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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>2 Chronicles 3 Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/commentaries/expositors/2_chronicles/3.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/5001com.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 4800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 4800px)" href="/4801.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1550px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1550px)" href="/1551.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1250px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1250px)" href="/1251.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1050px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1050px)" href="/1051.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 900px), only screen and (max-device-width: 900px)" href="/901.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 800px)" href="/801.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 575px), only screen and (max-device-width: 575px)" href="/501.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-height: 450px), only screen and (max-device-height: 450px)" href="/h451.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments, put he among the treasures of the house of God.">2Chronicles 5:1</a>; comp. 1 Kings 6, 7).<p>(<span class= "ital">a</span>) Site and date (<a href="/context/2_chronicles/3-1.htm" title="Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared to David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.">2Chronicles 3:1-2</a>). (<span class= "ital">b</span>) Its dimensions: the porch and the Holy Place, or nave (<a href="/context/2_chronicles/3-3.htm" title="Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God. The length by cubits after the first measure was three score cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.">2Chronicles 3:3-7</a>). (c) The Holy of holies, or chancel, with the cherubim and the vail (<a href="/context/2_chronicles/3-8.htm" title="And he made the most holy house, the length whereof was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits: and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents.">2Chronicles 3:8-14</a>). (<span class= "ital">d</span>) The two bronze pillars in the porch (<a href="/context/2_chronicles/3-15.htm" title="Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty and five cubits high, and the capital that was on the top of each of them was five cubits.">2Chronicles 3:15-17</a>).<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_chronicles/3-1.htm">2 Chronicles 3:1</a></div><div class="verse">Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where <i>the LORD</i> appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.</div>(<span class= "ital">a</span>) <span class= "bld">SITE AND DATE</span> (<a href="/context/2_chronicles/3-1.htm" title="Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared to David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.">2Chronicles 3:1-2</a>).<p>(1) <span class= "bld">At Jerusalem in mount Moriah.</span>—Nowhere else in the Old Testament is the Temple site so specified. (Comp. “the land of Moriah,” the place appointed for the sacrifice of Isaac, <a href="/genesis/22-2.htm" title="And he said, Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and get you into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will tell you of.">Genesis 22:2</a>.)<p><span class= "bld">Where the Lord appeared unto David his father.</span>—So LXX.; rather, who <span class= "ital">appeared unto David his father.</span> Such is the meaning according to the common use of words. There is clearly an allusion to the etymology of MORIAH, which is assumed to signify “appearance of Jah.” (Comp. <a href="/genesis/22-14.htm" title="And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.">Genesis 22:14</a>.) Translate, “in the mount of the Appearance of Jah, who appeared unto David his father.” The Vulgate reads: “in Monte Moria qui <span class= "ital">demonstratus fuerat</span> David patri ejus;” but <span class= "ital">nir’ah</span> never means <span class= "ital">to be shown</span> or <span class= "ital">pointed out.</span> The Syriac, misunderstanding the LXX. (<span class= "greekheb">Ἀμωρία</span>)<span class= "ital">,</span> renders “in the hill of the Amorites.”<p><span class= "bld">In the place that David had prepared.</span>—This is no doubt correct, as the versions indicate. The Hebrew has suffered an accidental transposition.<p><span class= "bld">In the threshingfloor of Ornan.</span>—<a href="/1_chronicles/21-28.htm" title="At that time when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there.">1Chronicles 21:28</a>; <a href="/1_chronicles/22-1.htm" title="Then David said, This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel.">1Chronicles 22:1</a>.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_chronicles/3-2.htm">2 Chronicles 3:2</a></div><div class="verse">And he began to build in the second <i>day</i> of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign.</div>(2) <span class= "bld">In the second day of the second month.</span>—Heb., <span class= "ital">in the second month in the second.</span> The versions omit the repetition, which is probably a scribe’s error. “On the second day” would be expressed in Hebrew differently. Read simply, “And he began to build in the second month,” <span class= "ital">i.e.,</span> in Zif (or April—May). See <a href="/1_kings/6-1.htm" title="And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.">1Kings 6:1</a>.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_chronicles/3-3.htm">2 Chronicles 3:3</a></div><div class="verse">Now these <i>are the things wherein</i> Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God. The length by cubits after the first measure <i>was</i> threescore cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.</div>(<span class= "ital">b</span>) <span class= "bld">DIMENSIONS OF THE TEMPLE; THE PORCK AND THE HOLY PLACE, OR NAVE</span> (<a href="/context/2_chronicles/3-3.htm" title="Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God. The length by cubits after the first measure was three score cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.">2Chronicles 3:3-7</a>).<p>(3) <span class= "bld">Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed.</span>—Rather, <span class= "ital">And this is the foundation</span> (or ground-plan) <span class= "ital">of Solomon.</span> The plural pronoun <span class= "ital">‘ēllè, “</span>these,” is used as a neut. sing. “this” (comp. <a href="/1_chronicles/24-19.htm" title="These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.">1Chronicles 24:19</a>), and the <span class= "ital">hophal</span> infinitive <span class= "ital">hûsad,</span> “to be founded,” is used substantively, as in <a href="/ezra/3-11.htm" title="And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks to the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endures for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.">Ezra 3:11</a>. So Vulgate, “Et haec sunt fundamenta quae jecit Solomon.”<p><span class= "bld">After the first measure.</span>—Rather, <span class= "ital">in the ancient measure,</span> an explanation not found in the parallel passage, <a href="/1_kings/6-2.htm" title="And the house which king Solomon built for the LORD, the length thereof was three score cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits.">1Kings 6:2</a>. The ancient or Mosaic cubit was one hand -breadth longer than the cubit of later times (<a href="/ezekiel/40-5.htm" title="And behold a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man's hand a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and an hand breadth: so he measured the breadth of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed.">Ezekiel 40:5</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/43-13.htm" title="And these are the measures of the altar after the cubits: The cubit is a cubit and an hand breadth; even the bottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about shall be a span: and this shall be the higher place of the altar.">Ezekiel 43:13</a>). The chronicler has omitted the height, which was thirty cubits (<a href="/1_kings/6-2.htm" title="And the house which king Solomon built for the LORD, the length thereof was three score cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits.">1Kings 6:2</a>).<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_chronicles/3-4.htm">2 Chronicles 3:4</a></div><div class="verse">And the porch that <i>was</i> in the front <i>of the house</i>, the length <i>of it was</i> according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the height <i>was</i> an hundred and twenty: and he overlaid it within with pure gold.</div>(4) <span class= "bld">And the porch . . . twenty cubits.</span>—Heb., <span class= "ital">and the porch that was before the length</span> (<span class= "ital">i.e.,</span> that lay in front of the oblong main building), <span class= "ital">before the breadth of the house, was twenty cubits</span> (<span class= "ital">i.e.,</span> the porch was as. long as the house was broad). This curious statement answers to what we read in <a href="/1_kings/6-3.htm" title="And the porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house; and ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the house.">1Kings 6:3</a> : <span class= "ital">“</span>And the porch before the hall of the house, twenty cubits was its length, before the breadth of the house.” But the Hebrew is too singular to pass without challenge, and comparison of the versions suggests that we ought to read here: “<span class= "ital">And the porch which was before it</span> (Syriac), or <span class= "ital">before the house</span> (LXX.), <span class= "ital">its length before the breadth of the house was twenty cubits.”</span> This would involve but slight alteration of the Hebrew text. (Comp. <a href="/2_chronicles/3-8.htm" title="And he made the most holy house, the length whereof was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits: and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents.">2Chronicles 3:8</a>.)<p><span class= "bld">And the height was an hundred and twenty.</span> This would make the porch four times the height of the main building, which was thirty cubits. The Alexandrine MS. of the LXX., and the Arabic version, read “twenty cubits;” the Syriac omits the whole clause,, which has no parallel in Kings, and is further suspicious as wanting the word “cubits,” usually expressed after the number (see <a href="/2_chronicles/3-3.htm" title="Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God. The length by cubits after the first measure was three score cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.">2Chronicles 3:3</a>). The Hebrew may be a corruption of the clause, “and its breadth ten cubits.” (Comp. <a href="/1_kings/6-3.htm" title="And the porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house; and ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the house.">1Kings 6:3</a>.)<p><span class= "bld">And he overlaid it within with pure gold.</span>—See <a href="/1_kings/6-21.htm" title="So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he made a partition by the chains of gold before the oracle; and he overlaid it with gold.">1Kings 6:21</a>.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_chronicles/3-5.htm">2 Chronicles 3:5</a></div><div class="verse">And the greater house he cieled with fir tree, which he overlaid with fine gold, and set thereon palm trees and chains.</div>(5) <span class= "bld">The greater house.</span>—Or, <span class= "ital">the great chamber, i.e.</span> the Holy Place, or nave. (Comp. <a href="/1_chronicles/28-11.htm" title="Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlors thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,">1Chronicles 28:11</a>.)<p><span class= "bld">He cieled</span> <span class= "bld">with fir tree.</span>—<span class= "ital">He covered with planks of fir;</span> or, <span class= "ital">panelled with fir.</span> To <span class= "ital">ciel, or</span> rather <span class= "ital">seel </span>(from <span class= "ital">syle</span> or <span class= "ital">cyll,</span> a canopy: Skeat, <span class= "ital">Etymol. Dict.</span> s.v.) a room, meant in old English to wainscot or panel it. (Comp. <a href="/context/1_kings/6-15.htm" title="And he built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar, both the floor of the house, and the walls of the ceiling: and he covered them on the inside with wood, and covered the floor of the house with planks of fir.">1Kings 6:15-16</a>.)<p><span class= "bld">Which he overlaid with fine gold.</span>—<span class= "ital">And covered it</span> (the chamber) <span class= "ital">with good gold.</span> The cypress wainscoting was plated with gold.<p><span class= "bld">And set thereon palm trees and chains.</span><span class= "ital">—Brought up on it </span>(<span class= "ital">i.e.,</span> carved upon it) <span class= "ital">palms and chain-work</span> (<a href="/1_kings/7-17.htm" title="And nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work, for the capitals which were on the top of the pillars; seven for the one capital, and seven for the other capital.">1Kings 7:17</a>). (For the palms, see <a href="/1_kings/6-29.htm" title="And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, within and without.">1Kings 6:29</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/41-18.htm" title="And it was made with cherubim and palm trees, so that a palm tree was between a cherub and a cherub; and every cherub had two faces;">Ezekiel 41:18</a>.) The chain-work must have consisted of garland-like carvings on the fir panels. <a href="/1_kings/6-18.htm" title="And the cedar of the house within was carved with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.">1Kings 6:18</a> omits mention of it; LXX., “carved on it palms and chains”; Syriac, “figured on it the likeness of palms and lilies”; Vulgate, “graved on it palms and as it were chainlets intertwining.”<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_chronicles/3-6.htm">2 Chronicles 3:6</a></div><div class="verse">And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold <i>was</i> gold of Parvaim.</div>(6) <span class= "bld">Garnished.</span>—<span class= "ital">Overlaid</span> (<a href="/2_chronicles/3-4.htm" title="And the porch that was in the front of the house, the length of it was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the height was an hundred and twenty: and he overlaid it within with pure gold.">2Chronicles 3:4</a>) <span class= "ital">the chamber.</span><p><span class= "bld">Precious stones.</span>—See <a href="/1_chronicles/29-2.htm" title="Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colors, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.">1Chronicles 29:2</a>; and <a href="/1_kings/10-11.htm" title="And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.">1Kings 10:11</a>, which relates that Hiram’s fleet brought “precious stones” from Ophir for Solomon. But no mention of this kind of decoration is made in 1 Kings 6. The Vulgate explains the phrase as meaning a floor of costly marble.<p><span class= "bld">Gold of Parvaim.</span><span class= "ital">—</span>Perhaps <span class= "ital">Farwâ,</span> an auriferous region in S. Arabia. Others connect the word with the Sanskrit <span class= "ital">pûrva,</span> “eastern,” and seek Parvaim, like Ophir, in India. The name does not recur in the Old Testament.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_chronicles/3-7.htm">2 Chronicles 3:7</a></div><div class="verse">He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubims on the walls.</div>(7) <span class= "bld">He overlaid also the house.</span>—<span class= "ital">And he covered</span> (<a href="/2_chronicles/3-5.htm" title="And the greater house he paneled with fir tree, which he overlaid with fine gold, and set thereon palm trees and chains.">2Chronicles 3:5</a>) <span class= "ital">the chamber</span>—that is, the great chamber or Holy Place. (See <a href="/context/1_kings/6-21.htm" title="So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he made a partition by the chains of gold before the oracle; and he overlaid it with gold.">1Kings 6:21-23</a>.)<p><span class= "bld">The beams.</span>—Of the roof.<p><span class= "bld">The posts.</span>—<span class= "ital">The thresholds</span> (<a href="/isaiah/6-4.htm" title="And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.">Isaiah 6:4</a>).<p><span class= "bld">And graved cherubims on the walls.</span>—See <a href="/1_kings/6-29.htm" title="And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, within and without.">1Kings 6:29</a>, which gives a fuller account of the mural decorations.<p><span class= "bld">Cherubims.</span>—<span class= "ital">Cherubim,</span> or <span class= "ital">cherubs</span> (<a href="/psalms/18-10.htm" title="And he rode on a cherub, and did fly: yes, he did fly on the wings of the wind.">Psalm 18:10</a>). Cherubim is the Hebrew plural, for which we have the Chaldee (Aramaic) form “cherubin” in the <span class= "ital">Te Deum.</span> Shakspeare has:—<p>“The roof of the chamber<p>With golden cherubins is fretted.”<p><span class= "ital">Cymbeline,</span> 2:4.<p>Why Reuss calls this sketch of the porch and nave “confused” is hardly evident.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_chronicles/3-8.htm">2 Chronicles 3:8</a></div><div class="verse">And he made the most holy house, the length whereof <i>was</i> according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits: and he overlaid it with fine gold, <i>amounting</i> to six hundred talents.</div>(<span class= "ital">c</span>) <span class= "bld">THE HOLY OF HOLIES, OR CHANCEL, WITH THE CHERUBIM AND THE VAIL</span> (<a href="/context/2_chronicles/3-8.htm" title="And he made the most holy house, the length whereof was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits: and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents.">2Chronicles 3:8-14</a>).<p>(8) <span class= "bld">The most holy house.</span>—<span class= "ital">The chamber of the Holy of holies,</span> or <span class= "ital">chancel,</span> called also the <span class= "ital">oracle</span> (<span class= "ital">Dĕbîr</span>)<span class= "ital">,</span> <a href="/1_kings/6-5.htm" title="And against the wall of the house he built chambers round about, against the walls of the house round about, both of the temple and of the oracle: and he made chambers round about:">1Kings 6:5</a>. (So <a href="/2_chronicles/3-10.htm" title="And in the most holy house he made two cherubim of image work, and overlaid them with gold.">2Chronicles 3:10</a>.)<p><span class= "bld">The length whereof was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits.</span>—<span class= "ital">Its</span> <span class= "ital">length before the breadth of the house was twenty cubits.</span> (See Note on <a href="/2_chronicles/3-4.htm" title="And the porch that was in the front of the house, the length of it was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the height was an hundred and twenty: and he overlaid it within with pure gold.">2Chronicles 3:4</a>.)<p><span class= "bld">And the breadth thereof twenty cubits.</span>—<a href="/1_kings/6-20.htm" title="And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof: and he overlaid it with pure gold; and so covered the altar which was of cedar.">1Kings 6:20</a> adds that the height also was twenty cubits, so that the chamber formed a perfect cube.<p><span class= "bld">Six hundred talents.</span>—The weight of gold thus expended on the plating of the walls of the inner shrine is not given in Kings. Solomon’s whole yearly revenue was 666 talents (<a href="/1_kings/10-14.htm" title="Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred three score and six talents of gold,">1Kings 10:14</a>).<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_chronicles/3-9.htm">2 Chronicles 3:9</a></div><div class="verse">And the weight of the nails <i>was</i> fifty shekels of gold. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold.</div>(9) <span class= "bld">And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold.</span>—Literally, <span class= "ital">And a weight for nails for shekels—fifty in gold.</span> The LXX. and Vulg. take this to mean that the weight of each nail was fifty shekels; and this is probably right, for fifty shekels as a total would be a trifling sum to record along with six hundred talents. The nails were used to fasten the golden plates to the wooden wainscoting of the edifice.<p>Whatever may be thought of the apparently incredible quantities of gold and silver stated to have been amassed by David for the Temple (<a href="/1_chronicles/22-14.htm" title="Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and you may add thereto.">1Chronicles 22:14</a>; <a href="/1_chronicles/29-4.htm" title="Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses with:">1Chronicles 29:4</a>; <a href="/1_chronicles/29-7.htm" title="And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.">1Chronicles 29:7</a>), it is clear that no inconsiderable amount of the former metal would be required for the plating of the chambers as described in this chapter. And it is well known, from their own monuments, that the Babylonian sovereigns of a later age were in the habit of thus adorning the houses of their gods. Nebuchadnezzar, for instance, who restored the great temple of Borsippa, says: “E-zida, the strong house, in the midst thereof I caused to make, with silver, gold, alabaster, bronze . . . cedar I caused to adorn (or, completed) its <span class= "ital">sibir.</span> The cedar of the roof (?) of the shrines of Nebo with gold I caused to clothe.” In another inscription we read: “The shrine of Nebo, which is amid E-Sagili, its threshold, its bolt, and its <span class= "ital">babnaku,</span> with gold I caused to clothe.” And again: “The cedar roof of the oracle I caused to clothe with bright silver.” The Assyrian Esarhaddon, a century earlier, boasts that he built ten castles in Assyria and Accad, and “made them shine like day with silver and gold.”<p><span class= "bld">And he overlaid.</span>—<span class= "ital">And the upper chambers he covered with gold.</span> The chambers over the Holy of holies are mentioned in <a href="/1_chronicles/28-11.htm" title="Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlors thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,">1Chronicles 28:11</a>. The two statements of this verse are peculiar to the chronicle. The Syriac and Arabic omit the verse.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_chronicles/3-10.htm">2 Chronicles 3:10</a></div><div class="verse">And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of image work, and overlaid them with gold.</div>(10) <span class= "bld">Two cherubims.</span>—<a href="/context/1_kings/6-23.htm" title="And within the oracle he made two cherubim of olive tree, each ten cubits high.">1Kings 6:23-28</a>. They were made of oleaster, plated with gold.<p><span class= "bld">Of image work.</span>—Literally, <span class= "ital">a work of statuary.</span> The Hebrew word meaning “statuary” occurs here only, and looks suspicious. The Vulg. renders <span class= "ital">opere statuario;</span> the LXX. “a work of logs”; the Syriac “a durable work.” With the last three renderings comp. <a href="/1_kings/6-23.htm" title="And within the oracle he made two cherubim of olive tree, each ten cubits high.">1Kings 6:23</a>, “wood (or blocks) of oleaster,” a specially hard wood. The rendering of the LXX. suggests that the original reading may have been <span class= "ital">ma‘asēh ‘ēçîm, “</span>woodwork.”<p><span class= "bld">And overlaid.</span>—Heb., <span class= "ital">and they overlaid.</span><p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_chronicles/3-11.htm">2 Chronicles 3:11</a></div><div class="verse">And the wings of the cherubims <i>were</i> twenty cubits long: one wing <i>of the one cherub was</i> five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing <i>was likewise</i> five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub.</div>(11) <span class= "bld">And the wings of the cherubims were twenty cubits long.</span>—<span class= "ital">Their length</span> was, altogether, <span class= "ital">twenty cubits;</span> so that, being outspread, they reached from wall to wall of the Holy of holies, which was twenty cubits wide. Of this breadth each cherub covered half, or ten cubits, with his wings, which were five cubits apiece in length. Obviously the inner wing of each cherub met the inner wing of the other in the middle of the wall.<p><span class= "bld">One wing . . . other cherub.</span>—<span class= "ital">The wing of the one, extending to five cubits, was touching the wall of the chamber, and the other wing</span>—<span class= "ital">five cubits</span>—<span class= "ital">was touching the wing of the other cherub.</span><p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_chronicles/3-12.htm">2 Chronicles 3:12</a></div><div class="verse">And <i>one</i> wing of the other cherub <i>was</i> five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing <i>was</i> five cubits <i>also</i>, joining to the wing of the other cherub.</div>(12) Literally, <span class= "ital">And the wing of the one cherub—five cubits</span>—<span class= "ital">was touching the wall of the chamber, and the other wing—five cubits</span>—<span class= "ital">was cleaving to the wing of the other cherub.</span><p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_chronicles/3-13.htm">2 Chronicles 3:13</a></div><div class="verse">The wings of these cherubims spread themselves forth twenty cubits: and they stood on their feet, and their faces <i>were</i> inward.</div>(13) <span class= "bld">The wings of these cherubims.</span>—Or, <span class= "ital">These wings of the cherubim.</span><p><span class= "bld">Spread themselves forth.</span>—<span class= "ital">Were outspreading</span> (participle), <a href="/1_chronicles/28-18.htm" title="And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubim, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.">1Chronicles 28:18</a>.<p><span class= "bld">And they</span> <span class= "bld">stood.</span>—<span class= "ital">Were standing.</span> They were ten cubits high (<a href="/1_kings/6-26.htm" title="The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was it of the other cherub.">1Kings 6:26</a>).<p><span class= "bld">Inward.</span>—See margin. Translate, <span class= "ital">toward the chamber.</span> The cherubs did not face each other like the cherubim on the mercy seat (<a href="/exodus/25-20.htm" title="And the cherubim shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be.">Exodus 25:20</a>).<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_chronicles/3-14.htm">2 Chronicles 3:14</a></div><div class="verse">And he made the vail <i>of</i> blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon.</div>(14) <span class= "bld">The vail.</span>—The <span class= "ital">Pārōkheth,</span> or curtain, which divided the holy place from the holy of holies, is not mentioned in the existing text of <a href="/1_kings/6-21.htm" title="So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he made a partition by the chains of gold before the oracle; and he overlaid it with gold.">1Kings 6:21</a>, which passage, however, speaks of the chains of gold by which the vail was probably suspended.<p><span class= "bld">Blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen.</span>—See Notes on <a href="/2_chronicles/2-7.htm" title="Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide.">2Chronicles 2:7</a>; <a href="/2_chronicles/2-14.htm" title="The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skillful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave any manner of engraving, and to find out every device which shall be put to him, with your cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord David your father.">2Chronicles 2:14</a>.<p><span class= "bld">Wrought.</span>—See Note on “set,” <a href="/2_chronicles/3-5.htm" title="And the greater house he paneled with fir tree, which he overlaid with fine gold, and set thereon palm trees and chains.">2Chronicles 3:5</a>. Here raised figures in tapestry or broidered work are meant. (See <a href="/exodus/26-31.htm" title="And you shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubim shall it be made:">Exodus 26:31</a>, which gives an identical description of the vail of the tabernacle.)<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_chronicles/3-15.htm">2 Chronicles 3:15</a></div><div class="verse">Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty and five cubits high, and the chapiter that <i>was</i> on the top of each of them <i>was</i> five cubits.</div>(<span class= "ital">d</span>) <span class= "bld">THE TWO BRONZE PILLARS IN THE PORCH</span><p>(<a href="/context/2_chronicles/3-15.htm" title="Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty and five cubits high, and the capital that was on the top of each of them was five cubits.">2Chronicles 3:15-17</a>). Comp. <a href="/context/1_kings/7-15.htm" title="For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about.">1Kings 7:15-22</a>.<p>(15) <span class= "bld">Before the house.</span>—Before the holy place, in the porch.<p><span class= "bld">Two pillars of thirty and five cubits high.</span>—<span class= "ital">Two pillars thirty and five cubits in length.</span> <a href="/1_kings/7-15.htm" title="For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about.">1Kings 7:15</a> says “eighteen cubits,” so also <a href="/2_kings/25-17.htm" title="The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and the capital on it was brass: and the height of the capital three cubits; and the wreathen work, and pomegranates on the capital round about, all of brass: and like to these had the second pillar with wreathen work.">2Kings 25:17</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/52-21.htm" title="And concerning the pillars, the height of one pillar was eighteen cubits; and a fillet of twelve cubits did compass it; and the thickness thereof was four fingers: it was hollow.">Jeremiah 52:21</a>; and no doubt correctly. Of the versions, the LXX. and Vulg. have “thirty-five;” the Syriac and Arabic, “eighteen.”<p><span class= "bld">The chapiter</span>—<span class= "ital">i.e., the capital.</span> French, <span class= "ital">chapitre.</span> Literally, <span class= "ital">the ornament.</span> <a href="/1_kings/7-16.htm" title="And he made two capitals of molten brass, to set on the tops of the pillars: the height of the one capital was five cubits, and the height of the other capital was five cubits:">1Kings 7:16</a> has “the crown; “so <a href="/2_chronicles/4-12.htm" title="To wit, the two pillars, and the pommels, and the capitals which were on the top of the two pillars, and the two wreaths to cover the two pommels of the capitals which were on the top of the pillars;">2Chronicles 4:12</a>.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_chronicles/3-16.htm">2 Chronicles 3:16</a></div><div class="verse">And he made chains, <i>as</i> in the oracle, and put <i>them</i> on the heads of the pillars; and made an hundred pomegranates, and put <i>them</i> on the chains.</div>(16) <span class= "bld">And he made chains, as in the oracle.</span>—Heb., <span class= "ital">And he made chainwork in the oracle,</span> or chancel, which is clearly corrupt. But if we read <span class= "ital">kad-debîr</span> for <span class= "ital">bad-debîr,</span> an infinitesimal change in Hebrew writing, we get the sense which our version suggests: <span class= "ital">And he made chainwork as in the chancel.</span> It is true that the sacred writer has not told us that the walls of the Holy of Holies were so ornamented, but in <a href="/2_chronicles/3-5.htm" title="And the greater house he paneled with fir tree, which he overlaid with fine gold, and set thereon palm trees and chains.">2Chronicles 3:5</a> he states it of the great hall or holy place, and <a href="/1_kings/6-29.htm" title="And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, within and without.">1Kings 6:29</a> declares that the whole house was adorned with mural carvings. It was quite natural to write, “and he made chainwork as in the oracle,” assuming that such decorations really existed in the inner chamber. There seems therefore to be no need to alter <span class= "ital">debîr</span> into <span class= "ital">rabîd,</span> (“collar”) as most commentators have done, although the change is very slight in Hebrew writing. The LXX. had the present Hebrew text, but, apparently, not understanding it transliterated the Hebrew words: “He made <span class= "ital">serserôth</span> in the <span class= "ital">dabir.”</span> So Vulg., “as it were chainlets in the oracle.” The Syriac and Arabic have “and he made chains of fifty cubits.”<p><span class= "bld">An hundred pomegranates.</span>—So <a href="/jeremiah/52-23.htm" title="And there were ninety and six pomegranates on a side; and all the pomegranates on the network were an hundred round about.">Jeremiah 52:23</a>. (See <a href="/1_kings/7-20.htm" title="And the capitals on the two pillars had pomegranates also above, over against the belly which was by the network: and the pomegranates were two hundred in rows round about on the other capital.">1Kings 7:20</a>; <a href="/1_kings/7-42.htm" title="And four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, even two rows of pomegranates for one network, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the pillars;">1Kings 7:42</a>, from which it appears that there were altogether four hundred pomegranates, viz., an upper and lower row of one hundred each upon the chainwork of each pillar. So <a href="/2_chronicles/4-13.htm" title="And four hundred pomegranates on the two wreaths; two rows of pomegranates on each wreath, to cover the two pommels of the capitals which were on the pillars.">2Chronicles 4:13</a>.)<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_chronicles/3-17.htm">2 Chronicles 3:17</a></div><div class="verse">And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz.</div>(17) <span class= "bld">Before the temple.</span>—Vulg., <span class= "ital">in</span> <span class= "ital">vestibulo templi.</span> So <a href="/1_kings/7-21.htm" title="And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz.">1Kings 7:21</a> has, “at the porch of the temple.” <a href="/1_kings/7-22.htm" title="And on the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished.">1Kings 7:22</a> adds, “and upon the top of the pillars was lily-work.”<p><span class= "bld">Jachin . . .</span> <span class= "bld">Boaz.</span>—See <a href="/1_kings/7-21.htm" title="And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz.">1Kings 7:21</a>. “The description of the two brazen pillars,” says Reuss, “much more detailed in <a href="/1_kings/7-15.htm" title="For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about.">1Kings 7:15</a> ff., has become almost unintelligible, under the pen of the abbreviate.” This is a strong exaggeration. He also pronounces the word <span class= "ital">bad-debîr</span> in <a href="/2_chronicles/3-16.htm" title="And he made chains, as in the oracle, and put them on the heads of the pillars; and made an hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains.">2Chronicles 3:16</a> “absolutely unintelligible,” and to be accounted “foreign to the text.” How little we agree with this hasty decision will be evident from our Note on that verse.<p><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers<br /><br />Text Courtesy of <a href="//biblesupport.com" target="_top">BibleSupport.com</a>. 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