Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible

THE HOLY OF HOLIES WAS OVERLAID WITH PURE GOLD

"So Solomon built the house and finished it. And he built the walls of the house within of cedar: from the floor of the house unto the walls of the ceiling: he covered them on the inside with wood; and he covered the floor of the house with boards of fir. And he built twenty cubits on the hinder part of the house with boards of cedar from the floor unto the walls of the ceiling: he built it for them within, for an oracle, even for the most holy place. And the house, that is the temple, before the oracle was forty cubits long. And there was cedar on the house within, carved with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen. And he prepared an oracle in the midst of the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of Jehovah. And within the oracle there was a space of twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof,' and he overlaid it with pure gold: and he covered the altar with cedar. So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he drew chains of gold across before the oracle; and he overlaid it with gold. And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until all the house was finished: also the whole altar that belonged to the oracle he overlaid with gold."

It is clear that, in a general sense, Solomon built the temple somewhat after the pattern of the Tabernacle which God had given to Moses, although approximately doubling the dimensions of some portions of it. However, there is no statement here that Solomon followed any divine instructions whatever, either in the kinds of wood used, or in the lavish expenditure of incredible wealth in the use of pure gold to overlay the whole building.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

So Solomon built the house, and finished it. He went on with it until he had completed it, animated and encouraged by the promise of the divine Presence in it, provided a proper regard was had to the will and ways of God. Abarbinel thinks the above message was sent him in the midst of his work, to strengthen and caution him from a dependence on the continuance of the fabric, because of the strength of it; since its perpetuity depended on his, his successors', and the people's conduct and behaviour; wherefore conscious to himself of his own integrity, and hoping well of posterity, he was not discouraged, but proceeded in his undertaking until he had brought it to perfection.

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

(14) So Solomon built the house, and finished it.

Reader! it is a sweet thought this verse suggests, how happy as well as wise the soul who not only begins in Jesus, but ends in Jesus. Who makes him the Omega, as well as the Alpha, of his salvation. This is a wise master builder. Some shift the foundation of their faith, and as Paul says, begin in the spirit, but seek to be made perfect in the flesh. They begin, as it were, upon a free grace bottom, but soon stop short, and turn in to their own works. Reader! I would charge it upon you, and upon my own heart also; let Christ be all and in all; both the author and the finisher of faith. It is a precious thing to hold on and hold out to the end, and make Jesus what the Father hath made him, the whole of the covenant. Galatians 3:1-3.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

1 Kings 6:14 So Solomon built the house, and finished it.

Ver. 14. So Solomon built the house.] See 1 Kings 6:9.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

14.Solomon built the house, and finished it — This verse need not be understood as a resuming of the description broken off at 1 Kings 6:10, but rather as referring to the word of the Lord as told in 1 Kings 6:12-13. In accordance with that word of encouragement and promise, Solomon went on to build and finish the sacred edifice.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

A. M. 2993-3000. B.C. 1011-1004

9,38; Acts 7:47,48