IT came to passe] 2 Chron. 3. 1. four hundred and fourscore] Fourty in the wildernesse, Numbers 14:33. Seventeen under Joshua: Fourty under Othniel, Judg. 3. 11. Fourscore under Ehud and Shamgar, Judg. 3. 30. Fourty under Deborah, Judg. 5. 31. Fourty under Gideon, Judg. 8. 28. Three under Abimelech, Judg. 9. 22. Three and twenty under Tola, two and twenty under Jair, Judg. 10. 2, 3. Six under Jephthah, seven under Ibzan, ten under Elon, eight under Abdon, Judg. 12. 7, 9, 11, 14. Twenty under Samson, Judg. 15. 20. Fourty under Eli, 1 Samuel 4. 18. Fourty under Samuel and Saul, Acts 13:21. Fourty under David, 2 Samuel 5:4. Four under Solomon. Egypt] Then the Israelites began to be a free people, and a nation of themselves; therefore the computation of times in that state began from thence. fourth] In the former yeers of his reign he prepared and fitted all manner of materialls for the work. Zif] They began the yeer about the spring equinoctiall: Their first moneth was Abib, Exodus 12:2. and Exodus 13:4. their second, Zif; their seventh, Ethanim, Chap. 8. 2. their eighth, Bul, v. 38. their ninth, Chisleu (Zechariah 7:1. Nehemiah 1:1.) their eleventh, Sebat, Zechariah 1:7. Other Hebrew names of moneths we find none in sacred Scripture; but numerall distinctions, as, the first, second, third, &c. We finde also sundry Persian names of moneths, in those books which were written after their captivity. The Hebrew names import thus much: Abib, the spring: Zif, brightnesse; then are plants in their chiefest splendour: Ethanim, ripenesse, or strength; then they are at their full ripenesse and strength: Bul, fading; then is the fall of leaves: Chisleu, variable, or tempestuous; so is the weather in that moneth: Chesil is also put for Orion (Job 9:9. and Job 38:31. Amos 5:8.) a star, which, rising in this moneth, causeth great tempests: Sebat, a drie stick, or staff; for in this moneth are trees very drie. second] For in the first moneth the passeover was celebrated, Exodus 12:3. in the very beginning of this moneth, even the second day, he set upon this great work, 2 Chronicles 2:2. began] Heb. built; Laid the foundation, v. 37. Of the place where this house was built, see 2 Chronicles 3:1.