1 Kings 5:17, commentary and pictures

The king gave command, and great stones, costly stones, hewed stones were brought to lay the foundation of the house, which is the temple. The foundations to be laid with those stones were broad, made as the site was prepared and the temple was built. The stones were shaped and squared and polished and fitted beforehand at the quarry, so that when brought to the building site they could be set in their prepared place exactly without further cutting or polishing.

That exact fit did not come by miracle but by accurate, skillful labor from workmen who felt the greatness of the work. The hewing and preparing of the stones and timber was done by the builders of Solomon and the builders of Hiram with the stonesquarers, under God-given wisdom to Solomon and a league of peace. That gathering of material was supported by a levy of thirty thousand men sent to Lebanon in courses of ten thousand a month under Adoniram, with seventy thousand burden-bearers and eighty thousand hewers in the mountains and three thousand three hundred officers over the work. Cedar and fir were supplied by Hiram and paid for yearly with twenty thousand measures of wheat and twenty measures of pure oil.

The work was done in peaceful, harmonious action under acknowledged heads and master workmen, with all consenting to obey and with no strikes, rebellion, or dissatisfaction while God controlled even the elements, even though some of the leaders were not of Israel or of its religion. The verse means God's house is to be built by united, obedient, careful work. It calls every man, woman, parent, child, old and young to arise and build with deep heart interest, with gifts and donations, valuing God's house above personal houses and school chapels and not letting lack of means hold them back, for the good of the builders and the glory of God.

Those who held the heavier witness saw wisdom and peace in this united labor, while others taught that the verse also shows Solomon going to other nations for workmen to bring the stones, and that act was a departure from right ways and an idolatrous connection with the world that greatly displeased God. In that teaching, Solomon violated the condition on which God had promised to bless him if he would follow right ways. As Solomon was blessed while he kept separate from the world, so God's people will be blessed while they remain a distinct people.