17 At the king's command they removed from the quarry large blocks of high-grade stone to provide a foundation of dressed stone for the temple.
17 And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.
17 At the king's command they quarried out great, costly stones in order to lay the foundation of the house with dressed stones.
17 Following the king's orders, they quarried huge blocks of the best stone - dressed stone for the foundation of The Temple.
17 And the king commanded them to quarry large stones, costly stones, and hewn stones, to lay the foundation of the temple.
17 At the king's command, they quarried large blocks of high-quality stone and shaped them to make the foundation of the Temple.
9 All these structures, from the outside to the great courtyard and from foundation to eaves, were made of blocks of high-grade stone cut to size and smoothed on their inner and outer faces.
9 All these were of costly stones, according to the measures of hewed stones, sawed with saws, within and without, even from the foundation unto the coping, and so on the outside toward the great court.
9 All these were made of costly stones, cut according to measure, sawed with saws, back and front, even from the foundation to the coping, and from the outside to the great court.
9 No expense was spared - everything here, inside and out, from foundation to roof was constructed using high-quality stone, accurately cut and shaped and polished.
9 All these were of costly stones cut to size, trimmed with saws, inside and out, from the foundation to the eaves, and also on the outside to the great court.
9 From foundation to eaves, all these buildings were built from huge blocks of high-quality stone, cut with saws and trimmed to exact measure on all sides.
(Read 1 Kings 7:1-12)
All Solomon's buildings, though beautiful, were intended for use. Solomon began with the temple; he built for God first, and then his other buildings. The surest foundations of lasting prosperity are laid in early piety. He was thirteen years building his house, yet he built the temple in little more than seven years; not that he was more exact, but less eager in building his own house, than in building God's. We ought to prefer God's honour before our own ease and satisfaction.
6 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone-
6 Whereupon are the foundations
6 On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone,
6 How was its foundation poured, and who set the cornerstone,
6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,
6 What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone
(Read Job 38:4-11)
For the humbling of Job, God here shows him his ignorance, even concerning the earth and the sea. As we cannot find fault with God's work, so we need not fear concerning it. The works of his providence, as well as the work of creation, never can be broken; and the work of redemption is no less firm, of which Christ himself is both the Foundation and the Corner-stone. The church stands as firm as the earth.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Kings 5:17
Commentary on 1 Kings 5:10-18
(Read 1 Kings 5:10-18)
The temple was chiefly built by the riches and labour of Gentiles, which typified their being called into the church. Solomon commanded, and they brought costly stones for the foundation. Christ, who is laid for a Foundation, is a chosen and precious Stone. We should lay our foundation firm, and bestow most pains on that part of our religion which lies out of the sight of men. And happy those who, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, for a habitation of God through the Spirit. Who among us will build in the house of the Lord?