LESSON 15: SOLOMON’S KINGDOM, THE TEMPLE
AND ITS FURNISHING (2 CHR. 1-4)
First and Second Chronicles were considered as one book in the Hebrew
canon. 2 Chronicles, chapter 1 concerns itself with the reign of Solomon, a
very proper sequel to 1 Chronicles, chapter 29. 2 Chronicles 1:1 repeats 1 Chronicles 29:25. “Jehovah magnified Solomon
exceedingly.” In the transfer of authority from David to Solomon, the young
king had every advantage which would promise a highly successful reign.[1]
Solomon's
choice of wisdom qualified him to be a very effective leader of Israel. He is
faithful as he begins to carry out the work that his father, David had
committed to him. The details of the Temple and the elaborate appointments for
its adornment describe the beauty of this amazing building.[2]
Solomon's
reign began with great promise. God blessed him with wisdom and wealth and
Solomon built the temple to honor His great name. With the help of Huram
(Hiram, 1 Kings 5:1, et al.) of Tyre, he completed the magnificent temple and
dedicated it to God with the return of the ark of the covenant. In a beautiful
prayer, he thanked God for His mercy and petitioned God to remember His
promises and hearken to His people when they prayed in this house.[3]
CHAPTER 1
2
Chronicles 1:1 states several important facts: (1) Solomon was the son of
David; (2) he was strengthened in his kingdom; (3) the Lord was his God; and
(4) God was with him and magnified him exceedingly. These facts established a
great beginning and forecast a great future for Solomon as third king of the
United Kingdom. All these were important for the success of his reign and for
the accomplishment of the task at hand -- the building of the temple. What a
great consolation for the present and hope for the future for those who, like
Solomon, have the Lord as their God and who have God with them. Solomon was
young when he began to reign (1 Kings 3:7), "not more than eighteen years
old at the most." Having been selected as king and named Solomon
(peaceful) by God before his birth (1 Chr. 22:9-10), he began his rule with the
favor of both God and man.[4]
The temple
was not yet constructed and the ark was still in the tent David had prepared
for it in Jerusalem. From the time of the ark's capture by the Philistines at
Ebenezer (1 Sam. 4), and its subsequent return to Israel, it was never again in
its former place in the tabernacle. The Philistines moved it from Ebenezer to
Ashdod, then to Gath, and, finally, to Ekron (1 Sam. 5). God smote each city
until the Philistines determined to return the ark to Israel, at Bethshemesh,
with an offering for their sins (1 Sam. 6). From there, the ark was taken to
Kirjath-jearim, where it stayed for twenty years (1 Sam. 7:2). David moved it
to Jerusalem where it remained until the building of the temple by Solomon (2 Sam.
7).[5]
One of
Solomon’s first official acts was to call a grand assembly of all Israel to
meet in Gibeon in Benjamin about five miles north of Jerusalem. At some time prior
to this assembly the tabernacle (tent of meeting) had been set up at Gibeon.
Everything that pertained to the tabernacle was there at Gibeon except the ark
of the covenant which was in Jerusalem.[6]
That which seemed so very important at this time in connection with the
tabernacle was the altar of burnt offering. Bezalel is named as the one who had
constructed the altar. This had been done in Moses’ day at Mount Sinai (Exodus 31:1-11). The high place at
Gibeon became very sacred to Solomon. “He offered a thousand burnt offerings”
upon the altar. In spite of all the preparations made for the Temple, Solomon
did not begin to build the great building until the fourth year of his reign (1
Kings 6:1). In this
period Solomon was often at Gibeon worshiping Jehovah.[7]
How
important it is to begin new endeavors with God on one's side! Matthew Henry
said: "He would not do any acts of government till he had done his acts of
devotion, would not take honour to himself till he had given honour to God –
first the tabernacle, and then the throne."[8],
[9]
Following
Solomon's offering, God appeared unto him in a vision and said, "Ask what
I shall give thee." Notice, God did not say, "Ask me for anything,
and I will give it to you," as Black asserts.[10]
Solomon's requests, as ours, must be within the bounds of God's will (1 John
5:14).[11]
Note, too,
God said, "Ask." God does not promise to give that for which we do
not ask. Thus, the Lord said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and
ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Mat. 7:7). We have
not because we ask not: "Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to
have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your
lusts" (Jam. 4:2-3). That for which we ask, as that in which we act and
speak, indicates our true hearts (Mat. 12:35; Luke 6:45; Pro. 23:7).[12]
David had
previously petitioned God for his son: "And give unto Solomon my son a
perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and
to do all, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision"
(1 Chr. 29:19). Fathers ought to pray for their children! Children ought to
hear their fathers pray for them! No doubt, Solomon heard David's prayer and
was impressed by it. He was better able to see God as his Father for he had
seen God in his father. As David sought the spiritual, so he sought it for his
son and Solomon sought it for himself, at least at the beginning.[13]
Solomon
praised God and humbly pleaded that God would remember his promise to David (2
Sam. 7:12-16). How foolish men are when they fail to use God's promises as a
basis for prayer! Solomon was well acquainted with God's favor upon his father,
which favor he now requested would be directed toward him (1 Chr. 22:6-13). He
asked for wisdom and knowledge: "Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I
may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people,
that is so great" (2 Chr. 1:10; cf. Pro. 2:6)? Wisdom is the ability to
use well the acquisition of information (knowledge). "To go out and come
in" refers to his day by day relationship with the people. "To
judge" refers to the decisions which he must make in their interest and
according to God's will. Take note of God's response and be aware that God's
answer to our prayers is dependent not only upon the words we use but upon the
condition of our hearts (2 Chr. 1:11-12 is God’s answer).[14]
Solomon's
request pleased God and God promised not only wisdom and knowledge, but also
riches, wealth, honor, and long life. The ownership of much by a man is not
wrong as long as his possessions do not own him (1 Tim. 6:10, 17-19). All
possessions are to be used for good as we are stewards of God's bountiful
blessings. Solomon's gift of wisdom was his to use for the good of God's people
and for the furtherance of God's cause (cf. 1 Cor. 4:1-2; Mat. 25:14-30).[15]
Solomon
soon involved himself in establishing chariotry installations in strategic
places in the kingdom. Considered from a military standpoint, the horses and
chariots were useful, but probably not necessary. Israel was already strong
militarily. Fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses imported into
Israel would cause some concern in Egypt and other surrounding countries. Egypt
became a famous market for horses and chariots. People who lived in Asia Minor
and other people who lived in the regions of Syria traded with Egypt. Horses
could be purchased more cheaply than chariots. These were days of great prosperity
in Israel. Tribute flowed into Solomon’s treasury in great abundance.[16]
He
gathered chariots, horses, and horsemen, stationing some of them in Jerusalem
and some in chariot cities. These were never used in war, for Solomon had no
wars. Deuteronomy 17:14-20 forbade the king to multiply to himself horses,
wives, gold , and silver, or to send the people back to Egypt to multiply
horses. All of these Solomon did.[17]
CHAPTER 2
Solomon
determined to "build an house for the name of the Lord, and an house for
his kingdom," that is, the temple and the king's palace. Too many times,
we put ourselves before God and our interests before His. Solomon sought to
bring honor to the God of Israel by building the temple first. He began by
numbering the labor force needed. Then he contacted Huram, king of Tyre, for
help with materials and for skilled workmen. The nation of Israel, under the
law of Moses, had power as a civil government as well as a system of religion.
Thus, Solomon acted in civil affairs, entering into agreements such as this one
with Huram.[18]
[19]
The king
of Tyre had been a friend to David, and Solomon continued that relationship.
Through the letter he sent, Solomon appealed to Huram to provide help as he had
done to David and he assured Huram that the purposes of his building were
peaceful. Solomon gave several reasons for building the temple (2 Chr. 2:4):
1. "I build an house to the name
of the Lord my God"
2. To dedicate it to Him
3. To burn before Him sweet incense
4. For the continual showbread
5. For the burnt offerings: (a)
morning and evening; (b) on the sabbaths; (c) on the new moons; (d) on the
solemn feasts of the Lord our God
6. As an ordinance forever to Israel
The temple
was to be dedicated to the honor and service of the Lord with worship ordained
by the law. Whatever God's children do in life should be to the glory and honor
of God (Mat. 5:16; Eph. 3:21; Col. 3:17).[20]
Solomon
said, "And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above
all gods" (2 Chr. 2:5). No man could construct a house equal to the
greatness of God, but in attempting to build a house to His name, no expense
was too great, for nothing was too good for Him. The temple was not designed to
contain God but to honor Him, for God cannot be contained by the heaven or
Heaven of heavens (Acts 17:24). Solomon explained that it was to be the place
to burn sacrifice before Him. Of course, in those sacrifices was the shadow of
the sacrifice of Christ, once and for all, to accomplish that which the blood
of bulls and goats could not: that is, the remission of sins (Heb. 10:1ff).[21]
The king
of Israel requested that Huram send a master craftsman, who could work with the
skilled men and materials David had made ready in anticipation of the temple's
construction (cf. 1 Chr. 22:5ff). The various items mentioned in 2 Chr. 2:7
(gold, silver, brass, iron, purple, crimson, blue and the skill of graving)
would all be used in the building of the temple. The metals were for the
various platings, vessels, and adornments, while the purple, crimson and blue
were for the veils. Huram included stone, timber, and fine linen as necessary
items (2 Chr. 2:14). Also, wood in abundance would be needed. Solomon promised
workers to aid Huram's workers, and abundant supplies of wheat, barley, wine, and
oil.[22]
Huram's
return letter to Solomon began: "Because the Lord hath loved his people,
he hath made thee king over them" (2 Chr. 2:11). He did not say Solomon
was made king "Because the Lord hath loved thee," but, "Because
the Lord hath loved his people." A wise ruler is a blessing to any people.
To be so characterized was a great tribute to Solomon and was indeed true of
his early reign. Being in close proximity to the land of Israel, the people of
Tyre, in Phoenicia, were a-ware of God's dealings with His people and with
their friends and enemies. Our neighbors take note of our God – whatever that
god might be! When we live as we should, our neighbors will be impressed and
more easily reached with God's Word. Huram spoke of God as though he were well
aware of the God of Israel and His relationship with His children, saying,
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath
given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding,
that might build an house for the Lord, and an house for his kingdom" (2
Chr. 2:12). He also showed his deep respect for David, calling him "my
lord David thy father."[23]
Huram sent
Huram Abi, a trusted master workman, cunning and endued with understanding, to
oversee the work of building the temple. Huram Abi was the son of a woman of
Dan and a man of Tyre (2 Chr. 2:14). 1 Kings 7:14 says: "He was a widow's
son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre ..." It
would seem that his mother was of the one tribe, Dan, yet had lived in the
region of Naphtali. The king of Tyre agreed to the supplies of wheat, barley,
oil, and wine and promised to cut wood out of Lebanon, an area famous for its
timber. The method of transportation would be to float the wood to the port
city of Joppa from whence it could be transported by land to Jerusalem.[24]
CHAPTER 3
Include 2
Chronicles 2:17-18.
Solomon
secured workmen from among those who were strangers (foreigners) in Israel. As
they enjoyed the blessings to be had in Israel, so they had opportunity to aid
in the building of the temple. There were 70,000 bearers of burden, 80,000
hewers of stone, and 3,600 overseers. Jerusalem was located upon two mountains,
Mount Moriah to the east and across the Tyropoeon Valley, Mount Zion. The
selection of Mount Moriah as the site of the temple was made by God, not
Solomon (1 Chr. 22:1). He did not seek to change God's plan, but to follow the
pattern given him, just as Moses had in building the tabernacle (Heb. 8:5). The
site of the temple was the same place as the location of the threshingfloor of
Ornan (1 Chr. 21:18), where an angel of the Lord had instructed David to build
an altar to God. Evidence supports the view that it also was the place where
Abraham took Isaac and prepared to offer him as a sacrifice in accordance with
God's command (Gen. 22:2). Hence, the spot where Solomon said he would build
God a house to "burn sacrifice before him" (2 Chr. 2:6) was the very
spot of David's sacrifice to God and of Abraham's intended sacrifice of Isaac.[25]
[26]
[27]
In the
second day of the second month (Zif) of the 4th year of his reign, the 480th
year after the people came up out of the land of Egypt, Solomon began to build
the temple (cf. 1 Kings 6:1). Using 18 inches as the length of a cubit, the
dimensions of the temple were: 90 feet in length by 30 feet in breadth by 45
feet in height (cf. 1 Kings 6:2), with a porch 30 feet in breadth and 15 feet
in depth (1 Kings 6:3). The measurement of the height of the porch, 180 feet,
is out of proportion with the temple.[28]
It is, seemingly, a copyist's error and perhaps should be 20 cubits (30 feet)
as in the Arabic Version and the Alexandrian Septuagint.[29]
The porch
was overlaid within with pure gold and the ceiling was overlaid with pure gold
and ornamented with palm trees and chains. The house was garnished with
precious stones (cf. Rev. 21:18-21). The house, beams, posts, walls, and doors
were overlaid with gold and the walls were graved with cherubim. The "gold
of parvaim" probably refers to a superior quality gold, though none has
successfully determined the meaning.[30]
THE MOST HOLY PLACE
The Most
Holy House was the equivalent of the Most Holy Place of the tabernacle as far
as its use was concerned. They were not the same size, however. The Most Holy
House was 30 feet wide by 30 feet long and 1 Kings 6:20 shows it was also 30
feet high, thus, a perfect cube. The Most Holy Place of the tabernacle was 15
feet in width, length, and height. There were two cherubim facing each other,
one on either end of the mercy seat, in the tabernacle (Exo. 25:20). In the
temple, there were, in addition, two cherubim, larger than those in the
tabernacle, who faced the Holy Place rather than each other. Their wings were,
altogether, 30 feet wide, corresponding with the measurement of the Most Holy
House. Unlike those in the tabernacle these stood on their feet on the floor.
The veil
of blue, purple, crimson, and fine linen with cherubim wrought thereon was the
same as that in the tabernacle (Exo. 26:31), and performed the same function,
separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. Christ, as our forerunner,
has entered into "that which is within the veil" (typified by the
Most Holy Place); that is, Heaven itself, making it possible for us to so enter
Heaven through Him (Heb. 6:19-20; 10:19-22).[31]
THE PILLARS OF JACHIN AND BOAZ
Here,
their size is said to be 35 cubits, but in 1 Kings 7:15; 2 Kings 25:17; and
Jer. 52:21, they are said to be 18 cubits. A chapiter, an embellished cap upon
the top, was 7 1/2 feet high. Solomon named the pillars, calling the one on the
right "Jachin" (He will establish) and the one on the left,
"Boaz" (In it is strength).[32]
CHAPTER 4
FURNITURE AND APPURTENANCES OF THE TEMPLE
The altar
of brass, 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 15 feet high, was larger than the
altar of the tabernacle which was 7 1/2 feet square and 4 1/2 high (Exo. 27:1).
No explanation is given as to the difference in size, but we know Solomon
received the pattern from God concerning the building of the temple and thus
acted (1 Chr. 28:10-19; cf. Matt. 23:19).
The
skilled men constructed a molten sea, measuring 15 feet across, 7 1/2 feet high
and the thickness of a handbreadth (estimated to be between 3 and 5 inches),
with a capacity of 3,000 baths. It stood upon 12 oxen which probably
represented the 12 tribes. Solomon placed it on the right side of the east end,
over against the south. If a bath equaled about 8 gallons (according to
Thompson's Chain Reference Bible), then the capacity would be about 24,000
gallons. 1 Kings 7:26 says it contained 2,000 baths. Why the difference?
Perhaps, it was this: the sea had a capacity of 3,000 baths, but was normally
filled with only 2,000. Maybe, as Clarke quotes The Targum, "It received
three thousand baths of dry measure, and held two thousand baths of liquid
measure."[33]
The molten
sea was for the washing of the priests before their entrance into the Holy
Place and their participation in the worship (2 Chr. 4:6; cf. Exo. 30:18-21).
Their washing typified the washing we must undergo, through the blood of Christ
(Eph. 5:26; Rev. 1:5-6), which we contact in baptism (Acts 22:16; Rom. 6:3-4),
and which secures our entrance into that which the Holy Place typified, the
church of Christ and acceptable worship (Acts 2:47; Gal. 3:26-29).
In
addition to the sea, Solomon had 10 lavers made for the washing of the
offerings. Each contained 40 baths or about 320 gallons (1 Kings 7:38). He put
five lavers on the right hand side and five on the left. There were ten
candlesticks of gold and ten tables made. Five of each were placed on the right
and five on the left. He also had made one hundred basins of gold. The court of
the priests and the great court, for the people, were constructed with doors
overlaid with brass for the court. Huram finished his work for Solomon (see 2
Chr. 4:11-16 for a list of those things made by Huram).
Because of
the great size and number of the articles cast of brass, they were cast in the
clay ground of the plain of Jordan between Succoth and Zeredathah. The weight
of the brass was so great, the men did not keep a tally of it (1 Kings 7:47).
In addition, Solomon made the vessels of the house of God, golden altar,
tables, candlesticks, flowers, lamps, tongs, snuffers, basins, spoons, censers,
entry of the house, inner doors of the Most Holy Place, and the doors of the
house of the temple all of pure (perfect) gold (cf. Matt. 23:17). God demands
purity in His worship. Notice that all the vessels and furniture used in the
tabernacle were built again (with some variation in size) except the ark. The
original ark was soon to be moved into the temple.[34]
[35]
[36]
[37]
[38]
[39]
[35]
[36]
[37]
[38]
[39]
[1] Robert E.
Black. The Books of Chronicles in
Bible Study Textbook Series. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1991.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Bobby
Liddell. “Solomon’s Early Acts—The Temple Finished And Dedicated” in Studies in 1, 2 Kings and 1, 2 Chronicles.
Ed. By Dub McClish, Denton, TX: Valid Publications, Inc., 1993.
[4]
Ibid.
[5]
Ibid.
[6] Spence, H. D. M., The Putpit Commentary, I1
Chronicles, p. 5
[7] Robert E.
Black. The Books of Chronicles in
Bible Study Textbook Series. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1991.
[8] Bobby
Liddell. “Solomon’s Early Acts—The Temple Finished And Dedicated” in Studies in 1, 2 Kings and 1, 2 Chronicles.
Ed. By Dub McClish, Denton, TX: Valid Publications, Inc., 1993.
[9] Matthew
Henry, Matthew Henry's Commentary (Old Tappan, New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell,
n.d.), 2:917.
[10] Robert E.
Black. The Books of Chronicles in
Bible Study Textbook Series. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1991.
[11] Bobby
Liddell. “Solomon’s Early Acts—The Temple Finished And Dedicated” in Studies in 1, 2 Kings and 1, 2 Chronicles.
Ed. By Dub McClish, Denton, TX: Valid Publications, Inc., 1993.
[12]
Ibid.
[13]
Ibid.
[14]
Ibid.
[15]
Ibid.
[16] Robert E.
Black. The Books of Chronicles in
Bible Study Textbook Series. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1991.
[17] Bobby
Liddell. “Solomon’s Early Acts—The Temple Finished And Dedicated” in Studies in 1, 2 Kings and 1, 2 Chronicles.
Ed. By Dub McClish, Denton, TX: Valid Publications, Inc., 1993.
[18]
Ibid.
[19]
“The Temple (744X).” Torrance, CA: Rose Publishing, 2009.
[20]
Ibid.
[21]
Ibid.
[22]
Ibid.
[23]
Ibid.
[24]
Ibid.
[25] Ibid.
[26]
Thomas V. Brisco, Holman Bible Atlas,
Holman Reference (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998), 111.
[27]
Ibid., p. 113.
[28]
C. F. Keil, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Grand
Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1978), 3:316.
[29]
F. C. Cook and J. M. Fuller, editors, The Bible Commentary -- Barnes' Notes, 1
Samuel--Esther (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1976), p. 373.
[30] Bobby
Liddell. “Solomon’s Early Acts—The Temple Finished And Dedicated” in Studies in 1, 2 Kings and 1, 2 Chronicles.
Ed. By Dub McClish, Denton, TX: Valid Publications, Inc., 1993.
[31]
Ibid.
[32]
James Wolfendale, The Preacher's Homiletic Commentary (Grand Rapids, Michigan:
Baker Book House, 1974), 9:154.
[33] Adam
Clarke, Clarke's Commentary (Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, n.d.),
2:640.
[34] Bobby
Liddell. “Solomon’s Early Acts—The Temple Finished And Dedicated” in Studies in 1, 2 Kings and 1, 2 Chronicles.
Ed. By Dub McClish, Denton, TX: Valid Publications, Inc., 1993.
[35] Logos
Bible Software. Logos Bible Software Infographics. Bellingham, WA: Logos
Bible Software, 2009.
[36] Ibid.
[37]
Ibid.
[38]
Ibid.
[39]
Obtained from www.StudyLight.org.
No comments:
Post a Comment