1Ki 7:15-47, 1Ch 22:14, 2Ch 4:2-6, 12-18, Jer 52:17-23 | TSK | STEP | cast. Heb. fashioned. two pillars. eighteen cubits.That is, nearly thirty feet, English measure. But in the parallel place in Chronicles, these pillars are said to thirty-five cubits high. Tremellius reconciles this difference by observing, that the common cubit was but one-half of the cubit of the sanctuary; so that eighteen of the one would make thirty-six of the other; from which, if we deduct one cubit for the base, there will remain thirty-five. Notwithstanding the names of these pillars, they seem to have supported no part of the building, and appear to have been formed for ornament; and were no doubt also emblematical. The right pillar was called {Jachin,} which signifies, "He will establish;" while that on the left was named {Boaz,} "In it is strength." Some think they were intended for memorials of the pillars and cloud of fire, which led Israel through the wilderness; but Henry supposes them designed for memorandums to the priests and others that came to worship at God's door. 1st. To depend upon God only, and not upon any sufficiency of their own, for strength and establishment in all their religious exercises. 2nd. It was a memorandum to them of the strength and establishment of the temple of God among them. When the temple was destroyed, particular notice is taken of the breaking up and carrying away of these brazen pillars, 2 Ki 25:13, 17, which had been the tokens of its establishment, and would have been still so, if they had not forsaken God.

1 Kings 7:15-47

cast. Heb. fashioned. two pillars.

21; 2Ki 25:16,17; 2Ch 3:15-17; 4:12-22; Jer 52:21-13

eighteen cubits.That is, nearly thirty feet, English measure. But in the parallel place in Chronicles, these pillars are said to thirty-five cubits high. Tremellius reconciles this difference by observing, that the common cubit was but one-half of the cubit of the sanctuary; so that eighteen of the one would make thirty-six of the other; from which, if we deduct one cubit for the base, there will remain thirty-five. Notwithstanding the names of these pillars, they seem to have supported no part of the building, and appear to have been formed for ornament; and were no doubt also emblematical. The right pillar was called {Jachin,} which signifies, "He will establish;" while that on the left was named {Boaz,} "In it is strength." Some think they were intended for memorials of the pillars and cloud of fire, which led Israel through the wilderness; but Henry supposes them designed for memorandums to the priests and others that came to worship at God's door. 1st. To depend upon God only, and not upon any sufficiency of their own, for strength and establishment in all their religious exercises. 2nd. It was a memorandum to them of the strength and establishment of the temple of God among them. When the temple was destroyed, particular notice is taken of the breaking up and carrying away of these brazen pillars, 2 Ki 25:13, 17, which had been the tokens of its establishment, and would have been still so, if they had not forsaken God.

Ex 36:38; 38:17,19,28; 2Ch 4:12,13

Ex 28:14,22,24,25; 39:15-18; 2Ki 25:17

lily work.

22; 6:18,32-35

and the pomegranates.

2Ki 25:17; 2Ch 3:16; 4:13; Jer 52:22,23

And he set.

2Ch 3:17; Ga 2:9; Re 3:12

the porch.

12; 6:3; Eze 40:48,49

Jachin.

2Sa 7:12; Isa 9:7

Boaz.

Ru 4:21; Isa 45:24; Mt 16:18

he made.

Ex 30:18-21; 38:8

a molten sea.

2Ki 25:13; 2Ch 4:2; Jer 52:17,20

the one brim to the other. Heb. his brim to his brim.

knops.

6:18; Ex 25:31-36; 37:17-22

compassing the sea.

2Ch 4:3

2Ch 4:4,5; Jer 52:20; Eze 1:10; Mt 28:19; Mr 16:15,16; Lu 24:47

1Co 9:9; Re 4:6,7

an hand breadth.

Jer 52:21

with flowers.

19; 6:18,32,35

it contained.This immense laver, called a sea from it magnitude, held, at a moderate computation, 16,000 gallons. Besides this great brazen laver, there were in the temple ten lavers of brass of a less size, which moved on wheels, and were ornamented with the figures of various animals, having, probably, always some relation to the cherubim. These lavers were to hold water for the use of the priests in their sacred office, particularly to wash the victims that were to be offered as a burnt offering, as we learn from 2 Ch 4:6; but the brazen sea was for the priests to wash in. The knops are supposed to have been in the form of an ox's head, (2 Ch 4:3;) and some think the water flowed out at their mouths.

two thousand.

38; 2Ch 4:5; Eze 45:14

ten bases.These highly ornamental bases appear to have been square stands, or immense pedestals, for the purpose of supporting the lavers.

2Ki 25:13,16; 2Ch 4:14; Jer 52:17,20

bases was on.It seems evident that these bases or pedestals rose with steps, and that the ornaments mentioned in the next verse appeared in front, forming so many entablatures. But the description of these bases is very difficult to comprehend: many of the original words are seldom, if at all, used elsewhere; and it would be impossible to give an explanation of each particular, without a labour and prolixity disproportioned to its importance to us.

lions.

25; 6:27; Eze 1:10; 10:14; 41:18,19; Ho 5:14; Re 4:6,7; 5:5

cherubims.

Ge 3:24; Ex 25:18; 37:7; Heb 9:5

certain additions.

1Pe 2:5

wheels.

Eze 1:15-21; 3:13; 10:10-13

had undersetters.It is probable that these undersetters were so many strong legs, somewhat shorter than the wheels, and were intended to prevent the laver from tilting, or falling, in case of any accident.

joined to the base. Heb. in the base.

Eze 1:16,18

graved cherubims.

29; 6:29,32,35; Eze 40:31,37; 41:18-20,25,26

proportion. Heb. nakedness.

ten lavers.

Ex 30:17-21,28; 38:8; 40:11,12; 2Ch 4:6-22; Zec 13:1; Heb 9:10

Heb 10:22; 1Jo 1:7; Re 7:14

side. Heb. shoulder. he set.

2Ch 4:6,10

Hiram. Heb. Hirom.

the lavers.

28; 2Ki 25:14,15; 2Ch 4:8,11-16; Jer 52:18,19

the shovels.

the basons.

Ex 24:6

So Hiram.

Ex 39:32-43

two pillars.

15-22; 2Ch 4:12

two networks.

17,18

the pillars. Heb. the face of the pillars.

ten bases.

27-39

one sea.

23-26

the pots.

Ex 27:3; 38:3; Le 8:31; 1Sa 2:13,14; 2Ch 4:16; Eze 46:20-24

Zec 14:21

bright brass. Heb. brass made bright, or scoured.

the clay ground. Heb. the thickness of the ground. Succoth.

Ge 33:17

Zarthan.Zarthan is supposed to have been situated in the tribe of Manasseh, west of Jordan, near Jezreel and Bethshan or Scythopolis, and not far from the Jordan. Succoth we know was situated east of Jordan, in the tribe of Gad, and according to Jerome, in the district of Scythopolis: hence the "plain of Jordan," where Hiram cast the brazen vessels, must be the plain in which that river runs, Zarthan and Succoth being probably nearly opposite each other; but whether the precise spot of his operations was on this side or the other side, is uncertain. In this place he found that particular clay that was proper for his purpose; and it being a considerable distance from Jerusalem, that city would not be annoyed by the smoke and noxious vapours necessarily occasioned by the process.

4:12

Zartanah.

Jos 3:16

Zaretan.

2Ch 4:17

Zeredathah.

because they were exceeding many. Heb. for the exceedingmultitude.

2Ch 4:18

found out. Heb. searched.

1Ch 22:14,16

1 Chronicles 22:14

trouble. or, poverty.

2Co 8:2

an hundred thousand.This, at 5,075£. 15s. 7®d. the talent, would amount to the sum of 507,578,125£.

29:4-7; 1Ki 10:14

thousand thousand talents of silver.This, at 353£. 11s. 10d. the talent, would amount to 353,591,666£. 13s. 4d.; and both sums would amount to the immense sum of 868,169,791£. 13s. 4d.

without weight.

3; 2Ki 25:16; Jer 52:20

2 Chronicles 4:2-6

a molten sea.

Ex 30:18-21; 1Ki 7:23; Zec 13:1; Tit 3:5; Re 7:14

brim to brim. Heb. his brim to his brim.

And under.

1Ki 7:24-26; Eze 1:10; 10:14; 1Co 9:9,10; Re 4:7

oxen.In the parallel passage of Kings, instead of {bekarim,} "oxen," we have {pekaïm,} "knops," in the form of colocynths. (See on 1 Ki 6:18, and 2 Ki 4:39;) which last is supposed by able critics to be the reading which ought to received be here; {bekarim,} "oxen," being a mistake for {pekaïm,} "knops." Houbigant, however, contends that the words in both places are right; but that {bakar} does not signify an ox here, but a large kind of grape, according to its meaning in Arabic. But Dr. A. Clarke states that {bakar,} or {bakarat,} has no such meaning in Arabic, though the phrase {aino 'lbikri,} or "ox-eye," signifies a species of black grape, very large, and of incredible sweetness; that consequently the criticism of this great man is not solid; and that the likeliest method of reconciling the two places is to suppose a change in the letters as above.

It stood.

Mt 16:18; Eph 2:20; Re 21:14

three.

Mt 28:19,20; Mr 16:15; Lu 24:46,47; Ac 9:15

with flowers of lilies. or, like a lily flower. threethousand baths. In the parallel passage, it is said to hold only two thousand baths; which some think may be reconciled by supposing that the quantity of water which was commonly in it was 2,000 baths, but that, if filled up to the top, it would hold 3,000. But, as we have already seen that the Babylonish cubit was less than that of the ancient Hebrews, it might be the same with measures of capacity; so that 2,000 of the ancient Jewish baths might have been equal to 3,000 of those used after the captivity. The Targum cuts the knot: "It received 3,000 baths of dry measure, and held 2,000 of liquid measure." See 1 Ki 7:26.

1Ki 7:26

ten lavers.

Ex 30:18-21; 1Ki 7:38,40; Ps 51:2; 1Co 6:11; 1Jo 1:7

such things as they offered for the burnt offering. Heb. thework of burnt offering.

Le 1:9,13; Eze 40:38

but the sea.

2; Ex 29:4; Heb 9:14,23; Re 1:5,6; 7:14