1 Kings 6:7

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 6:1-10

Here, I. The temple is called the house of the Lord (1 Kgs. 6:1), because it was, 1. Directed and modelled by him. Infinite Wisdom was the architect, and gave David the plan or pattern by the Spirit, not by word of mouth only, but, for the greater certainty and exactness, in writing (1 Chron. 28:11, 12), as he had given to Moses in the mouth a draught of the tabernacle. 2. Dedicated and devoted to him and to his honour, to be employed in his service, so his as never any other house was, for he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 6:7

And the house, when it was in building ,.... And all the while it was building: was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither ; being hewn or squared by the builders and stonesquarers of Solomon and Hiram, 1 Kings 5:18 ; wherefore the builders had nothing more to do than to lay them in their proper places in the building; it was built with these stones quite up to the ceiling, as Josephus says F20 Antiqu. l. 8. c. 3. sect. 2. ; and these so admirably polished, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 6:7

The house - was built of stone - It appears that every stone was hewn and squared, and its place in the building ascertained, before it came to Jerusalem: the timbers were fitted in like manner. This greatly lessened the trouble and expense of carriage. On this account, that all was prepared at Mount Lebanon, there was neither hammer, axe, nor any tool of iron heard in the building; nothing except mallets to drive the tenons into the mortises, and drive in the pins to fasten them,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 6:2-20

Christianity built on the Foundations of Judaism. The Jewish temple in its resemblance to the Gothic church is a not inapt illustration of the relations of Christianity to Judaism. The temple of Solomon was not only architecturally the exact reproduction on a larger scale, and in a more permanent form, of the tabernacle of witness, it was also the model and archetype of the sacred buildings of the Christian faith. In appearance, no doubt, it was somewhat different—the purposes for which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 6:7

And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready [Heb. perfect. This does not mean unhewn, though אֵבָנִים שְׁלְמוֹת is undoubtedly used in Deuteronomy 27:6 (cf. Exodus 20:25 ) of unhewn or virgin stone; and Gesenius would so understand the expression here, But the context seems rather to convey the idea that the stones were not shaped on the spot . It was apparently the belief of the ancients that stones of proper shape and size were provided in their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 6:7

Building in silence. This was due partly to the reverential feelings of those engaged in so holy a work. "The Lord is in his holy temple, let all the earth keep silence before him." If we are upbuilding Christian character in ourselves, or in our children; if we are helping to rear the spiritual temple of God, such reverence, as opposed to thoughtlessness, flippancy, etc; should characterize us. The silence of the building was not only the outcome of devout feeling, but it was (like the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 6:7

The spirit of the command (marginal references), was followed. Thus the fabric rose without noise. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 6:7

1 Kings 6:7. The house was built of stone made ready Hewed and squared, and so fitted for their several uses and places, according to the direction of the architect, that they might be joined together without any other labour than the putting them one by or upon another. So that there was neither hammer nor axe, &c. The stones were laid without any noise, there being nothing to be done but to join them together. Thus it was ordered, partly for the ease and convenience of carriage;... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 6:1-13

Click image for full-size versionOverall plan of the temple (6:1-13)The simplest way to describe Solomon’s temple is as a rectangular stone building with a porch added to the front, and three storeys of storerooms added to the sides and rear. The side and rear walls of the main building were reduced in thickness by one cubit (about forty-four centimetres, or eighteen inches) for the middle storey, and by a further cubit for the top storey. This created ‘steps’ on which the timber beams rested... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Kings 6:7

made ready = made perfect. before: i.e. in the quarries afar off, or beneath the city. heard. So in the spiritual house. Ephesians 2:20-22 . read more

Group of Brands