Chapter 7

1 The building of Solomon’s house. 2 Of the house of Lebanon. 6 Of the porch of pillars. 7 Of the porch of judgment. 8 Of the house of Pharaoh’s daughter. 13 Hiram’s work of the two pillars. 23 Of the molten sea. 27 Of the ten bases. 38 Of the ten lavers, 40 and all the vessels.

1. His own house. This section gives a brief description of Solomon’s building activities in connection with his own palace. The word “house” as here used no doubt means not a single structure but the complex of buildings connected with the palace. There were many of these, the exact nature or purpose of which is largely a matter of conjecture. Undoubtedly they included most of the structures usually connected with a royal palace, such as halls of state, judgment halls, the royal residence, residence for the queen, armory, etc. These must have constituted a large group of buildings enclosed in a great court.

All structures of the time of Solomon were built on the two hills between the Kidron and Tyropoeon valleys—Mt. Moriah and Mt. Zion—in fact, there were no buildings west of the Tyropoeon Valley until the later kings.

Thirteen years. The 13 years are to be counted from the end of the 7 years when the Temple was completed, in Solomon’s 11th year of reign (ch. 6:38). His whole period of building thus occupied 20 years (1 Kings 9:10; 2 Chron. 8:1), from the 4th year of his reign to the 24th. The building of the Temple took only seven years because it was a single structure, and a long period of preparation had preceded the actual building (1 Chron. 22:2–4). However, the palace complex consisted of a large range of buildings for which previous preparation could not have been made to any extent.

2. House of the forest of Lebanon. Since only meager information is available, much of what has been said by commentators concerning this house and the others mentioned in this chapter is largely conjecture. Some suppose that Solomon’s own house (v. 1), the house of the forest of Lebanon (v. 2), and the house of Pharaoh’s daughter (v. 8) were three entirely distinct and separate buildings, but others regard them as merely parts of a single structure. Not even the location is definitely known. It would seem more reasonable to conclude that there were three separate buildings situated near one another, and closely connected, and together constituting what is elsewhere termed “the king’s house” (1 Kings 9:10).

Some believe “the house of the forest of Lebanon” was in the Lebanon Mts. But the name given to this structure, seems to indicate its nature rather than its location. Built as it was with four rows of cedar pillars, it would have the appearance of a cedar forest, and from that resemblance probably achieved its name. Because of the statement in Kings 10:16, 17, some conclude that the building served chiefly, if not altogether, as an armory, for Solomon placed in it “two hundred targets of beaten gold,” each target made of 600 golden shekels, together with “three hundred shields of beaten gold,” 3 lb. of gold going into each shield. But such “targets” and “shields” certainly were hardly for the purpose of war. It would be unusual to have soldiers venture into battle bearing shields of gold. Furthermore, arms are not usually stored in halls such as this. The building seems to have been a grand festal hall of a type often found in Mesopotamian palaces. The hall was large, 146 by 73 ft. (44.5 by 22.3 m.), yet it was not as large as some of the great Assyrian palace halls unearthed by modern excavation. Portions of the house may, however, have been used for the storage of arms, for Isa. 22:8 speaks of the “armour of the house of the forest.”

Of the four rows of cedar pillars, the first and the fourth were probably set as pilasters against the walls, thus providing for three great aisles down the length of the building.

4. Windows in three rows. Perhaps at the ends of each of the three aisles (see v. 3). If these were placed high on the walls, near the ceiling, a striking effect could be achieved by the rays of light coming in among the pillars like sunlight in a cedar forest.

6. Porch of pillars. This no doubt formed an entrance vestibule to the main hall of state. Its width was 50 cu., exactly the width of the main hall, and its depth, 30 cu. The height is not given, but it probably was the same as that of the main structure, 30 cu.

7. Porch of judgment. It is not clear whether this was a separate building, as some have held, or whether it was a chamber within the house of the forest of Lebanon. If the latter, it might have been at the opposite end of the front portico, with the clients of royal justice passing through the imposing entrance and the great hall to the cedar chamber, where the throne of the royal judge was appropriately placed.

8. His house. The palace of Solomon is only briefly mentioned. It may have been to the rear of the hall of judgment, within its own court. No details are given, except that it was of like workmanship to the structures already described.

12. The great court. The entire palace complex seems to have been enclosed within a large court, with probably smaller courts for the various public or private buildings. The walls were of three rows of stones, with a cedar coping, similar to the walls of the Temple court (ch. 6:36).

13. Hiram. According to the account of 2 Chron. 2:7–14, Solomon requested King Hiram to send him a skillful artificer in metalwork, in response to which Hiram sent a master workman who bore the same name as himself.

14. Naphtali. In 2 Chron. 2:14 we are told that Hiram was the son of a woman of Dan. This is correct, for he was a descendant on his mother’s side of Aholiab of the tribe of Dan, to whom, hundreds of years before, God had given special wisdom (PK 63). There is not necessarily a discrepancy, for there may have been an earlier marriage of the woman into the tribe of Naphtali.

15. Two pillars. Specifications concerning various parts of the pillars are given in a number of places, but not in sufficient detail to make the description entirely clear. The main shaft itself seems to have been 18 cu. (1 Kings 7:15; 2 Kings 25:17; Jer. 52:21), with capitals consisting of several members of various sizes, some of 3 cu. (2 Kings 25:17), of 4 cu. (1 Kings 7:19), and 5 cu. (1 Kings 7:16, 2; 2 Chron. 3:15; Jer. 52:22). In 2 Chron. 3:15 the height is given as 35 cu., which some regard as the over-all height, including the various members of the capitals and perhaps the base as well. Others take it to be the length of the two pillars. This finds some support in the fact that in 2 Chron. 3:15 the Heb. Хorek, “length,” is used, whereas here qomah, “height,” is used. The circumference of these pillars is given as 12 cu., which implies a diameter of 5 1/2 ft. (1.7 m.) In Jer. 52:21 we are told that they were hollow, and that the thickness of the brass was “four fingers.”

It is not clear whether the pillars were primarily for use or for ornament. Some believe that they served as supports to the roof of the Temple porch. Others think that they stood by themselves, under or in front of the porch. It is not likely that the purpose was for the support of the roof, for supporting pillars of brass are not employed in buildings of stone, and the measurements do not accord with those of the Temple porch. On Phoenician coins, temples are often pictured with a tall independent pillar on either side. Several clay models of temples excavated in Syria exhibit this feature, as does an actual temple uncovered at Tell Tainat in northern Syria. Every indication is that Solomon’s pillars were intended as works of art, and not as supports for the roof.

The names Jachin, “He shall establish,” and Boaz, probably meaning “in him is strength” (v. 21), doubtless were meant to betoken a realization of the fact that the strength of Israel and all its institutions comes from God (Ps. 28:7, 8; 46:1, 2; 62:7, 8; 140:7; Isa. 45:24; 49:5; Jer. 16:19), and that it is He who establishes the kingdom and His people in righteousness and mercy (Deut. 28:9; 29:13; 2 Sam. 7:12, 13; 1 Kings 9:5; Ps. 89:4; 90:17; Prov. 16:12; 16:5; 54:14). It is significant that when Israel forsook God and righteousness, the nation destroyed itself (Hosea 13:9; 14:1). When Nebuchadnezzar took Jerusalem, Solomon’s famous pillars were taken to Babylon (2 Kings 25:13; Jer. 52:17).

23. A molten sea. This was a gigantic laver, for the various washings of the priests, corresponding to the laver of brass in the tabernacle (Ex. 30:18–21; 38:8). It was about 14 ft. 7 in. (4.4 m.) in diameter and 7 ft. 3 1/2 in. (2.2 m.) high, and held 2,000 baths (v. 26), or about 11,620 gal. or 43,998 liters (see Vol. I, pp. 166, 167). This may refer to the quantity of water ordinar ily carried, and a statement in 2 Chron. 4:5, giving the capacity as 3,000 baths, or 65,998 liters, may refer to the utmost that the laver could hold. Attempts to determine the volume of a “bath” on the basis of the measurements of the “molten sea” have been unsuccessful.

“Seas” are common objects in ancient temples, and were at times supplied with running water. In the case of Solomon’s Temple the water was probably obtained from underground cisterns. The purpose of the sea was “for the priests to wash in” (2 Chron. 4:6). Bowls of considerable size are represented on Assyrian reliefs, but none bear comparison to Solomon’s “sea.” The largest bowls known from antiquity are greatly inferior to this great bronze laver in Solomon’s Temple. It was no doubt a unique masterpiece.

25. Twelve oxen. The oxen were probably represented only in part, with their “hinder parts” suppressed under the curve of the bowl and only their fore parts visible. Bowls with artistic representations of animals are well known in the Orient.

The laver was placed on the southeastern side of the Temple (v. 39), near the great altar. It was near this position that the waters issued in Ezekiel’s representation of the Temple (Eze. 47:1). When Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem the brazen sea was broken in pieces and carried to Babylon (2 Kings 25:13; Jer. 52:17).

27. Ten bases. These were movable stands, each having four wheels of brass. Upon them were placed lavers in the form of chests of brass, 4 cu. across. An elaborate description is given of the decorations and fittings. In Cyprus and elsewhere ancient stands, similar to these, equipped with wheels, have been found.

40. Lavers. Some Hebrew manuscripts, the LXX and the Vulgate, here read “pots,” as in v. 45. Pots were the vessels used to boil the peace offerings (1 Sam. 2:13, 14). Each laver held 40 baths, which by the most recent estimates was about 232 gal. (879 liters). Earlier writers give estimates as high as 384 gal. (1,454 liters), which would weigh about 1 1/2 tons (6,614 kg.). The mobility of ancient wagons carrying such loads is difficult to comprehend. Five were stationed to the north of the Temple and five to the south, probably near the altar, for they served for the washing of such things as were “offered for the burnt offering” (2 Chron. 4:6).

Shovels. The “shovels” and “basons” were used in connection with the services at the altar (Ex. 27:3). No record is here given concerning the brazen altar, although in the account in Chronicles it is mentioned among the other things made by Hiram (2 Chron. 4:1).

46. Succoth. This site was on the east side of Jordan, in the territory of Gad (Gen. 33:17; Joshua 13:27; Judges 8:5).

47. Unweighed. So great was the quantity of the bronze used in the construction of the vessels that they were not weighed. This brass had been taken by David from the cities of Tibhath and Chun, cities of Hadarezer, king of Zobah, in Syria (1 Chron. 18:5–8). Vast amounts of bronze have been found in the ancient Near East.

Brass. More correctly “bronze,” or “copper.” Brass is made by combining zinc with copper in varying proportions. The extensive use of this alloy dates from comparatively recent times. The “brass” of Bible times was either pure copper or an alloy of copper and tin, or “bronze.”

48. Altar of gold. This was the altar of incense, which was placed before the veil (1 Kings 6:20, 22; Ex. 30:1–10).

Table of gold. The table of shewbread (see Ex. 25:23–28; 37:10–15). When David turned over to Solomon the materials he had gathered for the Temple, he gave him gold for the “tables of shewbread” (1 Chron. 28:16). According to 2 Chron. 4:8, 19, there were ten tables, five on the north side and five on the south side of the room. The ten tables were evidently at times referred to as one, as is indicated by the fact that Chronicles speaks of the table of shewbread not only in the plural, as above, but also in the singular (2 Chron. 13:11; 29:18).

49. The candlesticks. These ten candlesticks, five on the north side and five on the south side of the holy place, were probably in addition to the one seven-branched candlestick made for the tabernacle (Ex. 25:31–40; 37:17–24).

50. The bowls. Many of the articles here mentioned are also enumerated as among the items provided for the sanctuary (Ex. 25:29, 38). When Jerusalem fell to Nebuchadnezzar, these articles were carried off to Babylon (2 Kings 25:14, 15).

51. Had dedicated. David had accumulated an immense amount of silver and gold for the Temple and its furniture (1 Chron. 22:3–5, 14–16; 28:14–18; 29:2–5). Much booty taken in war was dedicated to the Lord and the Temple treasury (1 Chron. 18:7–11). Such a treasury seems to have been in existence for some time, to which Samuel, Saul, Abner, and Joab, as well as David, had made their contributions (1 Chron. 26:26–28).

Ellen G. White comments

13, 14 PK 63