1 Kings 7:23-47

C. THE METALLIC OBJECTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COURTYARD 7:23-47

Associated with the courtyard of the Temple were the following items: (1) the bronze sea (1 Kings 7:23-26); (2) the bronze stands and basins (1 Kings 7:27-39); and (3) various small implements (1 Kings 7:40). For some reason the historian has omitted any reference to the huge bronze altar which was, perhaps, the dominant feature of the court.

1. THE BRONZE SEA (1 Kings 7:23-26)

TRANSLATION

(23) And he made the molten sea, ten cubits from one brim to the other; it was circular, and five cubits high with a circumference of thirty cubits. (24) And gourds ran round it under its brim, ten to a cubit, compassing the sea round about. The gourds were cast in two rows when it was cast. (25) It stood upon twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing east; and the sea was set above them and all their hinder parts were inward. (26) And its breadth was the thickness of a hand and its brim was like the brim of a cup, as the blossom of a lily; it contained two thousand baths.

COMMENTS

In addition to the massive front pillars, Hiram made a great bronze water-basin which was called the sea on account of its unprecedented size and capacity. Like the laver of the Tabernacle (Exodus 30:18-20), this vessel was designed to contain the water necessary for the ablutions of the priests. The sea was circular and measured fifteen feet in diameter, forty-five feet in circumference[205] and 7 1/2 feet in depth (1 Kings 7:23). The sea was decorated with two rows of gourds numbering ten to a cubit. In contrast to the ornamentation of the capitals of the columns, these ornaments were cast when it was cast, i.e., they were not attached to the sea after it was made, but were cast in the same mold with the sea. The bronze of which this giant laver was composed had been taken by David from the cities of Hadadezer (1 Chronicles 18:8; 1 Samuel 8:8 LXX). The sea rested on twelve oxen, three of which faced each of the four directions of the compass. The oxen faced outward (1 Kings 7:25). All conjectures as to the height and size of the oxen are of little value. The number twelve pointed to the twelve tribes of Israel as a priestly nation which cleansed itself here in the persons of its priests, to appear clean and holy before the Lord.[206]

[205] The sacred historian here uses round figures rather than precise measures, hence the small mathematical discrepancy in the ratio of the diameter to the circumference.
[206] Keil, BCOT, pp. 104-105.

The sea was a handbreadth thick (three inches). The brim of the sea was like that of a cup; i.e., it curved outwards like a lily. The precise shape of the sea is unknown. Some think it was hemispherical, others cylindrical. The prevailing opinion, however, appears to be that it was thirty cubits in circumference only at the brim and that it bellied out considerably below. The capacity according to Kings was two thousand baths[207](1 Kings 7:26), according to Chronicles three thousand baths (2 Chronicles 4:5). Probably Kings gives the capacity when filled to ordinary height, and Chronicles gives the capacity when filled to the brim. The sea provided water with which the priests could wash (2 Chronicles 4:6) their hands and feet (Exodus 30:19; Exodus 30:21). Rabbinic tradition indicates that the sea was provided with taps or faucets. It is probable that a basin of some sort was attached to it. Whether the sea was filled by hand or by some special contrivance is impossible to say. It has been computed that such a laver would weigh twenty-five to thirty tons. It was truly a triumph of bronze working.[208]

[207] It was formerly though that a bath was equal to about eight gallons (Slotki). On the basis of stamped jars which have been excavated, a bath is now computed to have been about 5½ gallons. See IDB, R-Z, 835.

[208] Honor, JCBR, p. 104.

2. THE BRONZE STANDS AND BASINS (1 Kings 7:27-39)

TRANSLATION

And he made ten stands of bronze; the length of each stand was four cubits, its width four cubits, and its height three cubits. Their construction was the following: they had panels which were set between frames, (29) and on these particular panels were lions, oxen and cherubim; and upon the frames was a pedestal above, and beneath the lions and oxen, there were wreaths, pendant work. (30) And each stand had four bronze wheels with bronze axels and its four feet had supports; beneath the basin were cast the supports with wreaths at each side. (31) And its [the basin] opening was within the crown at the top which projected upward one cubit; and its [the crown] opening was round, as a pedestal was made, a cubit and a half deep. At its opening was engraved work; and its panels were square and not round. (32) And the four wheels were under the panels; the axels of the wheels were connected to the stand. And the height of one wheel was a cubit and a half. (33) And the wheels were like the wheels of a chariot. Their axels, rims, spokes and hubs were all molten. (34) And there were four supports at the four corners of each stand; the supports were of one piece with the stands. (35) And on the top of the stand there was a round band half a cubit high; and on the top, the stays and panels were of one piece with the stand itself. (36) And on the surfaces of its stays and on its panels were engraved cherubim, lions, and palms according to the empty space of each, with wreaths round about. (37) On this manner he made the ten stands of one kind of casting, measure, and form. (38) And he made ten bronze basins, each holding forty baths, and each basin four cubits, one basin upon each of the ten stands. (39) And he put five stands upon the right side of the house and five upon the left side of the house; and the sea he put on the right side of the house eastward over against the south.

COMMENTS

In order to clarify this somewhat obscure text it is best to break the passage down topically. After a general description of these stands (1 Kings 7:27-29; 1 Kings 7:37) the historian describes the wheels of the stand (1 Kings 7:30; 1 Kings 7:32-33); the top of the stand (1 Kings 7:31; 1 Kings 7:34-36); the basins or lavers which were supported by the stands (1 Kings 7:38); and the disposition of the stands (1 Kings 7:39).

a) General description of the stands (1 Kings 7:27-28; 1 Kings 7:37). Hiram constructed ten identical bronze stands to be placed in the courtyard of the Temple (1 Kings 7:37). The stands were box-shaped, 6 feet square and 4 1/2 feet high (1 Kings 7:27). Each stand was constructed of four panels or flat sides[209] held together by a frame (1 Kings 7:28). Each panel was decorated with figures or bas-reliefs of lions, oxen and cherubim. Beneath these figures were sculptured festoons of flowers. Upon the square chest was a stand or pedestal for the basin or laver (1 Kings 7:29).

[209] Ahaz is said to have removed these panels and thus they could not have been structurally important (2 Kings 16:17).

b) The wheels of the stands (1 Kings 7:30; 1 Kings 7:32-33). The square chests had axles with wheels of bronze so that they could be moved from one spot to another. The chest itself, however, did not rest directly upon the axles, but stood upon four feet, which were fastened upon the axles. These feet raised the chest above the rim of the wheel so that the sides of the chest, which were ornamented with figures, were left uncovered. The wheels, then, stood below the panels of the chest and not at the sides of the chest. The wheels were twenty-seven inches in diameter (1 Kings 7:32) and resembled chariot wheels. The entire wheel workaxles, rim, spokes, and hubswas cast in bronze (1 Kings 7:33).

c) The crown (1 Kings 7:31; 1 Kings 7:34-36). Above the frames a. pedestal for the laver itself was mounted (1 Kings 7:29). Since the pedestal was circular and surmounted the rectangular base, it was called a crown (1 Kings 7:31). The crown was divided into panels which were reinforced at appropriate intervals by stays, i.e., extra strong, broad borders (1 Kings 7:35). The panels of the crown were decorated with cherubim, lions, palms and wreaths (1 Kings 7:36). Four angular supports arose from the top four corners of the frame to support the elevated crown (1 Kings 7:34). These supports were apparently decorated with wreaths (1 Kings 7:30). The distance from the top of the frame to the top of the crown itself was eighteen inches (1 Kings 7:31).

d) The lovers (1 Kings 7:38). The lavers which rested upon the portable stands were also cast of bronze. Each laver contained forty baths, about two hundred twenty gallons. It is uncertain whether the four cubits of 1 Kings 7:38 refers to the height or to the diameter of the laver (Keil).[210]

[210] The height of all other parts of the stand has been mentioned. If the four cubits refers to the height, then the entire height of the stand and laver together would be about thirteen feet. Hammond (PC, p. 134): This surprising size is accounted for by remembering the height of the altar, to which the fat and other sacrificial portions had to be transferred from the laver.

e) The disposition of the lavers (1 Kings 7:39). The lavers were arranged five on the south and five on the north side of the house. The sea, the massive laver, stood farther forward between the Temple and the altar, only more toward the south, i.e., to the southeast of the Temple. These lavers were used to wash the flesh and fat which were to be consumed upon the altar of burnt-offering. The wheeled stands made it possible to bring water near to the priests who were engaged in preparing the sacrifices. No doubt the lavers were equipped with some faucet by which the water could more easily be utilized by the priests. The number and size of the basins were necessitated by the circumstances that a considerable number of sacrifices had to be made ready for the altar at the same time. The lavers also were used for the purification of worshipers (2 Chronicles 4:6), and for the cleansing of the altar and court after bloody sacrifices.

The artistic work of these stands was to some extent the same as that of the Temple walls, the only difference being that the Temple decorations were wrought in gold, whereas the ornamentations of these stands were in bronze. Lions and oxen may symbolize the royal and priestly characteristics which, according to Exodus 19:6 combined in the nation worshiping God in this place. It has been estimated that these lavers with their own weight of bronze plus the weight of the water contained in the basin would by conservative estimate have weighed well over a ton.[211]

[211] Gray, OTL, p. 180.

TABERNACLE- TEMPLE COMPARISONS

Item

Tabernacle

Temple

Holy Place

20 x 20 Cubits

40 x 20 Cubits

Holy of Holies

10 x 10 x 10

20 x 20 x 20

Whole Structure

40 x 20 Cubits

80 x 40 Cubits

Height

15 Cubits

30 Cubits

Laver

Only One

10 Mobile Lavers and the Molten Sea

Lampstand

Only One

10 Lampstands

Table of Showbread

Only One

10 Tables