And all king Solomon's drinking vessels [were of] gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon [were of] pure gold; none [were of] silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.
Ver. 21. And all king Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold.] This was both for state and wholesomeness, if that be true which is reported, viz., that if poison be put into a cup of pure gold it hisseth, and so discovereth itself to be poison. Of Prester John, the lord of Africa, it is reported, that as for his scutcheon of arms (guard) he hath a lion standing, and holding in his paw a cross lifted up: so in his greatest solemnities, he causeth to be carried before him a golden cup filled within with dirt, and without also bedaubed therewith, yet so as that the gold appeareth; near unto this cup is carried a rich crucifix: and all to set forth the condition of man, who did once and should still shine as gold, but it is both within and without polluted with sin, till restored by Christ crucified, &c. a It is fore-prophesied by Zechariah, that in the days of the gospel every pot and bowl in Jerusalem shall be "holiness to the Lord." Zec 14:20-21 This is "better than gold, yea, than fine gold."
It was nothing accounted of.] It was well accounted of, 1 Kings 10:22 ; 1Ki 10:25 but nothing so much as in other lands, and as now-a-days amongst us: where money beareth the mastery, and few such Medes are to be found as regard not silver, and as for gold they delight not in it. Isa 13:17
a Selneccer., Paedagog. Christian., pars ii. p. 118.