And he built the house of the forest of Lebanon; its length was a hundred cubits, and its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar-pillars, with cedar-beams upon the pillars;
After the temple, the account turns to Solomon's own palace. The first building is a hall named after a mountain forest, and its cedar and pillars raise one question: what was it for?
The name raises a question about where this building actually stood.
Morrish Bible DictionaryThe context shows that these passages do not refer to the forest at Lebanon. Rather, Solomon had a house in Jerusalem built from the trees of Lebanon, and he called it "the house of the forest of Lebanon."
The name may also describe what the building looked like from the inside, and what it stood for.
H. L. RossierThe name reminds us of how it was built, and perhaps of how it looked as well. Solomon built it of cedar wood. Inside and outside it had cedar columns. Set in long rows, they may have made the house look like a grand forest. On the other hand, we can see in this name a beautiful image of this glorious reign. Lebanon faced Tyre and even belonged to it. So there was a link between this house and the nations that had submitted to the great king.
It helps to know what kind of tree this was.
Morrish Bible DictionaryThis is the beautiful tall tree that Solomon used widely in building the temple and his palaces. Its name "cedar" comes from the firmness of its roots. Its wood lasts a long time and has a sweet smell. People used it for beams, pillars and masts, and for carved images.
One thing this house lacked sets it apart from the temple.
Leslie M. GrantSolomon did not overlay this building with gold, for gold speaks of the nature of God, and the house of the forest of Lebanon speaks of the government of God. So cedar wood stands out here (vs.2-3), because cedar is a lasting wood. This tells us that the government of the Lord Jesus will be stable and lasting through the whole 1000 years. This house had many pillars, though only 2 stand at the entrance of the temple.
The measurements given here outstrip the house Solomon had just built for God.
W. W. FeredayNext to the Temple, Solomon's most important building was the house of the forest of Lebanon. Solomon set it up in Jerusalem, but he built it with materials brought down from Lebanon. This house was much larger than the Temple. The Temple was 60 cubits long and 20 cubits wide. The house of the forest of Lebanon was 100 cubits long and 50 cubits wide. Both were 30 cubits high. In this great building Solomon kept his 300 shields of beaten gold, and every vessel in it was of pure gold, none of silver, for silver counted for nothing in the days of Solomon (1 Kings 10:17-21).
The four rows of pillars framed a line of sight that ended at a person.
H. L. RossierYour eye passed through the forest of cedar pillars in the central part to the second porch. At its far end rose a throne of gold and ivory, beautifully made. On that throne you could gaze at the glorious king, peaceable Solomon, the Lord's beloved Jedidiah, whose wisdom no one ever surpassed — the righteous king doing righteousness.
The building's function followed from that throne.
H. L. RossierThis porch of the throne was the "porch of judgment." That was the seat of government for the nations, the place where righteousness was upheld. The house of the forest of Lebanon linked the government of Israel itself with that of the nations.
The building points ahead to a reign still to come.
Arno Clemens GaebeleinHere we have a picture, given in advance, of the glorious rule of the kingdom, when our Lord judges in righteousness. The house of the forest of Lebanon is a picture of His glory among the nations… Everything in the temple and in the palace buildings was glorious, and it revealed the immense riches of the great king. What a day it will be when Christ displays His riches and glory, and the saints of God share it all!
One more difference from the temple points the same way:
Leslie M. GrantThis building had windows (vs.4-5), though the temple did not. Government looks out to consider the welfare of the people. In the temple everything speaks of God's glory, with no outward view at all.
- Name. The house stood in Jerusalem, not in Lebanon. The forest came to the city as cedar carried down from the mountain.
- Material. Cedar has firm roots, lasting wood and a sweet smell. This house has cedar, not gold: gold speaks of God's nature, and this building speaks of His government.
- Scale. At 100 by 50 cubits it was larger than the temple's 60 by 20, though the two matched in height.
- Throne. The rows of cedar pillars opened a view straight to the porch of judgment, where the righteous king sat and judged.
- Reach. Facing Tyre and the nations, this house tied Israel's government to theirs. It pictures the day when Christ shows His glory among the nations, and His own share it with Him.
and it was covered with cedar above upon the side-chambers, which were on forty-five pillars, fifteen in a row.
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And there were cross-beams in three rows, and window was against window in three ranks.
Commentary for this verse has not been generated yet.
And all the doors and posts were square, with an architrave; and window was against window in three ranks.
Commentary for this verse has not been generated yet.