2 Chronicles 4:1. The Altar of Brass
1. _twenty cubits_ The measurements of the altar belonging to
Solomon's Temple are not given in 1 Kings; but in Exodus 38:1 the
altar made in the wilderness is described as measuring five cubits by
five cubits, and in height three cubits. An altar three cubits hi... [ Continue Reading ]
2 5 (1 Kings 7:23-26). The Molten Sea
2. _he made a molten sea_ Render, HE MADE THE SEA OF MOLTEN METAL. The
"sea" or great laver was a well-known feature in temples, being a
symbol of the purity needful for those who come into the divine
presence. So in the heavenly temple before the throne there... [ Continue Reading ]
_under it was the similitude of oxen_ This reading has the support of
the LXX., but can hardly be correct. Read (cp. 1 Kings 7:24), UNDER IT
THERE WERE KNOPS, "knops" being embossed ornaments of some kind.
_ten in a cubit_ R.V. FOR TEN CUBITS. According to the A.V. there
would be ten "knops" in eve... [ Continue Reading ]
_three … and three … and three … and three_ Thus the base stood
"foursquare," satisfying the Hebrew idea of completeness; cp.
Revelation 21:12-16.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the brim of it like the work of the brim of a cup,_with _flowers of
lilies_ R.V. THE BRIM THEREOF WAS WROUGHT LIKE THE BRIM OF A CUP, LIKE
THE FLOWER OF A LILY.
_three thousand baths_ In 1 Kings 7:26, _two thousand baths_. Whether
the textual corruption is to be attributed to 1 Kin. or to Chron.
c... [ Continue Reading ]
6 (cp. 2 Chronicles 4:14 and 1 Kings 7:38-39). The Lavers
6. _such things as they offered for the burnt offering_ R.V. SUCH
THINGS AS BELONGED TO THE BURNT OFFERING. The lavers were mounted on
bases; cp. 2 Chronicles 4:14.
_for the priests_ Cp. Exodus 30:18-21; Exodus 38:8; Exodus 40:30-32.
7 (1... [ Continue Reading ]
The Tables and Basons
8. _ten tables_ In 2 Chronicles 4:19 "the tables (_plural_) whereon
the shewbread was set" are mentioned (cp. 1 Chronicles 28:16), but the
parallel place (1 Kings 7:48) has "the table" (_sing_.), and elsewhere
both in Chronicles and in the rest of the O.T. one table only is
as... [ Continue Reading ]
The Two Courts
9. _the court of the priests, and the great court_ There is a
difficulty in this mention of two Temple courts by the Chronicler, for
it may be doubted whether Solomon's Temple, strictly speaking, had
more than _one_court, for in "the other court" stood Solomon's house
(1 Kings 7:8). T... [ Continue Reading ]
_the sea_ See 2 Chronicles 4:2-5.
_on the right side of the east end, over against the south_ R.V. ON
THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HOUSE EASTWARD, TOWARD THE SOUTH; cp. 1 Kings
7:39.
11 18 (1 Kings 7:40-47). The Works of Huram
This section is taken from the parallel passage of 1 Kings. The
variations ar... [ Continue Reading ]
_Huram_ For the form of the name see note on 2 Chronicles 2:3.
_And Huram finished the work that he was to make for king Solomon for
the house of God_ R.V. SO HURAM MADE AN END OF DOING THE WORK THAT HE
WROUGHT FOR KING SOLOMON IN THE HOUSE OF GOD.... [ Continue Reading ]
_two pillars_ See 2 Chronicles 3:15-17.
_the pommels_ R.V. THE BOWLS, as in 1 Kings 7:41 for the same Hebrew
word, i.e. the bowl-shaped part of the capital of a pillar. "Pommel" =
"knob."
_the chapiters_ In modern English, "capitals."
_two wreaths_ R.V. TWO NETWORKS, as in 1 Kings 7:41 for the sa... [ Continue Reading ]
_wreaths … pommels_ R.V. NETWORKS … BOWLS. See notes on 2
Chronicles 4:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
_He made also bases, and lavers made he upon the bases_ A simple
correction of the Hebrew text gives, AND THE TEN BASES AND THE TEN
LAVERS ON THE BASES, as in 1 Kings 7:43.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the fleshhooks_ Heb. _mizlagoth_. In 2 Chronicles 4:11 and 1 Kings
7:45 (the parallel passages) _the basons_(Heb. _mizraḳoth_).
_Huram his father_ See note on 2 Chronicles 2:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
_in the clay ground_ G. A. Smith (_Historical Geography_, p. 488)
speaks of traces of old brick-fields found by Sir C. Warren in the
Jordan valley. _Succoth_is perhaps _Tell Deir -Alla_, east of Jordan,
north of the Jabbok.
_Zeredathah_ R.V. ZEREDAH (1 Kings 11:26); but in 1 Kings 7:46 (R.V.)
_Zare... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance_ In 1 Kings
7:47, _And Solomon left all the vessels_unweighed, _because they were
exceeding many_.... [ Continue Reading ]
5:1 (1 Kings 7:48-51). The Vessels of Gold. The Completion of the Work
19. _that_were for _the house_ R.V. THAT WERE IN THE HOUSE.
_the tables whereon the shewbread_was set] R.V. THE TABLES WHEREON WAS
THE SHEWBREAD. In 1 Kings 7:48 (parallel passage), _the table_(sing.);
a reading probably to be... [ Continue Reading ]
_moreover the candlesticks_ R.V. AND THE CANDLESTICKS. See 2
Chronicles 4:7, note.
_after the manner_ R.V. ACCORDING TO THE ORDINANCE.
_the oracle_ See note on 2 Chronicles 3:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the flowers_ These were ornaments on the golden candlesticks; cp.
Exodus 37:19.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the censers_ R.V. THE FIREPANS, in which fire was carried to and from
the altar.
_and the entry_ R.V. AND AS FOR THE ENTRY.
_the doors of the house of the temple_ R.V. THE DOORS OF THE HOUSE, TO
WIT, OF THE TEMPLE. The "[greater] house" or "temple" is here
distinguished from the "most holy place... [ Continue Reading ]