Eightieth year. This chronology meets with the approbation of most people. See Usher. (Chap. xii.) Some, however, find a difficulty in reconciling it with Acts xiii. 20., which seems to attribute 450 years to the government of the judges. (Calmet) — Septuagint have 440; Josephus 592, though Ruffin neglects the 90 in his version; Petau 520; Severus 582; Clement of Alexandria 566; Vossius 580; Cano 590; Serarius 680. — Houbigant would read 350 in the Acts. But Capellus would add 100 here, &c. (Haydock) — Second of the sacred year, corresponding with our April. Syriac, Chaldean styles it “of the splendour of flowers.” (Menochius) — The Hurons, and other nations of America, call this “the moon of plants;” the Flemings, “the month for mowing,” Grasmaand. Our Saxon ancestors gave descriptive names to the months. See Verstegan. (Haydock) — At first, the Hebrews only described the months by their order; “first, second,” &c. In Solomon’s time we begin to find other names, taken from the Phenicians, (Scaliger) Chaldean names were adopted; (Haydock) 1. Nisan; 2. Jar; 3. Sivan; 4. Tammus; 5. Ab; 6. Elul; 7. Tisri; 8. Marshevan; 9. Casleu; 10. Thebet; 11. Schebet; 12. Adar; (Calmet) 13. Veadar, the intercalary month, when requisite, according to the lunar system, which was not perhaps yet adopted. Each of these months generally corresponded with two of ours; Nisan with the end of March and the beginning of April, &c. Septuagint here take no notice of Zio, though they do, ver. 37. (Haydock) — The temple was begun on Monday, May 21, in the year of the world 2992. (Usher) — It was finished in the year of the world 3000, or in the following year, when it was solemnly dedicated. (Button.)
Whereby is meant the Temple and the Oracle. Cross references: : 2 Chron. 3:1 Which month containeth part of April and part of May.
Whereby is meant the Temple and the Oracle. Cross references: : 2 Chron. 3:1 Which month containeth part of April and part of May.
Verses 1-10 The temple is called the house of the Lord, because it was directed and modelled by him, and was to be employed in his service. This gave it the beauty of holiness, that it was the house of the Lord, which was far beyond all other beauties. It was to be the temple of the God of peace, therefore no iron tool must be heard; quietness and silence suit and help religious exercises. God's work should be done with much care and little noise. Clamour and violence often hinder, but never further the work of God. Thus the kingdom of God in the heart of man grows up in silence, ( Mark 5:27 ) .
Here, I. The temple is called the house of the Lord (v. 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 manifested his glory in it (so as never in any other) in a way agreeable to that dispensation; for, when there were carnal ordinances, there was a worldly sanctuary, Heb 9 1, 10. This gave it its beauty of holiness, that it was the house of the Lord, which far transcended all its other beauties.
House. Hebrew Habayith, “the palace” of the God of Israel, where the priests alone had access. It was surrounded by various courts and apartments, as the ancient temples were very different from ours. All these appendages sometimes go under the common name of the temple. (Calmet) — Cubits. The common one contained half a yard. The sacred cubit amounted to 21,888 inches. (Arbuthnot) (Ezechiel xliii. 13.) — Calmet makes the cubit consist of 24 fingers’ breadth, or little less than 20 inches of the French measure, which is greater than ours. (Haydock) — Hence the temple would be 102½ feet long, 34 feet 2 inches broad, 51 feet 3 inches high to the ceiling. (Calmet) — The walls are not included; else the breadth would be almost 60 cubits, the length 100, and the height 50. (Vallalpand ii. 5, 14.) (Menochius)
IV. The dimensions are laid down (v. 2, 3) according to the rules of proportion. Some observe that the length and breadth were just double to that of the tabernacle. Now that Israel had grown more numerous the place of their meeting needed to be enlarged (Isa 54 1, 2), and now that they had grown richer they were the better able to enlarge it. Where God sows plentifully he expects to reap so.
Temple. The porch was of the same height as the temple, though we read that it wa 120 cubits high, 2 Paralipomenon iii. 4. But one word seems there to have been substituted for another, (Calmet) unless it might resemble a high tower. (Haydock) — Before the porch were placed the two brazen pillars. The interior of it was highly adorned by Herod. (Josephus, Antiquities xv. 11.)