Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 7:48
And Solomon made all the vessels that [pertained] unto the house of the LORD: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon the shewbread [was],
48. that pertained unto the house of the Lord ] The construction is like that in 1Ki 7:45. Hence R.V. has ‘that were in the house of the Lord.’
the altar of gold ] R.V. the golden altar, i.e. the altar of incense made of cedar wood and overlaid with gold.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
See the note to 1Ki 6:20 and notes at 2Ch 4:19-22.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
All the vessels that pertained unto the house of the Lord; such as God by the mouth of Moses had commanded to be made for his house and service, and such as Moses had made; only these were larger, and richer, and more, according to the difference of the temple and tabernacle, and Solomons vast riches, and the poverty of Moses and the Israelites at that time.
The altar of gold, to wit, of incense, as appears from 1Ch 28:18, where this is mentioned amongst the things for which David left gold, and Solomon is here said to build it; and therefore this cannot be that altar made by Moses, Exo 25:23,24; Exo 30:1,3, which also was of shittim wood, whereas this was made of cedar, and covered with gold, 1Ki 6:20.
The table of gold, whereupon the shewbread was; under which, by a synecdoche, are comprehended both all the utensils belonging to it, and the other ten tables which he made together with it, 2Ch 4:7,8.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
48. the altar of goldthat is,the altar of incense.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained unto the house of the Lord,…. That is, he ordered them to be made, even all that were in the tabernacle of Moses; all were newly made, excepting the ark, mercy seat, and cherubim:
the altar of gold; the altar of incense, which was made of cedar, covered with gold, 1Ki 6:20, hence called the golden altar, Re 8:3
and the table of gold, whereupon the shewbread was; this includes all the tables, for there were ten of them, 2Ch 4:8 where they are said to be placed, five on the right hand, and five on the left; which, according to the Jews k, were not on the right and left of the temple, but on the right and left of the table of Moses, and which being placed on the north side, these must be also, Ex 40:22 there being more tables in the temple than in the tabernacle may denote the greater provision of spiritual food in the word and ordinances of the Gospel church, of which the temple was a figure, than under the legal dispensation.
k T. Bab. Meuachot, fol. 98. Kimchi in loc. Targum in 2 Chron. iv. 8.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
48 And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained unto the house of the LORD: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon the showbread was, 49 And the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold, 50 And the bowls, and the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and the censers of pure gold; and the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, to wit, of the temple. 51 So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the LORD. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated; even the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, did he put among the treasures of the house of the LORD.
Here is, 1. The making of the gold work of the temple, which it seems was done last, for with it the work of the house of God ended. All within doors was gold, and all made new (except the ark, with its mercy-seat and cherubim), the old being either melted down or laid by–the golden altar, table, and candlestick, with all their appurtenances. The altar of incense was still one, for Christ and his intercession are so: but he made ten golden tables, 2 Chron. iv. 8 (though here mention is made of that one only on which the show-bread was, v. 48, which we may suppose was larger than the rest and to which the rest were as side-boards), and ten golden candlesticks (v. 49), intimating the much greater plenty both of spiritual food and heavenly light which the gospel blesses us with than the law of Moses did our could afford. Even the hinges of the door were of gold (v. 50), that every thing might be alike magnificent, and bespeak Solomon’s generosity. Some suggest that every thing was made thus splendid in God’s temple to keep the people from idolatry, for none of the idol-temples were so rich and fine as this: but how little the expedient availed the event showed. 2. The bringing in of the dedicated things, which David had devoted to the honour of God, v. 51. What was not expended in the building and furniture was laid up in the treasury, for repairs, exigencies, and the constant charge of the temple-service. What the parents have dedicated to God the children ought by no means to alienate or recall, but should cheerfully devote what was intended for pious and charitable uses, that they may, with their estates, inherit the blessing.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
D. THE INTERIOR TEMPLE VESSELS 7:4851
TRANSLATION
(48) And Solomon made all the vessels which belonged to the house of the LORD: the altar of gold, and the table on which was the bread of the presence was gold; (49) and the five lamp-stands, five on the right and five on the left before the Debir, were of pure gold, and the flowers, the lamps and the tongs were of gold; (50) and the basins, the snuffers, the bowls, the spoons and censers were of pure gold; and the hinges of the doors of the inner house, the Holy of Holies, (and) for the doors of the house, the Temple, were of gold. (51) So all the work was finished which King Solomon made for the house of the LORD. And Solomon brought the holy things of David his father; the silver, the gold and the vessels he put among the treasures of the house of the LORD.
COMMENTS
In the final section of chapter 7 the sacred historian enumerates the vessels used inside the Temple. These vessels were all of gold while the vessels used outside the Temple were of bronze. From the fact that Hirams name is not mentioned here, it would appear that he had nothing to do with the manufacture of these vessels. The following are the objects of gold within the house:
1. The altar of incense.
2. The table of gold upon which the showbread was weekly displayed. The Chronicler mentions that there were ten tables within the Temple (1Ch. 28:16; 2Ch. 4:8).
3. The ten lampstands which were arranged five on each side of the Debir.[215] Some hold that these lampstands were arranged in a single row, in front of and parallel to the Debir. Others feel the lampstands were arranged in two rows perpendicular to the partition of the Debir. In the latter arrangement these lamps would furnish the light throughout the Holy Place. In the former arrangement the lamps would serve as a barrier before the Debir. The lampstands were decorated with flowers and had seven lamps, extremities which held the oil and wicks. These lampstands were probably fashioned after that of the Tabernacle.
[215] The idea that the ten lampstands rested on the ten tables mentioned in Chronicles is entirely groundless.
4. The tongs probably were used in connection with the altar of incense (1Ki. 7:49).
5. The bowls, which were probably used for incense.
6. The snuffers (lit., knives) were used for trimming the wick and extinguishing the lamps.
7. The basins of gold, which, according to Chronicles, were a hundred in number (2Ch. 4:8). They were probably used for the water or blood of sprinklings, though it is possible they were used for the libations of wine.
8. The spoons (lit., palms) which were really shallow vessels used for incense (cf. Lev. 24:7).
9. The censers. In Exo. 25:38 the Hebrew word is translated snuff-dishes. In Num. 4:14; Num. 16:6 it signifies censers which appears to be its meaning here.
10. The hinges or sockets of the hinges (Keil) of the doors of the Holy of Holies and for the Temple itself (1Ki. 7:50).
Even after the construction of all the Temple vessels and furniture there was still a surplus of the precious metal and bronze gathered by David.[216] This surplus was stored in the Temple treasury (1Ki. 7:51).[217] The vessels alluded to may have been spoils of war such as the shields of gold captured by David from Hadadezer (2Sa. 8:7).
[216] 2Sa. 8:8-11; 1Ch. 22:3; 1Ch. 22:14; 1Ch. 22:16; 1Ch. 28:14-18.
[217] Some suggest that Solomon made no use of the gold, silver and trophies of victory which David had prepared because they were spoils of war, and he did not wish to have it said that the Temple was built with gains won by violence.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(48) The altar of gold.The altar of gold (1Ki. 6:20; 1Ki. 6:22) is the altar of incense. On it (see Exo. 30:1-10) incense was to be burnt morning and evening. The horns of the altar were to be touched with the blood of the sin offering (Lev. 4:7; Lev. 4:18) offered for the priests or the people; and it was to be solemnly purified by the blood of the sacrifice on the great Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:18-19). The offering of incense, therefore, pre-supposed sacrifice already offered, and atonement made for sin. To the Israelites it clearly symbolised the offering of an acceptable worship by man, as restored to the love and communion of God. (See Psa. 141:2.) The priest, as a mediator between God and man, alone entered the Holy Place and offered the incense; the people stood praying without (Luk. 1:10). To us it symbolises the intercession of the One Mediator, offered for us in the Most Holy Place of heaven, by whom alone our worship ascends to God. (See Heb. 9:11-12; Heb. 9:24; Heb. 10:19-22; Rev. 8:3.)
For the table of shewbread, see Exo. 25:23-28; Exo. 37:10-15; for the shewbread itself, see Lev. 24:5-9. The shewbreadproperly bread of the face (or presence) of God, translated in the LXX. Version as bread of offering or of presentationwas clearly of the nature of an Eucharistic offering to God of His own gift of breada kind of first-fruits, acknowledging that the whole sustenance of life comes from Him, and possibly also implying the truth more closely symbolised by the pot of manna, that man doth not live by bread alone, but by every word proceeding out of the mouth of God.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
48. The altar of gold Overlaid with gold. See on 1Ki 6:20. This altar in the temple was doubtless of the same form as that of the tabernacle. See on Exo 30:1-5; Exo 37:25-28. The great brazen altar of burnt offerings in the court is not mentioned in this chapter, and only referred to incidentally in 1Ki 8:64.
Table of gold Like that of the tabernacle. See on Exo 25:23-30. In 2Ch 4:8 mention is made of ten tables, and they were all probably of this same form, and placed five on each side of the holy place. Among the spoils taken from Jerusalem by Titus, as appears sculptured in relief on his triumphal arch at Rome, were the table and candlestick of the Herodian temple. These are shown in the annexed cuts, and were probably, in the main, like those of the more ancient temple of Solomon.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ki 7:48 And Solomon made all the vessels that [pertained] unto the house of the LORD: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon the shewbread [was],
Ver. 48. The altar of gold, and the table of gold. ] Yea, tables, as it is in 2Ch 4:19 , ten tables for one made by Moses; to set forth the superabundant grace under Christ, figured by Solomon.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
vessels = furniture.
altar : i.e. the altar of incense. Compare 1Ki 6:22.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
shewbread (See Scofield “Exo 25:30”)
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
the altar: Exo 30:1-5, Exo 37:25-28, Exo 39:38, Exo 40:26, 2Ch 4:19
the table: Exo 25:23-30, Exo 37:10-16, Exo 39:36, Exo 40:22, Exo 40:23, Lev 24:5-9, 2Ch 4:8, Eze 40:39, Eze 40:42, Eze 41:22, Eze 44:16, Mal 1:12, 1Co 10:21
Reciprocal: Lev 24:6 – pure 1Ki 6:20 – the altar 2Ki 12:13 – bowls 2Ki 24:13 – which Solomon 2Ki 25:15 – and such things 1Ch 23:29 – for the showbread 1Ch 28:16 – tables of showbread 1Ch 28:17 – the bowls 1Ch 28:18 – the altar 2Ch 32:12 – one altar Ezr 8:28 – the vessels Job 28:1 – the silver
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ki 7:48. All the vessels that pertained to the house of the Lord Such as God, by the mouth of Moses, had commanded to be made for his house and service, and such as Moses had made for the tabernacle; only these for the temple were larger, richer, and more in number; according to the difference, as to size and splendour, between the temple and the tabernacle, and between Solomons vast riches and the poverty of Moses and the Israelites in the wilderness. The altar of gold That is, overlaid with gold. For it was made of cedar, as that of Moses was of shittim-wood, and it was only covered with gold, 1Ki 6:20. This was the altar of incense which stood in the holy place, and is mentioned 1Ch 28:18, as one of the holy things for which David left gold. And the table of show- bread Under which, by a synecdoche, are comprehended, both all the utensils belonging to it, and the other ten tables, which were made at the same time, 2Ch 4:7-8.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
7:48 And Solomon made all the vessels that [pertained] unto the house of the LORD: the {x} altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon the shewbread [was],
(x) This was done according to the form that the Lord prescribed to Moses in Exodus.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Furnishings inside the temple 7:48-50
As in the Mosaic tabernacle, the metals used expressed the glory of God. The closer to the ark, the throne of Yahweh, the more valuable was the metal used. Everything inside the temple was gold or gold plated, and outside the temple there was bronze. While the ordinary Israelite did not see the inside of the temple, he or she would have known of its glory. Perhaps this section (1Ki 7:48-50) is shorter than the former one (1Ki 7:13-47) because the majority of the people, who were not priests, did not see these furnishings.
"The candelabra were arranged down the length of the main sanctuary to give light on these tables (Exo 25:31-40)." [Note: Wiseman, p. 116.]