2 Chronicles 4KJV
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2 Chronicles4

King James Version · Public Domain

1Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof.

2Also he made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits the height thereof; and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.

3And under it was the similitude of oxen, which did compass it round about: ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about. Two rows of oxen were cast, when it was cast.

4It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.

5And the thickness of it was an handbreadth, and the brim of it like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies; and it received and held three thousand baths.

6He made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them: such things as they offered for the burnt offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to wash in.

7And he made ten candlesticks of gold according to their form, and set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left.

8He made also ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right side, and five on the left. And he made an hundred basins of gold.

9Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass.

10And he set the sea on the right side of the east end, over against the south.

11And Huram made the pots, and the shovels, and the basins. And Huram finished the work that he was to make for king Solomon for the house of God;

12To wit, the two pillars, and the pommels, and the chapiters which were on the top of the two pillars, and the two wreaths to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were on the top of the pillars;

13And four hundred pomegranates on the two wreaths; two rows of pomegranates on each wreath, to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were upon the pillars.

14He made also bases, and lavers made he upon the bases;

15One sea, and twelve oxen under it.

16The pots also, and the shovels, and the fleshhooks, and all their instruments, did Huram his father make to king Solomon for the house of the Lord of bright brass.

17In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah.

18Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance: for the weight of the brass could not be found out.

19And Solomon made all the vessels that were for the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables whereon the shewbread was set;

20Moreover the candlesticks with their lamps, that they should burn after the manner before the oracle, of pure gold;

21And the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, made he of gold, and that perfect gold;

22And the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the censers, of pure gold: and the entry of the house, the inner doors thereof for the most holy place, and the doors of the house of the temple, were of gold.

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Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Chronicles 4.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The furniture of the temple. (1-22).

vv1-22

Here is a further account of the furniture of God's house. Both without doors and within, there was that which typified the grace of the gospel, and shadowed out good things to come, of which the substance is Christ. There was the brazen altar. The making of this was not mentioned in the book of Kings. On this all the sacrifices were offered, and it sanctified the gift. The people who worshipped in the courts might see the sacrifices burned. They might thus be led to consider the great Sacrifice, to be offered in the fulness of time, to take away sin, and put an end to death, which the blood of bulls and goats could not possibly do. And, with the smoke of the sacrifices, their hearts might ascend to heaven, in holy desires towards God and his favour. In all our devotions we must keep the eye of faith fixed upon Christ. The furniture of the temple, compared with that of the tabernacle, showed that God's church would be enlarged, and his worshippers multiplied. Blessed be God, there is enough in Christ for all.

Cross References

2 Chronicles 4
v21 Kings 7:23thematic

Parallel account of the construction and dimensions of the molten sea.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v61 Kings 7:39thematic

Parallel account detailing the placement of the ten lavers.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v81 Kings 7:48thematic

Parallel account of the golden tables and other furniture of the temple.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v111 Kings 7:40thematic

Parallel account of Huram completing the various vessels and instruments.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v1Exodus 20:26contrast

The prohibition of steps to the altar is modified by the introduction of priestly garments.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v1Exodus 28:42thematic

Priestly linen breeches allowed for ascending the elevated brazen altar safely.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v51 Kings 7:26thematic

Explains the difference in capacity (two thousand vs. three thousand baths).

Supported by JFB

v41 Kings 7:25thematic

The supporting twelve oxen directed toward the four cardinal directions.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v7Exodus 25:31-40thematic

The original tabernacle pattern ('their form') prescribed by God to Moses.

Supported by Matthew Poole

David's inspired plans specifying gold and silver tables.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Identifies the master artisan Huram-abi ('Huram his father').

Supported by Matthew Poole

v171 Kings 7:46thematic

The geographical location of the clay ground casting in the Jordan plain.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v6Exodus 30:18-21thematic

The tabernacle predecessor of the molten sea used for priestly washing.

v91 Kings 6:36thematic

Parallel description of the construction of the inner court.

v221 Kings 7:50thematic

Parallel list of the golden entry doors and holy instruments.