The Second Book of the Chronicles
2 Chronicles 4
Chapter IV · Vol. II, pp. 848–849
1 The altar of brass. 2 The molten sea supported by twelve oxen. 6 The ten lavers, candlesticks, and tables. 9 The courts, and the instruments of brass. 19 The instruments of gold.
1 Moreover he made an aaltar of brass, twenty cubits[≈ 9.1 m · 30 ft] the length thereof, and twenty cubits[≈ 9.1 m · 30 ft] the breadth thereof, and ten cubits[≈ 4.6 m · 15 ft] the height thereof.
B.C. 1006.
a Ex.27.1-8; 38.1-7. 1 Ki.8.22,64; 9.25. It represented Christ in his debased and suffering state.
2 Alsob he made a molten sea of ten cubits[≈ 4.6 m · 15 ft] from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits[≈ 2.3 m · 7 ft 6 in] the height thereof; and a line of thirty cubits[≈ 14 m · 45 ft] did compass it round about.
b 1 Ki.7.23-26. Ex.30.17-21; 38.8. Zec.13.1. Re.1.5; 7.14. Tit.3.5-7. 1 Jn.1.7.
3 Andc under it was the similitude of 1oxen, which did compass it round about: ten in a cubit[≈ 46 cm · 1 ft 6 in], compassing the sea round about. Two rows of oxen were cast when it was cast.
c 1 Ki.7.23-25. Re.21.14. Ep.2.20. Ac.9.15. Mar.16.15.
1 In 1 Ki. 7. 24 we find, twelve 'knops;' here, twelve oxen. Some expositors account for this variation, by the supposed error of a transcriber mistaking one word for another, to which, in the original, it bears a considerable similitude. But where is the necessity for this unauthorized violence? May there not have been both 12 knops and 12 oxen corresponding to each other, or in some way so identical as to be called indifferently by the one name or the other? It is right to observe, that Houbigant asserts an error in the translation, and renders it according to the Arabic, not oxen, but grapes, the cluster of which might well correspond to the knop in the former narrative; but the correctness of this criticism is denied by Dr. A. Clarke, who solves the difficulty by supposing an error in a transcriber—a mode of solution the most common, but most jealously to be watched, and seldom if ever admitted.—C.
4 It stood dupon 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.
5 And the thickness of it was an handbreadth[≈ 7.6 cm · 3 in], 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[≈ 66,000 litres · 1,800 bushels].1
A.M. 2998. B.C. 1006.
1 See note on 1 Ki. 7. 26, to which may be added, that as the Jewish measures after the captivity had come to differ considerably from those before it, the two estimates may agree perfectly in quantity, while differing in name. The Targum supposes it held 3000 baths dry measure, and 2000 baths liquid measure; but such a solution seems inadmissible, being contrary to all practice of calculation.—C.
6 He made also eten 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;2 but the seaf was for the priests to wash in.
7 And he made ten candlesticks of gold, according to their form,3 and set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left.
3 According to the original model which God gave to Moses, Ex. 25. 31, to show that while many additions were made in the perfected and settled worship of the temple, beyond what was ordained in the wilderness, still nothing was done by man's invention or authority, but all by the wisdom and authority of God.—C.
8 He made also gten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right side, and five on the left: and he made an hundred basons of gold.
g Ex.25.23-30; 37.10-16. 1 Ki.7.48. Is.25.6.
9 Furthermore he made hthe court of the priests, and the great icourt, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass.
11 And Huram made lthe pots, and the shovels, and the basons. And Huram finished the work that he was to make for king Solomon for the house of God;
l 1 Ki.7.40,45.
12 To wit, mthe two pillars, and the pommels,4 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;
m 1 Ki.7.41. ch.3.15-17.
4 Most probably 'globes' surmounting the chapiters.—C.
13 Andn 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.
n 1 Ki.7.42. Ps.1.3; 92.13. Ca.4.13. 1 Co.4.12,13. 2 Co.4.11-18.
14 He pmade also bases, and lavers made he upon the bases;
p 1 Ki.7.43-46. ver.2-6,11.
16 The rpots also, and the shovels, and the flesh-hooks, and all their instruments, did Huram his father5 make to king Solomon, for the house of the LORD, of bright brass.6
r Ex.27.3. 1 Ch.28.17. Zec.14.20. 1 Sa.2.13,14.
5 More correctly translated Huram Abui.—C.
6 Burnished brass.—C.
17 In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the sclay ground between Succoth and Zeredathah.7
s Heb. thicknesses of the ground, Ge.33.17.
7 See note on 1 Ki. 7. 46.—Note, Many Scripture difficulties would be obviated, and infidel objections answered, by observing the mode of speaking adopted in this passage, in which the work ascribed to Huram, ver. 11-16, as artificer is again ascribed to the king, because it was done by his order and authority. C.——Zarthan. This place is supposed to have been situated on the west of Jordan, south of Bethshan or Scythopolis, and not far from the river. Succoth we know was situated east of Jordan, in the tribe of Gad and district of Scythopolis. Zarthan and Succoth were probably nearly opposite to each other. In this place Hiram found that particular clay which was proper for his purpose.—I.
18 Thust Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance: for the weight of the brass could not be found out.
t 1 Ki.7.47. 1 Ch.22.14; 29.7.
19 Andu Solomon made all the vessels that were for the house of God, xthe golden altar also, and ythe tables whereon the show-bread was set;
20 Moreover, zthe candlesticks with their lamps, that they should burn after the manner before the oracle, of pure gold;
z ver.7. Ex.25.31-37; 27.20,21. 1 Ki.6.5,16,17; 8.6.
21 And the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, made he of gold, and that perfect gold;8
A.M. 2998. B.C. 1006.
8 Gold is of various qualities, according to the nature and quantity of alloy. Perfect gold might signify gold without alloy, but such gold would be too soft for use. The original, 'perfections of gold,' most probably signifies gold hardened by alloy according to a royal standard, and then perfected in beauty by gilding, as fine gold articles usually are.—C.
22 And the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and the censers, of pure gold: and the entry9 of the house, the inner doors thereof for the most holy place, and the doors of the house of the temple, were of gold.
9 Not the entrance or vestibule, but the hinges by which entrance was obtained. See 1 Ki.7.50.—C.
Notes
[Ver. 3. Oxen. A comparison of the parallel passages certainly suggests the idea that the readings in both were originally identical, in which case there can be no doubt the true reading was that in 1 Ki. 7. 24. The Hebrew words for 'knops' and 'oxen' are so nearly alike that a transcriber might easily mistake them. But if the text of Chronicles is here corrupt, the corruption must have taken place at a very early period, for all the ancient versions agree with the present text. P.]
Reflections.—What a mercy is it that Jesus, his church, and heavenly state, are suited to his people's condition! As the great atonement, and as the fountain which cleanses from all sin, he is openly exhibited before us, and accessible to us, in the ordinances of the gospel. By him, as such, we have access to dwell in God's house, enjoy his light, feed on his fulness, and live by his intercession, through which our services are accepted. Yea, under the gospel we have more than a 1tenfold exhibition of Christ, in his cleansing virtue, his illuminating and soul-nourishing influence. He can make all tempers, gifts, and graces useful in his church—brass as well as gold. And great is their honour who lay out their eminent gifts in the service of Christ.
1 There were ten times as many lavers, candlesticks, and tables of show-bread in the temple as in the tabernacle.
Measures in square brackets are modern equivalents added for this edition. They are not in the King James text or in Brown’s notes. They use common scholarly estimates: a cubit is about 45.7 cm (18 in), a shekel about 11.4 g (0.4 oz), an ephah about 22 litres. Money values give the worth of the silver or gold at spot prices on 28 October 2026, not what the sum would buy in the ancient world.