1 Kings 7:18
And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the chapiters that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter. And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the chapiters that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter.
1 Kings 7:18 falls within the account of Solomon's reign, the period of the undivided kingdom described in 1 Kings 1-11. That history gives the same events as 2 Chronicles 1-9 and stands here in chronological order. Within that history the verse concerns the building and furniture of the temple.
It belongs to the account of the building of Solomon's sanctuary. It stands in the latter part of the chapter giving details concerning the furnishings and vessels of the temple, following the description of Solomon's own house built after he had finished the house of Jehovah. The temple was an enlarged version of the tabernacle plan and a permanent rather than temporary building. Its vessels were also increased in size and number.
It was a larger, permanent building constructed on the same plan as the tabernacle, with two holy places, sacred vessels, and the same ministry. It served the same purpose as the tabernacle. Its two-part design was a pattern of the heavenly temple, which likewise has two holy places.
The pomegranates were used as decorative adornments on the chapiters, upon the pillars with their networks. Their presence in the temple did not mean they were to be worshiped. The skill to fashion the pillars, networks, chapiters, and pomegranates came from special wisdom the Lord gave to the builders of the temple. All such power of invention is God-given for the benefit of the masses and for the furtherance of His cause.