1 Kings 6:23

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 6:15-38

Here, I. We have a particular account of the details of the building. 1. The wainscot of the temple. It was of cedar (1 Kgs. 6:15), which was strong and durable, and of a very sweet smell. The wainscot was curiously carved with knops (like eggs or apples) and flowers, no doubt as the fashion then was, 1 Kgs. 6:18. 2. The gilding. It was not like ours, washed over, but the whole house, all the inside of the temple (1 Kgs. 6:22), even the floor (1 Kgs. 6:30), he overlaid with gold, and the most... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 6:23

And within the oracle he made two cherubim of olive tree ,.... Or of the oil tree, as in Isaiah 41:19 ; see Nehemiah 8:15 ; for there are other trees besides olives, out of which oil is pressed, as pine trees, cypress trees, &c.; and which some think are here meant; though the Targum interprets it of the olive tree: these cherubim are different from those made by Moses, and were besides them; these were larger than they; these were made of olive wood, they of gold; these stood on... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 6:23

And within the oracle [The description now passes on to the mysterious symbolic figures which were placed in the holy of holies] he made two cherubims [As to the nature, composition, and significance of the cherubim, see notes on Exodus 25:19 ; Exodus 37:7 . The only particulars which will require notice here are those in which the cherub of the temple differed from that of the tabernacle] of olive tree [Heb. trees or wood of oil. The oleaster (wild olive) is supposed to be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 6:23

The Mystery of the Cherubim. That the cherubim were symbolic no one denies. They are so often mentioned in Scripture that their meaning has been frequently discussed. Enumerate some of the opinions held. The view we accept is that they were symbolic representations of redeemed humanity. They were intended to inspire men with hope of redemption, from the day when the Lord placed them at the east of the garden of Eden, till the vision of Jn ( Revelation 21:1-27 .) is fulfilled in the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 6:23

Two cherubims - The pattern of the tabernacle was followed (marginal reference), but without servile imitation. The original cherubs were entirely of gold. These, being so much larger, were of wood, merely overlaid with a golden plating. The arrangement of the wings, and the direction of the faces, seem also to have been different. Moses’ cherubim “covered with their wings over the mercy seat;” Solomon’s stretched out theirs to the full 1 Kings 6:27, so that the four wings, each five cubits... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 6:23

1 Kings 6:23. Within the oracle he made two cherubims These were different from, and much larger than those made by Moses, which were of solid gold, and arose out of each end of the mercy-seat, being of one piece with it, and looking one upon the other, Exodus 25:18-19. But these made by Solomon were of olive-wood, or, as it is in the Hebrew, of tree of oil; many sorts of which wood there were besides olive; as pine, cedar, &c. The heathen set up images of their gods, and worshipped... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 6:14-38

Details of the temple’s interior (6:14-38)Inside the temple the stonework was covered with lavishly carved wood panelling overlaid with beaten gold (14-15; see v. 22). A partition divided the main temple into two rooms. The larger front room was called the nave or Holy Place; the smaller rear room was called the inner sanctuary or Most Holy Place (16-18).The Most Holy Place contained the ark of the covenant, symbol of God’s presence (19). This room had a lower ceiling than the rest of the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Kings 6:23

two cherubims. See App-41 olive tree = oil tree, as in Isaiah 41:19 , rendered pine (Nehemiah 8:15 ); but, Oleaster according to Tristram. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Kings 6:23

DECORATIONS WITHIN THE HOLY OF HOLIES"And in the oracle he made two cherubim of olive-wood, each ten cubits high. And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits was the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits. And the other cherub was ten cubits: both the cherubim were of one measure and one form. The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was it of the other cherub. And he set the cherubim... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Kings 6:23

1 Kings 6:23. He made two cherubims of olive-tree— See Exodus 25:18. read more

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