Furnishings of The Temple
November 11, 2022
Commentary
We now move from a description of Solomon’s palace to a description of the temple and its’ furnishings. Bronze was used for the furnishing on the outside but the furniture on the inside was made of gold. The description of the bronze work of the temple makes it apparent that great quantities of this metal were used. Archaeologists have discovered several mines dating back to this period in the Jordan Valley about 35 miles north of the Dead Sea and east of the Jordan River. The smelting was carried out by making use of the strong winds blowing in that area. Droughts were built that led into the furnaces and research shows that the refining process was done in a highly technical manner.
We find two different Hiram’s in the history of Solomon. The first was the King of Tyre mentioned in 5:1. The second is the one we read about in these verses. He was a skilled craftsman who had a special talent in working with the bronze (a copper alloy) furnishings of the temple.
As mentioned above, the furnishings inside the temple were made of gold. The golden altar, the table of show bread, the 10 lampstands, and various pieces of furniture were all made of gold. Even the door sockets were gold. Added to this were the furnishings King David had prepared and dedicated for temple service (II Sam. 8:11; I Chron. 29:1-9).
Application
Hiram’s items of bronze would look strange in our churches today. At the same time, stained glass window, crosses, or a communion table from our churches would have looked strange in the temple. We need to keep in mind the items of worship may change, but the purpose of our worship should never change, but always give honor and praise to God.
1 Kings 7:27– 51 (NET)
27 He also made ten bronze movable stands. Each stand was 6 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 4½ feet high. 28 The stands were constructed with frames between the joints. 29 On these frames and joints were ornamental lions, bulls, and cherubim. Under the lions and bulls were decorative wreaths. 30 Each stand had four bronze wheels with bronze axles and four supports. Under the basin the supports were fashioned on each side with wreaths. 31 Inside the stand was a round opening that was 18 inches deep; it had a support that was 27 inches long. On the edge of the opening were carvings in square frames. 32 The four wheels were under the frames, and the crossbars of the axles were connected to the stand. Each wheel was 27 inches high. 33 The wheels were constructed like chariot wheels; their crossbars, rims, spokes, and hubs were made of cast metal. 34 Each stand had four supports, one per side projecting out from the stand. 35 On top of each stand was a round opening three-quarters of a foot deep; there were also supports and frames on top of the stands. 36 He engraved ornamental cherubim, lions, and palm trees on the plates of the supports and frames wherever there was room, with wreaths all around. 37 He made the ten stands in this way. All of them were cast in one mold and were identical in measurements and shape.
38 He also made ten bronze basins, each of which could hold about 240 gallons. Each basin was 6 feet in diameter; there was one basin for each stand. 39 He put five basins on the south side of the temple and five on the north side. He put “The Sea” on the south side, in the southeast corner.
40 Hiram also made basins, shovels, and bowls. He finished all the work on the Lord’s temple he had been assigned by King Solomon. 41 He made the two pillars, the two bowl-shaped tops of the pillars, the latticework for the bowl-shaped tops of the two pillars, 42 the 400 pomegranate-shaped ornaments for the latticework of the two pillars (each latticework had two rows of these ornaments at the bowl-shaped top of the pillar), 43 the ten movable stands with their ten basins, 44 the big bronze basin called “The Sea” with its twelve bulls underneath, 45 and the pots, shovels, and bowls. All these items King Solomon assigned Hiram to make for the Lord’s temple were made from polished bronze. 46 The king had them cast in earth foundries in the region of the Jordan between Sukkoth and Zarethan. 47 Solomon left all these items unweighed; there were so many of them they did not weigh the bronze.
48 Solomon also made all these items for the Lord’s temple: the gold altar, the gold table on which was kept the Bread of the Presence, 49 the pure gold lampstands at the entrance to the inner sanctuary (five on the right and five on the left), the gold flower-shaped ornaments, lamps, and tongs, 50 the pure gold bowls, trimming shears, basins, pans, and censers, and the gold door sockets for the inner sanctuary (the Most Holy Place) and for the doors of the main hall of the temple. 51 When King Solomon finished constructing the Lord’s temple, he put the holy items that belonged to his father David (the silver, gold, and other articles) in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple.