1 Kings 6:22

“And the whole house he overlaid with gold, etc.] Both the holy place, and the most holy place: until he had finished all the house; in this splendid and glorious manner: also the whole altar that [was] by the oracle; the altar of incense, which stood just before the entrance into the oracle, or most holy place: he overlaid with gold; he overlaid it all over with gold; hence it is called the golden altar, and was an emblem of the excellent and effectual mediation and intercession of Christ, (<660803>Revelation 8:3,4). Agreeably to this account Eupolemus, an Heathen writer f104 testifies, that the whole house, from the floor to the tool, was covered with gold, as well as with cedar and cypress…”

“The lavish use of the precious metals in ornamentation was a special feature if early Oriental architecture. Recent researches have given reason to believe that two stages of the great temple at Borsippa - now known as the Bits Nimrud - had respectively a gold and a silver coating. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Whole house - Not only the oracle, but all the holy place. The altar - the altar of incense, which was set in the holy place close by the doors of the oracle. With gold - As before he overlaid it with cedar. 3 Kings (1 Kings) 6:23”

“the whole house: It is impossible to calculate this expense, or the quantity of gold employed in this sacred building; but both must have been immense. also: Kg1 6:20; Exo 30:1, Exo 30:3, Exo 30:5, Exo 30:6; Ch2 3:7-14 the whole altar: This was the altar of incense without the vail, in the holy place, which was twice the length of the most holy place. 3 Kings (1 Kings) 6:23”