20. the oracle] See note on iii. 16.
²¹and the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, of gold, and that perfect gold;
21. the flowers] These were ornaments on the golden candlesticks; compare Exodus xxxvii. 19.
²²and the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and the firepans, of pure gold: and as for the entry of the house, the inner doors thereof for the most holy place, and the doors of the house, to wit, of the temple, were of gold.
22. the firepans] in which fire was carried to and from the altar.
the doors of the house, to wit, of the temple] The “[greater] house” or “temple” is here distinguished from the “most holy place” or “shrine.” Compare iii. 5, 8.
were of gold] According to the more probable reading of 1 Kings vii. 50 the hinges were of gold; the doors themselves were of olive wood overlaid with gold (1 Kings vi. 31, 32).
¹Thus all the work that Solomon wrought for the house of the Lord was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated; even the silver, and the gold, and all the vessels, and put them in the treasuries of the house of God.
Chapter V. 1. all the vessels] the word may be taken to include weapons, spoils of war, compare 2 Samuel viii. 7 ff.; 1 Chronicles xviii. 11.