1 Kings 6:38

In the eleventh year,.... That is, of the reign of Solomon: in the month Bul, [which is] the eighth month; from the month Abib or Nisan; this month answers to part of our October, and part of

Seven years complete, and six months, as appears by computation. But smaller sums are usually neglected, and swallowed up in the greater, both in Scripture, as , and in other authors. It is not strange that this work took up so much time; for, 1. The temple properly so called was for quantity the least part of it, there being very many and great buildings both above ground in the several courts, (for though only the court of the priests be mentioned, yet it is thereby implied that the same thing was proportionably done in the others,) and under ground. 2. The great curiosity of art which was used here, and the fewness of exquisite artists, required the longer time for the doing of it. And if the building of Diana’ s temple did employ all Asia for two hundred years, and the building of one pyramid employed three hundred and sixty thousand men for twenty years together, both which Pliny affirms; no reasonable man can wonder that this temple was seven years in building.

1 Kings 6:38 And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which [is] the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.Ver. 38. In the month Bul.] Which hath its name either from fading, because then the leaves fall; or from the store of rain that then falleth. Bul quasi Mabbul, that is, a deluge. It answereth to our November. So was he seven years.] Seven years and six months: and, everything reckoned, he made very good despatch of so great a work. He was much longer about building his own house, because less diligent and expeditious.

(38) Bul (the month of “rain”) to about November. The whole time occupied was, therefore, seven years and a half.

Verse 38. In the eleventh year - was the house finished] It is rather strange that this house required seven years and about six months to put all the stones and the timbers in their places, for we have already seen that they were all prepared before they came to Jerusalem; but the ornamenting, gilding, or overlaying with gold, making the carved work, cherubim, trees, flowers, c., must have consumed a considerable time. The month Bul answers to a part of our October and November, as Zif, in which it was begun, answers to a part of April and May. The dedication did not take place till the following year, the twelfth of Solomon, because then, according to Archbishop Usher, the jubilee happened. So was he seven years in building it.] Properly seven years and six months but the Scripture generally expresses things in round numbers. DIANA'S temple at Ephesus was one of the seven wonders of the world. It is said that almost all Asia was employed in the building of it for about two hundred years; but it was certainly more extensive than the temple at Jerusalem, for it may be justly questioned, notwithstanding the profusion of gold, silver, precious stones, c., employed in the temple of Solomon, whether it cost any thing like the money expended on the temple of Diana. Pliny informs us, Hist. Nat., lib. xxxvi., cap. 12, that, in order to build one of the pyramids in Egypt, no less than three hundred and sixty thousand men were employed for the space of twenty years. But neither was the temple any such work as this. We may also observe that the temple was never intended to hold a vast concourse of people it was only for the service of the Lord, and the priests were those alone who were employed in it. The courts, chambers, and other apartments, were far more extensive than the temple itself; it was never designed to be a place to worship in, but a place to worship at. There God was known to have a peculiar residence, and before him the tribes came, and the priests were a sort of mediators between him and the people. In short, the temple was to the Jews in the promised land what the tabernacle was to the Hebrews in the wilderness; the place where God's honour dwelt, and whither the people flocked to pay their adoration. "Solomon laid the foundation of the temple in the year of the world 2992, before Christ 1008, before the vulgar era, 1012; and it was finished in the year of the world 3000, and dedicated in 3001, before Christ 999, before the vulgar era 1003; 1Kg 8:1 c. 2 Chronicles 5:1; 2 Chronicles 7:1; 2 Chronicles 8:1 c. The place that was pitched on for erecting this magnificent structure was on the side of Mount Sion called Moriah. Its entrance or frontispiece stood towards the east, and the most holy or most retired part was towards the west.

38. in the month Bul] This month is only mentioned here. The name is derived from the same root as mabbul = the deluge, and intimates that the character of the month was rainy. The later name of the month was Marchesvan. It was between the new moon of November and December, and this being the eighth month, while Zif was the second, it is seen that the exact time occupied by the building of the Temple was seven years and a half. Probably the preparation of wood and stone in Lebanon is not included in this time, but was made during the four years of Solomon’s reign which preceded the building.

Seven years - More exactly, “seven years and six months,” since Zif was the second, and Bul the eighth month. 1 Kings 6:1.

38. The month Bul — According to Furst and Gesenius, the word Bul means rain; according to others, fruit, produce. Hence the rain-month, or fruit-month, corresponding with November.