Ver. 1. And Solomon determined.] Heb., Said. He slighted not the divine oracle nor his father’s charge; but was still plodding and talking of it to himself till it was done. To build a house for the name of the Lord.] See 1 Kings 5:3, and compare this chapter with that: the one giveth light to the other; as glasses set one against another do cast a mutual light. And a house for his kingdom.] David had built a fair palace: but Solomon’s far exceeded it: this was a house for his kingdom. Our William Rufus found much fault with Westminster Hall for being built too small: and took a plot for one far more spacious to be added unto it. Dan., Hist.
Ver. 2. And Solomon told out.] See 1 Kings 5:16,17. And three thousand and six hundred.] See on 1 Kings 5:16. Solomon might afterwards add three hundred more, for better despatch.
Ver. 3. And Solomon sent to Huram.] See on 1 Kings 5:1. As thou didst deal with David my father.] By this thankful acknowledgment he seeketh to ingratiate. Gratiarum actio est ad plus dandum invitatio.
Ver. 4. To dedicate it to him, &c.] Not to be impiae gentis arcanum, as Florus basely slandereth this temple.
Ver. 5. And the house which I build is great.] Excellently great, as he afterwards saith. (2 Chronicles 2:9) For great is our God.] And must therefore be served like himself. Above all gods.] Whether deputed, as princes, or reputed, as idols.
Ver. 6. Seeing the heavens and heaven of heavens.] He is ανεπιγραπτος incomprehensible, incircumscriptible: good without quality, great without quantity, everlasting without time, present everywhere without place, containing all things without extent: he filleth all places without compression or straitening of another, or the contraction, extension, condensation, or rarefaction of himself: he is within all things, and contained of nothing: without all things, and sustained of nothing.
Ver. 7. Send me now therefore a man.] See 1 Kings 7:13,14.
Ver. 8. Send me also cedar trees.] Which are strong, longlasting, and odoriferous. Fir trees, and algum trees.] See on 1 Kings 5:8. My servants shall be with thy servants.] See on 1 Kings 5:6.
Ver. 9. Wonderful great.] Yet was it not so great as the temple at Ephesus, but far more wonderful. See on 2 Chronicles 2:5.
Ver. 10. And, behold, I will give to thy servants.] And shall not Christ’s servants and ministers have due maintenance? That which is given to them is given to Christ; as that which is here promised to Hiram’s servants, is promised to Hiram’s self, (1 Kings 5:6,11) who, if he did not like it, is promised more. (1 Kings 5:6) The difference of the food and measures given by Solomon here, over and above that in 1 Kings 5:11, may stand in this, that the former was for king Hiram’s court and household: and this here, for his workmen in Lebanon.
Ver. 11. Because the Lord hath loved his people.] It is a great mercy of God to any people, that they have good governors; and the contrary. (Isaiah 3:2-4)
Ver. 12. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, that made heaven and earth.] Egregia est confessio. Aristotle held the world’s eternity.
Ver. 13. Of Huram my father,] i.e., His servant and architect. The Vulgate hath it, Hiram my father, i.e., one whom, for his virtue, wisdom, and industry, I honour as a father.
Ver. 14. The son of a woman.] See on 1 Kings 7:14. Skilful to work in gold, &c.] Some men are good at anything; as Hippias, called Omniseius by Apuleius. He was not only a general scholar, but made with his own hands he ring he wore, the clothes he had on, the shoes on his feet, &c., as Cicero tells us. Apulei. Florid. De Orator, lib. iii.
Ver. 15. Now therefore the wheat.] See 2 Chronicles 2:10.
Ver. 16. And we will cut wood.] See the benefit of a good neighbour, ready to every good office, as Hesiod describeth him.
Ver. 17. After the numbering.] See 1 Chronicles 22:2.
Ver. 18. And he set threescore and ten thousand of them.] Hereby were shadowed out the several offices in Christ’s Church: this St Paul setteth forth by the similitude of the diffferent members in man’s body, &c. To set the people a work.] Heb., To make them to pass, sc., from one business to another.