Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 6:3
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.
3. the porch ] This extended along the whole face of the building, and projected forward 10 cubits, thus making the whole length of the structure 70 cubits or 105 feet, without allowing for the thickness of outside or party walls. The height of this porch is said (2Ch 3:4) to have been 120 cubits. This height = 180 ft. is out of proportion to the other dimensions, and Mr Robins suggests that, after his manner, the Chronicler has added together the 4 dimensions in height of the 4 sides of the porch, and that the true height was 30 cubits. That the Chronicler does put down his numbers in this strange fashion is shewn from 2Ch 3:11, where he first writes ‘the wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits long.’ He afterwards explains that he means each of the 4 wings was 5 cubits long, but left alone the first statement would be misleading. In the same manner the pillars which in 1Ki 7:15; Jer 52:17 are said to be each 18 cubits high, are described in 2Ch 3:15 as ‘two pillars of thirty and five cubits high’. Where it is suggested that the two heights given in Kings are added together.
the temple of the house ] This means the holy place. Cf. below 1Ki 6:17, where it is called ‘the temple before the oracle.’ The ‘oracle’ is the special name for the most holy place.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Before the temple of the house; in the front of or entrance into the house, 2Ch 3:4; being a peristilium or portico, a walk or gallery, at one end of the building (from side to side). And the measures of this were harmonious also. For 20 to 10 (the length of the portico to the breadth of it) is double, or as 2 to 1. And if the height within be the same with that of the house, that is, 30; it will be to the length of it as 3 to 2, and to its breadth as 3 to 1. Or if we take in the whole height mentioned 2Ch 3:4, which is 120; there is in this no disproportion, being to its length as 6 to 1, and to its breadth, as 12 to 1; especially when this height was conveniently divided into several galleries, one over another, each of which had their due proportions.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. the porchor portico,extended across the whole front (see on 2Ch3:4).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the porch before the temple of the house,…. Which stood at the east end of it:
twenty cubits [was] the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house; which was from north to south, and of the same dimension, so that they exactly answered each other:
[and] ten cubits [was] the breadth thereof before the house; which being added to it, make the whole of the building, most holy place, holy place, and porch, seventy cubits; the height of the porch is not here given, but in 2Ch 3:4; where it is said to be an hundred twenty cubits high, equal to the height of the house, with the chambers over it; but there the breadth of the porch is not given, as it is here; by these dimensions we may observe the difference between the tabernacle and the temple; the temple was twice as long, and as broad, and thrice as high as that, see Ex 26:8. This fabric was an emblem of the church of God, sometimes called an holy temple, and the temple of the living God, 2Co 6:16.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(3) The porch was thirty feet wide and fifteen feet deep. The height is not here given; but in the present text of 2Ch. 3:4 (followed by some MSS. of the LXX., and by Josephus) it is made 120 cubits, or 180 feet. This height is hardly in accordance with anything else known on ancient architecture. It is, however, not at all unlike the western tower of a Gothic church.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. Porch The vestibule, or entrance way, in front of the temple, marked A in plan. The height of the porch is not here given, but, according to 2Ch 3:4, it was one hundred and twenty cubits, four times the height of the rest of the building, so as to form a sort of steeple or high tower in front. But the number one hundred and twenty is undoubtedly a corrupt reading. It was supported in the lower part by two massive brazen pillars ( a a in plan) named respectively Jachin and Boaz, (see on 1Ki 7:15 and 2Ch 3:17,) so that the whole front, with its pillars and ornamentation, must have presented a most imposing and splendid facade.
The temple of the house The temple, as thus distinguished from the house, is to be understood of the pronaos, or holy place (B in plan) before the oracle. Compare 1Ki 6:16-17.
According to the breadth of the house Rather, before the breadth of the house. That is, the length of the porch extended before the breadth of the house, and was precisely equal to it, namely, twenty cubits.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
(3) 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. (4) And for the house he made windows of narrow lights. (5) 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: (6) The nethermost chamber was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad: for without in the wall of the house he made narrowed rests round about, that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the house. (7) And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building. (8) The door for the middle chamber was in the right side of the house: and they went up with winding stairs into the middle chamber, and out of the middle into the third. (9) So he built the house, and finished it; and covered the house with beams and boards of cedar. (10) And then he built chambers against all the house, five cubits high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.
The particularity of description given, no doubt in allusion to the gospel church, hath much spiritual significance. And many learned and pious men have conceived much of divine things are intended by it. We cannot err indeed in our general idea concerning Solomon’s temple. That it was a type of Christ who is the true temple, and in whom dwelt all the fulness of the God-head bodily; this is most certain. But whether the several departments in this temple; the porch before it, the narrowness of the lights to the windows, the chambers round about, the different proportions of those chambers, the winding stairs, and the several compartments of middle, lower, and upper rooms, had peculiar references expressive of a spiritual meaning; I rather conceive this is difficult to say. Taken altogether, in one point of view, as typical of Jesus, no doubt can possibly remain. And this is enough to call up our attention to the contemplation of it.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Ki 6:3 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.
Ver. 3. And the porch before the temple. ] At the east end of it: for the most holy place, toward which they prayed, stood westward: that God’s people might not be like the heathen, who worshipped toward the east, as Cicero and Vitruvius testify. See Eze 8:16 .
And ten cubits was the breadth thereof.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
according to. Or, in the front of,
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
1Ch 28:11, 2Ch 3:3, 2Ch 3:4, Eze 41:15, Mat 4:5, Joh 10:23, Act 3:10, Act 3:11
Reciprocal: 1Ki 6:20 – twenty cubits 1Ki 7:7 – a porch 1Ki 7:21 – the porch 2Ch 29:17 – the porch Ezr 6:3 – the height Eze 40:48 – the porch Joe 2:17 – between
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ki 6:3. The porch before the temple That is, in the front of, or entrance into the house, (2Ch 3:4,) being a portico, a walk, or gallery, at the east end of the building, (from side to side.) And the measures of this were harmonious also. For twenty to ten (the length of the portico to the breadth of it) is double, or as two to one. And if the height within were the same with that of the house, that is, thirty, it was to the length of it, as three to two; and to its breadth, as three to one. Or, if we take in the whole height, mentioned 2Ch 3:4, which is one hundred and twenty, there is in this no disproportion; (being to its length as six to one, and to its breadth as twelve to one;) especially as this height was conveniently divided into several galleries, one over another, all of which had their due proportions.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
6:3 And the {c} 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.
(c) Or the court where the people prayed which was before the place where the altar of burnt offerings stood.