Key Verse Spotlight
1 Kings 7:48 - Meaning and Application
Understand how this verse speaks to what you're facing and how to apply it today
Translation: World English Bible — Catholic Edition
" Solomon made all the vessels that were in the LORD’s house: the golden altar and the table that the show bread was on, of gold; "
1 Kings 7:48
Verse in Context
Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:
46 The king cast them in the plain of the Jordan, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarethan.
47 Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because there were so many of them. The weight of the bronze could not be determined.
48 Solomon made all the vessels that were in the LORD’s house: the golden altar and the table that the show bread was on, of gold;
49 and the lamp stands, five on the right side and five on the left, in front of the inner sanctuary, of pure gold; and the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs, of gold;
50 the cups, the snuffers, the basins, the spoons, and the fire pans, of pure gold; and the hinges, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, of the temple, of gold.
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Here is, first, the making of the gold work for the temple. It seems this was done last, because with it the work of God’s house was completed. Everything inside was gold and newly made, except for the ark with its mercy seat and cherubim. The old items were either melted down or set aside: the golden altar, the table, the lampstand, and all their parts.
The altar of incense was still one, because Christ and his intercession are one. But Solomon made ten gold tables (2 Chronicles 4:8). Here, however, only the one table is mentioned on which the showbread lay (1 Kings 7:48). We may think that this table was larger than the others, and that the rest stood beside it like side tables. He also made ten gold lampstands (1 Kings 7:49), showing the much greater supply of spiritual food and heavenly light that the gospel gives us compared with what the law of Moses could provide.
Even the door hinges were made of gold (1 Kings 7:50), so that everything would be equally fine and would show Solomon’s generosity. Some think God’s temple was made this splendid to keep the people from idol worship, since no idol temple was so rich and beautiful. But the outcome showed how little that plan helped.
Second, the dedicated gifts were brought in, the things David had set apart to honor God (1 Kings 7:51). What was not used in building the temple or furnishing it was stored in the treasury for repairs, unexpected needs, and the steady cost of temple service. What parents have dedicated to God, their children should never take back or use for themselves. Instead, they should gladly devote what was meant for worship and charity, so that, along with their property, they may receive God’s blessing.
From This Chapter
1 Kings 7:1
"Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house."
1 Kings 7:2
"For he built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was one hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits, on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on the pillars."
1 Kings 7:3
"It was covered with cedar above over the forty-five beams that were on the pillars, fifteen in a row."
1 Kings 7:4
"There were beams in three rows, and window was facing window in three ranks."
1 Kings 7:5
"All the doors and posts were made square with beams; and window was facing window in three ranks."
1 Kings 7:6
"He made the hall of pillars. Its length was fifty cubits and its width thirty cubits, with a porch before them, and pillars and a threshold before them."
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