2 Chronicles4
New Living Translation
1Solomon also made a bronze altar 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 15 feet high.
2Then he cast a great round basin, 15 feet across from rim to rim, called the Sea. It was 7 1⁄2 feet deep and about 45 feet in circumference.
3It was encircled just below its rim by two rows of figures that resembled oxen. There were about six oxen per foot all the way around, and they were cast as part of the basin.
4The Sea was placed on a base of twelve bronze oxen, all facing outward. Three faced north, three faced west, three faced south, and three faced east, and the Sea rested on them.
5The walls of the Sea were about three inches thick, and its rim flared out like a cup and resembled a water lily blossom. It could hold about 16,500 gallons of water.
6He also made ten smaller basins for washing the utensils for the burnt offerings. He set five on the south side and five on the north. But the priests washed themselves in the Sea.
7He then cast ten gold lampstands according to the specifications that had been given, and he put them in the Temple. Five were placed against the south wall, and five were placed against the north wall.
8He also built ten tables and placed them in the Temple, five along the south wall and five along the north wall. Then he molded 100 gold basins.
9He then built a courtyard for the priests, and also the large outer courtyard. He made doors for the courtyard entrances and overlaid them with bronze.
10The great bronze basin called the Sea was placed near the southeast corner of the Temple.
11Huram-abi also made the necessary washbasins, shovels, and bowls. So at last Huram-abi completed everything King Solomon had assigned him to make for the Temple of God:
12the two pillars; the two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars; the two networks of interwoven chains that decorated the capitals;
13the 400 pomegranates that hung from the chains on the capitals (two rows of pomegranates for each of the chain networks that decorated the capitals on top of the pillars);
14the water carts holding the basins;
15the Sea and the twelve oxen under it;
16the ash buckets, the shovels, the meat hooks, and all the related articles. Huram-abi made all these things of burnished bronze for the Temple of the Lord, just as King Solomon had directed.
17The king had them cast in clay molds in the Jordan Valley between Succoth and Zarethan.
18Solomon used such great quantities of bronze that its weight could not be determined.
19Solomon also made all the furnishings for the Temple of God: the gold altar; the tables for the Bread of the Presence;
20the lampstands and their lamps of solid gold, to burn in front of the Most Holy Place as prescribed;
21the flower decorations, lamps, and tongs—all of the purest gold;
22the lamp snuffers, bowls, ladles, and incense burners—all of solid gold; the doors for the entrances to the Most Holy Place and the main room of the Temple, overlaid with 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.