brass - These were large ovals in the form of a crown, as the word signifies; or like two crowns joined together, or bowls, as they are called, 1Ki_7:41, The general character of the “chapiters” or capitals, their great size in proportion to the shaft, which is as one to two, and their construction of two quite different members, remind us of the pillars used by the Persians in their palaces, which were certainly more like Jachin and Boaz than any pillars that have reached us from antiquity. The ornamentation, however, seems to have been far more elaborate than that of the Persian capitals.

Five cubits - The word chapiter is taken either more largely for the whole, so it is five cubits; Or, more strictly, either for the pommels, as they are called, 2Ch_4:12, or for the cornice or crown, and so it was but three cubits, to which the pomegranates being added make it four cubits, as it is below, 1Ki_7:19, and the other work upon it took up one cubit more, which in all made five cubits.

Five cubits - If, on the other hand, in 2Ki_25:17 the height of the capital is said to have been three cubits, this discrepancy cannot be explained on the supposition that the capitals had been reduced two cubits in the course of time; but the statement rests, like the parallel passage in Jer_52:22, upon an error of the text, i.e., upon the substitution of ג (3) for ה (5).

1Ki 7:17  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.

nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work - probably a fine network over the whole, and chainwork hanging in festoons outside. Consequently this decoration consisted of seven twists arranged as festoons, which were hung round the capitals of the pillars.

1Ki 7:18  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.

two rows round about upon the one network - that is, there were two rows of figures like pomegranates upon the net or branch work that covered the chapiters that were on the top of the pillars.

1Ki 7:19  And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits.

were of lily work in the porch - Or such as was in the porch of the temple; the work was like that wrought in the form of the flower of lilies open: Or, as in the porch; such work as there was in the porch of the temple, in which these pillars were set, 1Ki_7:21, that so the work of the tops of these pillars might agree with that in the top of the porch.

1Ki 7:20  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.

1Ki 7:21  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.

he set up the pillars - The Septuagint in the parallel passage translates Jachin and Boaz as “Direction” and “Strength.” The meaning was possibly “God will establish in strength” (i. e. firmly) the temple and the religion connected with it.

he set up the pillars - The right pillar - Jachin - That is, He shall establish. The left pillar - Boaz, that is, in strength. These were no doubt emblematical; for notwithstanding their names, they seem to have supported no part of the building.

he set up the right pillar - or the pillar on the right hand as you went in, which was on the north, the front being east:

he set up the left pillar - or the pillar on the left hand, which was to the south, unless the position of them was as you come out:

These names were given them not by Hiram the artificer, but by Solomon, and which were very expressive; not so much of the nobility of the kingdom of the house of David, or of the church of God, the pillar and ground of truth; as of Christ himself, and the two natures in Him, and of His royal dignity. Here stands Jachin, to let them know the Lord will establish and settle them; or that they should never hold out to the end, here is Boaz to direct them to Christ, in whom their strength lies. Allusion is had to these, Rev_3:12 Him who overcomes I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will go out no more. And I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of Heaven from My God, and My new name.

So these pillars being eminently strong and stable, were types of that strength which was in God, and would be put forth by God for the defending and establishing of His temple and people, if they were careful to keep the conditions required by God on their parts.

1Ki 7:22  And upon the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished.

1Ki 7:23  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.

he made a molten sea - A large vessel made of molten brass, which, because of the great quantity of water it held, is called a sea. The “molten sea “of Solomon, so called from its great size, took the place of the laver of the tabernacle Exo_30:18-21, which was required for the ablutions of the priests. It was ten cubits, or roughly fifteen feet, in diameter at top, and therefore roughly forty-seven feet in circumference, with a depth of 5 cubits, or roughly 7.5 feet.

he made a molten sea — In the tabernacle was no such vessel; the laver served the double purpose of washing the hands and feet of the priests as well as the parts of the sacrifices. But in the temple there were separate vessels provided for these offices. The brim was all carved with lily work or flowers; and oxen were carved or cut on the outside all round, to the number of three hundred; and it stood on a pedestal of twelve oxen. The use of it was for the priests to wash their hands and feet, or other things as occasion required, with the water which they drew out of it.

1Ki 7:24  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.

there were knops compassing it - literally, “gourds,” a boss or ball ornament encircled the rim of the bowl in two rows. Carved or molten figures: for this word signifies figures or pictures of all sorts. In 2Ch_4:3 they are said to have the likeness of oxen, being like the heads of oxen, and the other parts oval; or these were in the form of gourds, as sometimes the word is rendered, which had on them the figures of the heads of oxen, and might serve as cocks to let out the water:

ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about it - and as the circumference was thirty cubits, there must be three hundred of these in the circuit: and being in two rows, there must be in all six hundred of them.

1Ki 7:25  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.

the sea was set above upon them - as it were on the backs of them, and their mouths served as spouts or cocks, to let water out of it on all sides:

The twelve oxen, on which it rested, pointed to the twelve tribes of Israel as a priestly nation, which cleansed itself here in the persons of its priests, to appear clean and holy before the Lord. Just as the number twelve unquestionably suggests the allusion to the twelve tribes of the covenant nation, so, in the choice of oxen or bullocks as supporters of the basin, it is impossible to overlook the significance of this selection of the first and highest of the sacrificial animals to represent the priestly service, especially if we compare the position of the lions on Solomon's throne (1Ki_10:20).

1Ki 7:26  And it was an hand breadth thick, and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it contained two thousand baths.

With flowers of lilies - Rather, “in the shape of a lily flower.” The rim was slightly curved outward, like the rim of an ordinary drinking-cup, or the edge of a lily blossom.

And it was an hand breadth thick - Or four fingers, as in Jer_52:21. The palm or hand-breadth seems to have a little exceeded three inches.

it contained 2,000 baths - it was filled by the Gibeonites; This brazen sea of Solomon was typical of Christ, the fountain opened to wash in for uncleanness, by all that are made priests unto God; and this being larger than the laver in the tabernacle, may denote the greater efficacy of Christ's blood than in anything in the law of Moses to cleanse from sin; and the larger provision made for it, not only for Israel, but for all the people of God in the several nations of the world, in the four quarters of it; being published, and proclaimed, and directed to by the twelve apostles of Christ, and by all Gospel ministers since, signified by oxen for their laboriousness and strength. The brazen sea, which took the place of the laver in the tabernacle, was provided for the priests to wash themselves (2Ch_4:6), that is to say, that a supply of water might be kept in readiness to enable the priests to wash their hands and feet when they approached the altar to officiate, or were about to enter the Holy Place (Exo_30:18.).

1Ki 7:27  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.

Ten bases of brass - That is, pedestals, for the ten lavers to rest on. In general terms the bases were square stands elaborately ornamented on their four sides, and resting upon four wheels. Each stand supported a laver which contained 40 baths 1Ki_7:38. These were four-wheeled carriages, for the support and conveyance of the lavers.

1Ki 7:28  And the work of the bases was on this manner: they had borders, and the borders were between the ledges:

Borders - Rather, “panels”, a set of square compartments between the “ledges” or borders, or moldings. Below the paneling, with its ornamentation of lions, oxen, and cherubim, was a space decorated with “additions of thin work” 1Ki_7:29.

the borders were between the ledges - which were short staves or bars of brass, that stood upright all around, like the staves of a cart on each side, or the rails of a balcony, only in double rows; and between these were the borders or plates of brass.

The description of these bases is very difficult to comprehend: many of the original words are seldom, if at all, used elsewhere.

1Ki 7:29  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.

upon the ledges there was a base above - a flat piece of brass laid upon the top of the staves or bars:

1Ki 7:30  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.

The undersetters - literally, “shoulders” are conjectured to have been four brackets, or bars, proceeding from the four upper corners of the bases, and stretching upward to the outer rim of the laver, which thus rested partly upon them.

At the side of every addition - The laver was ornamented with a garland at the place where the support reached it.

1Ki 7:31  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 an half: and also upon the mouth of it were gravings with their borders, foursquare, not round.

1Ki 7:32  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.

1Ki 7:33  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.

the work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel - In the same form and fashion as one of them.

1Ki 7:34  And there were four undersetters to the four corners of one base: and the undersetters were of the very base itself.

the undersetters were of the base itself - The undersetters were cast with the base, not afterward attached to it, and were therefore stronger and better able to support the laver.

1Ki 7:35  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.

A round compass - The same with the chapiter, 1Ki_7:31 which rose up straight half a cubit, and widening upwards half a cubit more, here called the round compass of it: A circular elevation, half a cubit high, rather than a circular depression, half a cubit deep. The “ledges” and “borders” of the top of the base were its “hands” and its “panels.” These “hands,” distinct from the “shoulders” 1Ki_7:30, were probably supports, adorned with engraved plates 1Ki_7:36, either of the elevated circle on which the laver stood, or of the lower part of the laver itself. Both panels and “hands” were “of the same,” i. e. of one piece with the base, cast at the same time.

1Ki 7:36  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.

According to the proportion of every one - “as large as the room left for them allowed,” these figures were made as large as the plates of the ledges, and the borders, would allow room for:

The proportion - Or, empty place, that is, according to the bigness of the spaces which were left empty for them, implying that they were smaller than those above mentioned.

1Ki 7:37  After this manner he made the ten bases: all of them had one casting, one measure, and one size.

all of them had one casting, one measure, and one size - they were all cast into the same mold, and were exactly alike in their form, figures, and size.

1Ki 7:38  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.

Every laver was four cubits - Assuming height to be intended, and taking the cubit at 20 inches, the entire height of the lavers as they stood upon their wheeled stands would seem to have been 13 ft. 9 in. It is evident, therefore, that the water must have been drawn from them, as from the “molten sea,” through cocks or taps.

Then made he ten lavers - These were set on the ten bases or pedestals, and were to hold water for the use of the priests in their sacred office, particularly to wash the victims that were to be offered as a burnt-offering, as we learn from 2Ch_4:6 He also made ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them. They washed in them such things as they offered for the burnt offering. But the sea was for the priests to wash in. but the brazen sea was for the priests to wash in. The whole was a building of vast art, labor, and expense.

Then made he ten lavers of brass - These were typical of the large provision made in the blood of Christ for the cleansing of His people; whose works, services, and sacrifices, as well as persons and garments, need washing in that blood; Rom_12:1.

1Ki 7:39  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.

he put five bases on the right side of the house - On the south side, which is commonly understood; that is, of the courts of the priests, where they were placed for their use: and five on the left side of the house; on the north; though as the entrance into the temple was at the east, when a man went in, the north must be on the right, and the south on the left; and this seems to be the position by what follows:

Right side - In the south side, not within the house, but in the priests court, where they washed either their hands or feet, or the parts of the sacrifices

1Ki 7:40  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:

So Hiram made an end - These verses contain a general enumeration of Hiram’s works, as well as those already mentioned as other minor things. The Tyrian artists are frequently mentioned by ancient authors as skillful artificers in fashioning and embossing metal cups and bowls; and we need not wonder, therefore, to find them employed by Solomon in making the golden and brazen utensils for his temple and palaces.

1Ki 7:41  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;

1Ki 7:42  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;

1Ki 7:43  And the ten bases, and ten lavers on the bases;

1Ki 7:44  And one sea, and twelve oxen under the sea;

1Ki 7:45  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.

1Ki 7:46  In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan.

Cast them, in the clay ground - In this place he found that particular kind of clay that was proper for his purpose.

In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them — Zarthan, or Zaretan (Jos_3:16), or Zartanah (1Ki_4:12), or Zeredathah (2Ch_4:17), was on the bank of the Jordan in the territories of western Manasseh. Succoth was situated on the eastern side of Jordan, at the ford of the river near the mouth of the Jabbok. One reason assigned by commentators for the castings being made there is, that at such a distance from Jerusalem that city would not be annoyed by the smoke and noxious vapors necessarily occasioned by the process. But the true reason is to be found in the nature of the soil; That part of the Jordan valley abounds with marl. Clay and sand are the molding material used for bronze. Such large quantities of metal as one of these castings would contain could not be fused in one furnace, but would require a series of furnaces, especially for such a casting as the brazen sea - the whole series of furnaces being filled with metal, and fused at one time, and all tapped together, and the metal let run into the mold. Thus a national foundry was erected in the plain of Jordan.

1Ki 7:47  And Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because they were exceeding many: neither was the weight of the brass found out.

The brass of which the two pillars, Jachin and Boaz, the brass sea, and the various vessels were made had been taken by David from two cities belonging to Hadadezer, king of Zobah 1Ch_18:8 And David brought very much bronze from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, with which Solomon made the bronze sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of bronze.

1Ki 7:48  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 shewbread was,

Solomon made all the vessels - That is, he ordered them to be made, even all that were in the tabernacle of Moses; all were newly made, excepting the ark, mercy seat, and cherubim:

1Ki 7:49  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,

with the flowers - the figures of flowers, such as were wrought on the candlestick of Moses:

the tongs of gold - which were used to take the wicks out of the oil, and put into the lamps.

1 Kings 7:49

candlesticks of pure gold — made, probably, according to the model of that in the tabernacle, which, along with the other articles of furniture, were deposited with due honor, as sacred relics, in the temple.

1Ki 7:50  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.

1Ki 7:51  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.

The things which David had dedicated - Not only the things described in 1Ch_28:14-18, but also the spoil of the nations which he had subdued, and also the vessels of gold, silver, and brass, sent him by Toi king of Hamath, on his victory over Hadadezer. Solomon now brought these into the temple treasury. A sacred treasury had been established at least as early as the time of Saul, to which Saul himself, Abner, Joab, and others, had contributed 1Ch_26:28.

So was ended all the work - Which he ordered to be made to be put into it, either for the ornament of it, or for the use and service of it; all was completely finished in the space of seven years: