The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 141

But the importance of these monuments (which is also attested (1) by their position-in the very forefront of the temple-the first objects that would strike the eye of the beholder-and (2) by their isolation-they were apparently unconnected with the edifice and served a purpose of their own) is not due to what they were in themselves. No doubt they were regarded in that age as wonderful works of art. Probably they were the largest castings either accomplished or attempted up to that date. And from the minute details of their capitals, the chequer-work, chain-work, net-work, lily-work-details evidently recorded with some degree of pride and wonderment on the part of the historian-we may reasonably infer that there " were not the like made in any kingdom" {eh. x. 20), But it is not because of this that so much prominence is accorded to them in Scripture ; it is because of their con- nexion with the temple. Their glory is reflected on them from the sanctuary. They are mentioned "because of the house of the Lord our God," of which they were the handmaids and ornaments. We are led, therefore, to inquire- r. WHAT MEANING THEY HAD FOR THE JEW \l II. WHAT LESSONS THEY HAVE FOB OURSELVES \l I. But in order to arrive at their meaning, we must first consider their pwrpose. We have seen that they were not structural, but monumental (note on ver. 21); in fact they served instead of an inscription upon the building. The Western world, with its love of the concrete, often ste.mps its great edifices with appropriate legends, But the children of the East have ever prefened the mystical teaching of symbolism, For them there bas always been a charm in "the view of things half seen." And so the Jewish temple bore no letters on its front, but its representative pillars stood forth, embodiments in themselves of the ideas of the building, and silently pro- claimed its object and character. And this is the teaching they had for the wise- 1. That the temple was strong a,nd, firm a,nd, lasting. Their very materials proclaimed this. They were not of perishing wood or stone, but of enduring bronze. Then, they were of unusual girth in proportion to their height, for whereas the shaft was 12 cubits in circumference, it was but 18 cubits high (J er. Iii. 21). The first impression they gave, consequently, would be that of strength, of fixity, and 110 they spoke, by their very character as well as by their no.mes, of the stability of the house. It was no longer a tent ~f. Isa. xxxviii. 12), it was a house of cedar (2 Sam. vii. 2), it was a rcrijl'a ir; ael. The two columns, that is to say, served instead of these two inscriptions, "I have swrelAJ built thee a house to diwell in, a settled, place for thee to abide in for ever" (eh. viii. 13), and'' Thu is my rest for ever, hore will I dwell, for I have desired it" (Paa. cxxxii. 14). 2. That its strength and, stability were in God,. Of course this is an idea which symbolism could only express imperfectly. And yet it may be (as some have thought) that the brazen pillars would recall to some minds the pillar of cloud, the token of God's presence. And if we may see in the steeple a " silent finger pointing to the sky," then surely those erect columns may have carried men's thoughts upwards to the throne of God. But if not, the names, Jachin, Boaz, at any rate, witnessed for Him and proclaimed Him to all as the hope und stay of the new sanctuary. It was, therefore, as if in the place of pillars these superscriptions also had been conspicuous on the temple: for Jachin-" God, is in the midst of ker; she shall not be removed,;" and for Boaz-" Except the Lord, build, the house, they labowr in vain that build, it '' (Psa. cxxvii. 1. Note. This psalm is ascribed to Solomon. And these words were inscribed on the late Eddystone lighthouse). 8 .. That it was the Bhrine of a holy God,. The two columns, standing as sentinels over the house, confronted all who came into its courts with the idea of consecration. We have seen that oolumn and ohapiter together bore a rough resemblance to a lily-the column the stalk, the obapiter the flower. Now the lily is the emblem of pwity (see on oh. vii. 19). The " illy-work in the porch" proolaimed the house as belonging to the All-Holy One of Israel. The oolumns, therefore, in their esoteric symbolio language, spoke to the same effeot as if these words had been blazoned on the temple's front (as on the high priest's mitre) : '' Holiness imto the Lord" (Exod. xxviii. 86; xxxix. 30), or these, "I the Lcrd your God 11,m holy" (Levit. xix. 2; xxi. 8). 138 THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. [CH. VII, J-51.