Ver. 1. Then Solomon began to build.] [See Trapp on “1Ki 6:1”] &c At Jerusalem in mount Moriah.] Where Isaac, as a type of Christ, bore the wood, obeyed his father, and should have been sacrificed. Calvary, where our Saviour suffered, was either a part of this mount, or very near unto it.
Ver. 2. In the fourth year of his reign.] Temple work meets with many problems, and goes not on too hastily.
Ver. 3. Wherein Solomon was instructed.] Heb., Founded. To be well instructed, is to be well grounded; for want whereof, many are wherried about with divers and strange doctrines. (Hebrews 13:9)
Ver. 4. And the porch.] See on 1 Kings 6:3. And he overlaid it within with pure gold.] Such was Christ’s inside; (Colossians 2:9) in his outside was no such desirable beauty; so (Isaiah 53:2) the Church’s glory is inward, (Psalms 45:13) in the hidden man of the heart. (1 Peter 3:4)
Ver. 5. Which he overlaid with fine gold.] As the parts of this temple were not seen naked, so neither must our souls be seen without faith, love, and other golden graces.
Ver. 6. And he garnished the house with precious stones.] Every one of which had some egregious virtue: so, much more hath effectual faith, laborious love, reverent fear, patient hope, right repentance, assured confidence, &c., and—that which holdeth all these together lovely lowly mindedness. See 1 Peter 5:5. [See Trapp on “1Pe 5:5”] And the gold was gold of Parvaim.] That is, Of Havilah, (Genesis 2:11) where the best gold is, saith Junius, and where, Pliny saith, there is a town called, corruptly, Parbacia. Others take it for Ophir, now called Peru, the greater and the lesser; whence the word here used is of the dual number. It hath affinity with Epher, dust, and Peer, comeliness: the finest gold is but yellow earth. Lib. vi. cap. 28.
Ver. 7. He overlaid also the house.] All the inside of it. Let us spare for no cost, ut aureos et argenteos animos, hoc est, variis virtutibus excultos habeamus. Gold and silver will perish, though they be tried in the fire; (1 Peter 1:7) so will not true grace: it will one day be glory. And graved cherubims.] See 1 Kings 6:23. Angels are present in the assemblies of God’s people. Lavat.
Ver. 8. Six hundred talents.] Which is, as we count it, two millions and two hundred and fifty thousand pound.
Ver. 9. And he overlaid the upper chambers.] These were, saith Diodate, certain principal rooms of the building of the porticoes, appointed for the holy ministers to make their meals in, like unto refectories; or else for places of meetings and counsel. See 1 Chronicles 28:11.
Ver. 10. Two cherubims of image work.] Opere exemtili, so Tremellius; of work that might be taken asunder. Or of moving work, so others; that is to say, made as if they were in the act of flying or going. If it were image work—cherubims were made like boys, -yet this is no plea for Popish images; since they are flatly forbidden; and God made the law for us, not for himself.
Ver. 11,12. See on 1 Kings 6:24, &c.
Ver. 13. And their faces were inward.] Heb., Toward the house; i.e., toward the holy place, called the greater house. (2 Chronicles 3:5)
Ver. 14. And he made the veil.] See on 1 Kings 6:21.
Ver. 15. Also he made before the house two pillars.] These were cast by Hiram, as great ordnance are now-a-days, round and hollow. See on 1 Kings 7:15.
Ver. 16,17. See 1 Kings 7:17,18,21.