2 Chronicles4
American Standard 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 the molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass; and the height thereof was five cubits; and a line of thirty cubits compassed it round about.
3And under it was the likeness of oxen, which did compass it round about, for ten cubits, compassing the sea round about. The oxen were in two rows, 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 upon them above, and all their hinder parts were inward.
5And it was a handbreadth thick; and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily: 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 belonged to the burnt-offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to wash in.
7And he made the ten candlesticks of gold according to the ordinance concerning them; and he 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 a 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 house eastward, toward the south.
11And Huram made the pots, and the shovels, and the basins. So Huram made an end of doing the work that he wrought for king Solomon in the house of God:
12the two pillars, and the bowls, and the two capitals which were on the top of the pillars, and the two networks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars,
13and the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks; two rows of pomegranates for each network, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were upon the pillars.
14He made also the bases, and the lavers made he upon the bases;
15one sea, and the twelve oxen under it.
16The pots also, and the shovels, and the flesh-hooks, and all the vessels thereof, did Huram his father make for king Solomon, for the house of Jehovah, of bright brass.
17In the plain of the 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 in the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables whereon was the showbread;
20and the candlesticks with their lamps, to burn according to the ordinance before the oracle, of pure gold;
21and the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, of gold, and that perfect gold;
22and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the firepans, of pure gold. And as for the entry of the house, the inner doors thereof for the most holy place, and the doors of the house, to wit, of the temple, were of gold.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Chronicles 4.
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.
Key Words
עָשָׂה: to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
מִזְבֵּחַ: an altar
נְחֹשֶׁת: copper, hence, something made of that metal, i.e. coin, a fetter; figuratively, base (as compared with gold or silver)
עֶשְׂרִים: twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth
אַמָּה: properly, a mother (i.e. unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e. a cubit; also a door-base (as a bond of the entrance)
אֹרֶךְ: length
רֹחַב: width (literally or figuratively)
עֶשֶׂר: ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits)
קוֹמָה: height
יָם: a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river, or an artifical basin; locally, the west, or (rarely) the south
Cross References
2 Chronicles 4Parallel account of the construction and dimensions of the molten sea.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel account detailing the placement of the ten lavers.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel account of the golden tables and other furniture of the temple.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel account of Huram completing the various vessels and instruments.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The prohibition of steps to the altar is modified by the introduction of priestly garments.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Priestly linen breeches allowed for ascending the elevated brazen altar safely.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Explains the difference in capacity (two thousand vs. three thousand baths).
Supported by JFB
The supporting twelve oxen directed toward the four cardinal directions.
Supported by Matthew Poole
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
The geographical location of the clay ground casting in the Jordan plain.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The tabernacle predecessor of the molten sea used for priestly washing.
Parallel description of the construction of the inner court.
Parallel list of the golden entry doors and holy instruments.