Two pillars of thirty and five cubits— See 1 Kings 7:15.
REFLECTIONS.—1st, The account of the building of the temple, we had, 1 Kings 6 more at large. Three years were taken up in needful preparations; on the fourth, Solomon laid the foundation. The dimensions exactly corresponded with the pattern given him by David, 1 Chronicles 28:2. The porch led into the greater house, or the holy place; and that into the holiest of all, within the vail. The whole was covered throughout, on the inside, with plates of gold, with golden chains, and palm-trees embossed; the very nails were fine gold, each of fifty shekels weight, or perhaps of that value. In the gold, the precious stones were set, glittering by the light of the lamps with inconceivable lustre; yet how poor all this, great and glorious as it was, compared with that heavenly temple, where every faithful believer consecrated to God is not only for a time to minister, but for eternity to dwell! See Revelation 21:18-19; Revelation 21:21.
2nd, The cherubims represented the angels, bending in adoration towards the mercy-seat, to teach us, that what is their work should be ours. A vail separated the most holy place: that dispensation was dark; but the vail is done away in Christ, and the mercy-seat open to every believing sinner. On this vail cherubims were wrought, or caused to ascend, either raised work, or in an ascending posture, as if mounting to heaven, whither in our devotions our hearts should soar. The two pillars were at the entrance; see 1 Kings 7:15. Every true believer is like these, firm and immoveable against all enemies; and adorned with divine graces more precious than wrought gold.