John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 3:1-17
See Chapter Introduction read more
See Chapter Introduction read more
In Mount Moriah - Supposed to be the same place where Abraham was about to offer his son Isaac; so the Targum: "Solomon began to build the house of the sanctuary of the Lord at Jerusalem, in the place where Abraham had prayed and worshipped in the name of the Lord. This is the place of the earth where all generations shall worship the Lord. Here Abraham was about to offer his son Isaac for a burnt-offering; but he was snatched away by the Word of the Lord, and a ram placed in his stead.... read more
The length - after the first measure was threescore cubits - It is supposed that the first measure means the cubit used in the time of Moses, contradistinguished from that used in Babylon, and which the Israelites used after their return from captivity; and, as the books of Chronicles were written after the captivity, it was necessary for the writer to make this remark, lest it should be thought that the measurement was by the Babylonish cubit, which was a palm or one-sixth... read more
Mount Moriah . This name מוֹריָה occurs twice in the Old Testament, viz. here and Genesis 22:2 , in which latter reference it is alluded to as "the land of Moriah," and "one of the mountains" in it is spoken of. Whether the name designates the same place in each instance is more than doubtful. In the present passage the connection of the place with David is marked. Had it been the spot connected with Abraham and the proposed sacrifice of Isaac, it is at least probable that this... read more
Beginning to build. "Solomon began to build the house of the Lord." We are frequently in a similar position; we are starting some sacred enterprise, which, directly or indirectly, affects the Church of Christ, the kingdom of God. What are the sentiments and what is the spirit appropriate to such an occasion? But we may first learn from the text— I. THAT , TO A LARGE EXTENT , OUR POSSESSION IS OUR HERITAGE . It was a very great privilege Solomon was now enjoying, and... read more
The building of the temple. I. THE SITE . 1 . Central At Jerusalem. (1) Natural. Jerusalem, the metropolis of the kingdom, the political and religious centre of the country, was entitled to contain the chief symbol round which the political and religious life of the nation was in future to revolve. (2) Appropriate. As the king had a palace in the capital, it was fitting the king's King, Jehovah, should there have a temple. (3) Convenient. Since the temple was to be... read more
In the second day. The word "day" as italicized in our Authorized Version type is of course not found in the Hebrew text. Several manuscripts fail also to show the other words of this clause, viz. "In the second;" and that they are probably spurious derives confirmation from the fact that neither the Arabic nor Syriac Versions, nor the Septuagint nor Vulgate translations, produce them. In the second month, in the fourth year . Reading the verse, therefore, as though it began thus, the... read more
Now these . Perhaps the easiest predicate to supply to this elliptical clause is are the measures, or the cubits. Was instructed. The verb is hoph. conjugation of יָסַד to "found;" and the purport of the clause is that Solomon caused the foundations of the building to be laid of such dimensions by cubit. Ezra 3:11 and Isaiah 28:16 give the only other occurrences of the hoph. conjugation of this verb. Cubits after the first measure . This possibly means the cubit of... read more
Four dements of faithful service. These are— I. OBEDIENCE ; the intelligent carrying out of Divine direction. Close and careful correspondence with the commandment was more particularly enforced under the Mosaic dispensation ( Hebrews 8:5 ). Solomon was careful to do as he was "instructed for the building" ( 2 Chronicles 3:3 ); the dimensions were determined "by the first measure" ( 2 Chronicles 3:3 ); he was concerned to act obediently. In the service of Christ, while there is... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 3:1-9
Here is, I. The place where the temple was built. Solomon was neither at liberty to choose nor at a loss to fix the place. It was before determined (1 Chron. 22:1), which was an ease to his mind. 1. It must be at Jerusalem; for that was the place where God had chosen to put his name there. The royal city must be the holy city. There must be the testimony of Israel; for there are set the thrones of judgment, Ps. 122:4, 5. 2. It must be on Mount Moriah, which, some think, was that very place in... read more