Comparing this verse and 1 Kings 9:23 with 2 Chronicles 2:18; 2 Chronicles 8:10, the entire number of the overseers will be seen to be stated by both writers at 3,850; but in the one case nationality, in the other degree of authority, is made the principle of the division. read more
Some of these “great, hewed (no and) stones,” are probably still to be seen in the place where they were set by Solomon’s builders, at the southwestern angle of the wall of the Haram area in the modern Jerusalem. The largest found so far is 38 ft. 9 in. long, and weighs about 100 tons. read more
The stone-squarers - The Gebalites (see the margin), the inhabitants of Gebal, a Phoenician city between Beyrout and Tripolis, which the Greeks called Byblus, and which is now known as Jebeil. read more
1 Kings 5:15-16. That bare burdens Namely, porters, carters, seamen, and such like. Fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains That is, hewers of stone, for timber was hewed by Hiram’s servants in Lebanon. Officers over the work three thousand three hundred Whereof three thousand were set over the one hundred and fifty thousand mentioned 1 Kings 5:15, each of these over fifty of them, and the odd three hundred were set over these three thousand; each of them to have the oversight of... read more
1 Kings 5:17. Costly stones Marble and porphyry, or other stones of great size and value. To lay the foundation of the house Where they could not afterward be seen; and therefore that this was done, is mentioned only as a point of magnificence, except it was intended for a type or mystical signification of the preciousness of Christ, who is the foundation of the true temple, and the church of God. “It should seem,” says Henry, “that Solomon was himself present at the founding of the... read more
1 Kings 5:18. Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s did hew them It seemed Solomon’s servants learned of Hiram’s, or, at least, were directed by them to assist in the work. And the stone-squarers Hebrew, the Giblites, the inhabitants of Gebal, a place near Zidon, mentioned Psalms 83:7; Ezekiel 27:9, famous for artificers and architects, Joshua 13:5. These are here distinguished from the rest of Hiram’s builders, as the most eminent of them. So they prepared timber and stones to build the... read more
5:1-9:25 SOLOMON’S BUILDING PROGRAMWhen David had expressed a desire to build a permanent house for God, he was told that God was more concerned with building a permanent ‘house’ for David, namely, a dynasty. As for a symbolic dwelling place for God, God had already shown his ideal for Israel in the tabernacle. Nevertheless, he would allow Israel to have a temple, though it would be built not by David, but by David’s son Solomon (see notes on 2 Samuel 7:1-17).Despite God’s emphasis on the need... read more
brought = quarried. great stones. These stones illustrate the work of conversion in the sinner. Hewed out of nature's dark quarry (Isaiah 51:1 , Isaiah 51:2 ), out and carved for a place in the temple of glory (Ephesians 2:20-22 ). read more
stonesquarers = men of Gebal, or Giblites, as Ezekiel 27:9 , now Jubeil, forty miles north of Sidon. Compare Psalms 83:7 . Phoenician masons' marks still visible on them. so = and. read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 5:18
And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stone squarers: [the marg. Giblites, i.e; people of Gebal, is to be preferred. For Gebal (= mountain) see Joshua 13:5 ("the land of the Giblites and Lebanon"); Psalms 83:7 ("Gebal and they of Tyro"); and Ezekiel 27:9 , where the LXX . translate the word Biblus, which was the Greek name of the city and district north of the famous river Adonis, on the extreme border of Phoenicia. It is now known as Jebeil. It... read more