Bible Commentaries
1 Kings 7

Verses 1-51

Chapter 7

But Solomon was building his own house for thirteen years, and he finished all of his house ( 1 Kings 7:1 ).

So it shows where his priorities began to turn. Seven years building the house of God, then turning around and for thirteen years building his own. But then it goes on and tells of the dimensions of the Solomon's house and the foundations of this costly, great stones; ten cubits, which would be fifteen feet, and eight cubits, which would be about twelve feet, so twelve to fifteen feet. And Hiram was furnishing all of these cedars and so forth as the contract read.

Now it tells of the building of the two brass pillars that they made at the entrance for the entrance of the temple. And one they call Jachin and the other Boaz. It means "he shall establish," Jachin, and Boaz it is, "in it is strength." Just what the purpose of these two brass pillars has led to a lot of conjecture, but we really don't know. He shall establish, and in it is strength. But of course, the masons make a lot out of the two brass pillars and out of Solomon's temple and its design and all. And many Christian mystics make a lot out of the two brass pillars. They were later carried to Babylon.

But then also a brass washing basin and twelve oxen, three facing towards the north, three towards the east, south and west. All of them facing outwards, and then this big brass swimming pool on top. Almost the size of a pool, as you read the dimensions it would hold about sixteen thousand gallons of water and this was for the priest to bathe. You remember outside the tabernacle there was the brass laver for the priest to bathe. Well, they really made an elaborate one here at the temple, setting on these oxen and so forth, and if you can get a some of the Bible type of handbooks have artist impressions of what it might have looked. I think a lot of times it helps to see the thing done artistically. The twelve oxen and this big brass laver on top, thick brass, and then all of the lavers and so forth that they made for inside work, for the candles, candle snuffers and all were all made out of gold. Everything that would apply to the altar on the outside was of brass. Brass is always a metal that is symbolic of judgment. So the cleansing in the brass laver, judgment, the necessity of cleansing.

The altar itself overlaid with brass, judgment. The animal having died and all of the instruments that had to do with the sacrifices and all were done with brass. But those that had to do with just the fellowship and worship with of God inside were of gold, symbolic of the heavenlies. And so we're entering now to the heavenlies, into the area of God, and that's done in gold. But the other instruments all of brass. And chapter seven deals with the various instruments and those that were made of brass, those that were made of gold. "