In the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the LORD’s house.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 1. Eightieth year. This chronology meets with the approbation of most people. See Usher. Calmet. 12. Some, however, find a difficulty in reconciling it with Acts 13:20, which seems to attribute 450 years to the government of the judges. Calmet.—Septuagint have 440; Josephus 592, though Ruffin neglects the 90 in his version; Petau 520; Severus 582; Clem. Alex. 566; Vossius 380; Cano 590; Serarius 680.—Houbigant would read 350 in the Acts. But Capellus would add 200 here, and so forth Bible.—Second of the sacred year, corresponding with our April. Syr. Chaldee styles it “of the splendour of flowers.” Menochius.—The Hurons, and other nations of America, call this “the moon of plants;” the Flemings, “the month for mowing,” Grasmaand. Our Saxon ancestors gave descriptive names to the months. See Verstegan. Bible.—At first, the Hebrews only described the months by their order; “first, second,” and so forth In Solomon’s time we begin to find other names, taken from the Phenicians, (Scalig.) Chaldees, (Grot.) or Egyptians. Hardouin, A. 2993.—After the captivity, at least, the Chaldee names were adopted; ( Bible.) 1. Nisan; 2. Jar; 3. Sivan; 4. Tammus; 5. Ab; 6. Elul; 7. Tisri; 8. Marshevan; 9. Casleu; 10. Thebet; 11. Schebet; 12. Adar; ( Calmet.) 13. Veadar, the intercalary month, when requisite, according to the lunar system, which was not perhaps yet adopted. Each of these months generally corresponded with two of ours; Nisan with the end of March and the beginning of April, and so forth Septuagint here take no notice of Zio, though they do, verse 37. Bible.—The temple was begun on Monday, May 21, A. 2992. Usher.—It was finished A. 3000, or in the following year, when it was solemnly dedicated. Button.