9And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold. 10And in the most holy house he made two cherubim of image work; and they overlaid them with gold. 11And the wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits long: the wing of the one cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house; and the other wing was likewise five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub. 12And the wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was five cubits also, joining to the wing of the other cherub. 13The wings of these cherubim spread themselves forth twenty cubits: and they stood on their feet, and their faces were [1]toward the house. 14And he made the veil of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubim thereon. 15Also he made before the
10—13 (cp. 1 Kin. vi. 23—28). The Cherubim.
10. of image work; and they overlaid] The phrase "of image work" is meaningless. Following the LXX. ἔργον ἐκ ξύλων καὶ ἐχρύσωσεν, render woodwork, and he overlaid.
13. twenty cubits] Extending across the width of the whole house.
on their feet] Not "couchant" nor "rampant" but standing, as the winged bulls of Assyria stand.
toward the house] as though to protect the Holiest Place from violation by anyone advancing through the house.
14 (cp. Ex. xxvi. 31, 32). The Veil.
No veil for Solomon's Temple is mentioned in 1 Kings, but (1 Kin. vi. 31, 32) doors of olive wood with cherubim carved upon them stood at the entrance of the Holy of Holies. The description of the veil seems to have been borrowed by the Chronicler from the account of the tabernacle given in Exodus.
5—17 (cp. 1 Kin. vii. 15—22). The Pillars Jachin and Boaz.
15. before the house two pillars] Cp. 1 Kin. vii. 21, he set up the pillars at the porch of the temple, and Jer. lii. 17 (translate, the pillars . . . that belonged to the house). These pillars were immediately in front of the porch, but (it seems) detached from it. They were cast in brass (iv. 11—17), were hollow (Jer. lii. 21), and were crowned with "chapiters" (capitals) in shape like bowls (1 Kin. vii. 41). A pair of lofty frontal pillars, detached from the main building, was a no
- ↑ Or, inward
