Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 7:46

In the plain of Jericho did the king cast them in the clay ground ,.... Which being thick, as the word signifies, and stiff and close, was fit for such a purpose as casting brass; of such clay, furnaces of earth used to be made to melt metals in; but here were large things to be cast, as the two pillars, the sea, the ten lavers, &c.; moulds were made in the ground, and so the melted brass was poured into them, which gave it its different forms; this, no doubt, was done by Hiram, though... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 7:46

Cast them , in the clay ground - In this place he found that particular kind of clay that was proper for his purpose. Some suppose that the place where Hiram had his foundry was on the other side, some on this side, of Jordan. Calmet supposes that it was near Bethshan. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 7:46

In the plain [Heb. Ciccar, i.e; circle or circuit, the word used only of the Ghor or Jordan valley. This tract is called "The Ciccar" Genesis 13:11 , Genesis 19:17 , etc. See Stanley, "Sinai and Palestine," App; § 12] of Jordan [in the Heb. this river (" the descender") always takes the art.] did the king cast them, in the clay ground [Heb. as marg. in the thickness of the ground. Whether the soil was made thick by stamping (Keil) it is impossible to say. It looks as if this... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 7:46

The Clay Ground in the circuit of the Jordan. These things are an allegory. These words suggest some thoughts as to the soil in which the King of Heaven moulds the vessels for His service ( 2 Timothy 2:20 , 2 Timothy 2:21 ; Acts 9:15 ; Romans 9:21 , Romans 9:23 ). They, too, are prepared in the plain : they are cast in the clay ground. Observe As to the plain, the figure is obvious enough, and a few words will suffice to expound it. From the Mesopotamian immigrants... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 7:46

Succoth and Zarthan - See Judges 7:22; Judges 8:5, note. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 7:45-47

1 Kings 7:45-47. And the pots Or caldrons rather. These were vessels in which they boiled those sacrifices, or parts of sacrifices, which were divided between the priests and the people that offered them; that is, the peace-offerings, that they might eat them before the Lord. In the clay- ground Hebrew, In the thickness of the ground. That is, in earth that was stiff and glutinous, and therefore more fit for making moulds of all kinds. And in a plain country such moulds were more... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 7:13-51

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

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 7:46

46. In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them—Zarthan, or Zaretan ( :-), or Zartanah (1 Kings 4:12), or Zeredathah (2 Chronicles 4:17), was on the bank of the Jordan in the territories of western Manasseh. Succoth was situated on the eastern side of Jordan, at the ford of the river near the mouth of the Jabbok. One reason assigned by commentators for the castings being made there is, that at such a distance from Jerusalem that city would not be annoyed by the smoke and noxious vapors... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Kings 7:13-47

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

Group of Brands