1 Kings 7:12, commentary and pictures

This verse belongs to the history of the undivided kingdom under Solomon, corresponding to 2 Chronicles 1 to 9, and it comes in chronological order as part of the building and furniture of the temple that leads to the dedication prayer and sacrifices and the divine answer to Solomon's prayer. It is wholly historical, belonging with 1 Kings 6 and 7 within the record of 1 Kings 3-21. It describes the great court round about as built with three rows of hewed stones and a row of cedar beams, both for the inner court of the house of the LORD and for the porch of the house.

The same construction is described as surrounding Solomon's own house, with three rows of dressed stone and a row of cedar beams matching the construction of the temple's inner court and porch, showing the scale and costly workmanship of Solomon's buildings, including his house and the temple at Jerusalem. It belongs to the description of Solomon's own house, which was built after he had finished the house of Jehovah, putting God's house before his own unlike the many who put self first, and to the details concerning the furnishings and vessels of the temple. Solomon's temple or sanctuary was a larger, permanent, magnificent enlargement built on the same plan as the tabernacle, with two holy places.

Its sacred vessels were of the same kinds but increased in size and number, its ministry was the same, and its courts, rooms, and plan formed part of a pattern of the heavenly temple. It stands in a sad record that is full of important lessons, showing the general downward moral tendency from the time of David with times of reviving. It shows that whenever the people sought God, God wrought for them and through them abundantly, and it shows the responsibility resting upon leaders, where faithful kings and priests molded the people and failing leaders caused the people to fail with them.