And the work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel ,.... In the same form and fashion as one of them; the Targum is, "like a chariot of glory;' a splendid one, curiously wrought; unless reference is had in it to the chariot of Ezekiel's vision: their axle trees, and their naves, and their felloes, and their spokes, were all molten ; cast together when the base was. read more
And the work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel [Heb. the chariot, i.e; the ordinary chariot]: their axletrees [Heb. hands], and their naves [Gesenius understands rims. He derives גַּב , gibbus, from גָּבַב , curvatus est ] , and their felloes [or fellies, as the word is now written. These axe the parts which compose the circumference of the wheel; but Gesen. translates spokes, because they are the joinings ( חָשַק conjunxit ) of nave... read more
1 Kings 7:33-37. Were all molten Cast together with the bases. The undersetters were of the very base Not only of the same matter, but of the same piece, being cast with it. According to the proportion of every one Hebrew, כמער , chemagnar, according to the nakedness, or, empty space of every one, that is, according to the extent of the spaces left empty for them, namely, that these figures were as large as the void plates would admit. All of them had one casting, &c. They... read more
More concerning the temple (7:13-51)Israel seems to have lost the spiritual insight and artistic skill that in the time of Moses enabled its craftsmen to design and make the decoration for God’s dwelling place (cf. Exodus 31:1-6). Solomon therefore hired a craftsman from Tyre to do the bronze work and other decorations for the temple, with no apparent concern for the wrong religious ideas this man may have had. By coincidence this hired craftsman was named Hiram (GNB: Huram), the same as the... read more
naves = felloes. felloes = spokes. spokes = naves. read more
Furnishings outside the temple 7:13-47The Hiram of 1 Kings 7:13 was obviously a different person from the King of Tyre (1 Kings 5:1). God evidently guided this Hiram as he fashioned the furnishings (cf. Exodus 31:1-11). [Note: See Allen S. Maller, "Hiram from Tyre," Journal of Reform Judaism 29:2 (Spring 1982):41-42.] The two pillars on the temple porch were common features that flanked the main entrances to temples in Syria, Phoenicia, Cyprus, Assyria, and elsewhere in the ancient Near East at... read more
4. The temple furnishings 7:13-51The people also saw the glory of Yahweh reflected in the furnishings of the temple. These furnishings came from several sources but all contributed to the proper worship of Yahweh. read more
Solomon’s PalaceThis c, besides giving a description of Solomon’s palace, contains an account of the principal utensils belonging to the Temple.1. Thirteen years] The Temple was of small extent compared with the royal palace, so that the time spent on the latter exceeded that required for the former. The various buildings mentioned in 1 Kings 7:2-8 seem together to have constituted the house of 1 Kings 7:1.2. He built also] RV ’for he built.’ The house of the forest of Lebanon] so called from... read more
(13-50) The exceedingly graphic and elaborate description of the work of Hiram on the vessels and furniture of the Temple, and on the great pillars, bears on the very face of it the most evident marks of historical accuracy and of the use of contemporary documents, and it has, moreover, great antiquarian interest. Looked at in itself, it shows that the Temple (like many other buildings in the comparative infancy of architecture) depended for its effect, not so much on size or proportion, as on... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 7:13-47
We have here an account of the brass-work about the temple. There was no iron about the temple, though we find David preparing for the temple iron for things of iron, 1 Chron. 29:2. What those things were we are not told, but some of the things of brass are here described and the rest mentioned. I. The brasier whom Solomon employed to preside in this part of the work was Hiram, or Huram (2 Chron. 4:11), who was by his mother's side an Israelite, of the tribe of Naphtali, by his father's side a... read more