1 Kings 5:17

And the king commanded, and they brought great stones ,.... Not in quality, but in quantity, large stones, fit to lay in the foundation; strong, and durable against all the injuries of time, as Josephus says F9 Antiqu. l. 8. c. 3. sect. 2. :

costly stones ; not what are commonly called precious stones, as gems, pearls, &c.; but stones of value, as marble, porphyry, &c.;

and hewed stones ; not rough as they were taken out of the quarry, but hewed, and made smooth:

to lay the foundation of the house ; which, though out of sight, was to be laid with goodly stones for the magnificence of the building; so the church of Christ, its foundation is said to be laid even with sapphires and other precious stones, see Isaiah 54:11 .