Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Chronicles 4

Clinging to a Counterfeit Cross
Introduction

1  The altar of brass.
2  The molten sea upon twelve oxen.
6  The ten lavers, candlesticks, and tables.
9  The courts, and the instruments of brass.
19  The instruments of gold.

Verse 1

Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof.
an altar
1:5, Exodus 27:1-8, 1 Kings 8:22,64, 9:25, 2 Kings 16:14,15, Ezekiel 43:13-17

Verse 2

Also 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.
a molten sea
Exodus 30:18-21, 1 Kings 7:23, Zechariah 13:1, Titus 3:5, Revelation 7:14
brim to brim
Heb. his brim to his brim.

Verse 3

And 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.
And under
1 Kings 7:24-26, Ezekiel 1:10, 10:14, 1 Corinthians 9:9,10, Revelation 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.

Verse 4

It 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.
It stood
Matthew 16:18, Ephesians 2:20, Revelation 21:14
three
Matthew 28:19,20, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:46,47, Acts 9:15

Verse 5

And 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.
with flowers of lilies
or, like a lily flower. three thousand 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.
1 Kings 7:26

Verse 6

He 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.
ten lavers
Exodus 30:18-21, 1 Kings 7:38,40, Psalms 51:2, 1 Corinthians 6:11, 1 John 1:7
such things as they offered for the burnt offering
Heb. the work of burnt offering.
Leviticus 1:9,13, Ezekiel 40:38
but the sea
2, Exodus 29:4, Hebrews 9:14,23, Revelation 1:5,6, 7:14

Verse 7

And 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.
ten candlesticks
1 Kings 7:49, 1 Chronicles 28:15, Zechariah 4:2,3,11-14, Matthew 5:14-16, John 8:12, Revelation 1:20
according to
Exodus 25:31-40, 1 Chronicles 28:12,19, Hebrews 8:5

Verse 8

He 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 basons of gold.
ten tables
Exodus 25:23-30, 37:10-16, 1 Kings 7:48, Isaiah 25:6, Ezekiel 44:16, Malachi 1:12, 1 Corinthians 10:21
basons
or, bowls.
Jeremiah 52:18,19, Zechariah 14:20

Verse 9

Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass.
the court
1 Kings 6:36, 7:12

Verse 10

And he set the sea on the right side of the east end, over against the south.
1 Kings 7:39

Verse 11

And Huram made the 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;
the pots
1 Kings 7:40,45
basons
or, bowls. finished. Heb. finished to make.

Verse 12

To 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;
To wit
3:15-17
the pommels
1 Kings 7:41

Verse 13

And 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.
four hundred
Exodus 28:33,34, 1 Kings 7:20,42, Song of Solomon 4:13, Jeremiah 52:23
pillars
Heb. face of the pillars.

Verse 14

He made also bases, and lavers made he upon the bases;
bases
1 Kings 7:27-43
lavers
or, caldrons.

Verse 15

2 Chronicles 4:2-5


Verse 16

The 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.
pots also
11, Exodus 27:3, 38:3, Zechariah 14:20,21
flesh-hooks
1 Samuel 2:13,14, 1 Chronicles 28:17
Huram
1 Kings 7:13,14,45
Hiram
his father.
2:13
bright
Heb. made bright, or scoured.

Verse 17

In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredathah.
clay ground
Heb. thicknesses of the ground. Zeredathah.
1 Kings 7:46
Zarthan

Verse 18

Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance: for the weight of the brass could not be found out.
the weight
1 Kings 7:47, 1 Chronicles 22:3,14, Jeremiah 52:20

Verse 19

And Solomon made all the vessels that were for the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables whereon the shewbread was set;
all the vessels
36:10,18, 1 Kings 7:48-50, 2 Kings 24:13, 25:13-15, Ezra 1:7-11, Jeremiah 28:3, Jeremiah 52:18,19, Daniel 5:2,3,23
the golden
26:16-18, Exodus 30:1-10, 37:25-29, Revelation 8:3, 9:13
the tables
Exodus 25:23-30, Leviticus 24:5-8, 1 Chronicles 28:16

Verse 20

Moreover the candlesticks with their lamps, that they should burn after the manner before the oracle, of pure gold;
the candlesticks
7, Exodus 25:31-37
burn after
Exodus 27:20,21
the oracle
1 Kings 6:5,16,17, 8:6, Psalms 28:2

Verse 21

And the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, made he of gold, and that perfect gold;
the flowers
Probably each branch of the chandelier was made like a plant in flower; and the opening of the flower was either the lamp, or served to support it.
5, Exodus 25:31-40, 37:20, 1 Kings 6:18,29,35
perfect gold
Heb. perfections of gold. That is, the purest and best gold.

Verse 22

And the snuffers, and the basons, 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.
snuffers
Exodus 37:23, 1 Kings 7:50, 2 Kings 12:13, 25:14, Jeremiah 52:18
basons
or, bowls. the entry. Capellus and others suppose we should read, agreeably to 1 Ki 7:50, "The hinges also of the doors of the inner house," etc.; the word pothoth, "hinges," being mistaken for paithach, "an entry" or "door-way."
1 Kings 6:31,32

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