1 Kings 7:22 And on the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished. The lily referred to as adorning the capitals of Solomon's temple pillars was the lotus or water-lily. Graceful in form and delicately beautiful in colour, serenely floating on the surface of the rising Nile, the sacred Ganges, and inland lakes of the old world, apparently anchored to the soft yet rising and falling with the flood, and opening its peerlessly fair petals to the sun, the mystic ship-flower of the waters naturally found a place in the ornamental symbolism of every temple-building race. To the Egyptians it was a token of blessing because it appeared with the annual overflow of the Nile, a type of immortality, of the creation of the world, of the Deluge and the Ark, and other sacred mysteries. It adorned and finished the capitals of Jachin and Boaz in Jehovah's temple at Jerusalem. It was an emblem of purity. Over the gateway of the temple of Phocis was written, "Let no one enter here whose hands are unclean." David says, "I will wash my hands in innocency: so will I compass Thine altar, O Jehovah." Purity of heart and life was the lesson of the lily work over the pillars of God s house in Solomon's day, as it is in ours. (W. Balgarnie.) Parallel Verses KJV: And upon the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished.WEB: On the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished. |
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