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2 Chronicles 4:1-22 King James Version (KJV)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 basins of gold.

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.

10 And he set the sea on the right side of the east end, over against the south.

11 And Huram made the pots, and the shovels, and the basins. And Huram finished the work that he was to make for king Solomon for the house of God;

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;

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.

14 He made also bases, and lavers made he upon the bases;

15 One sea, and twelve oxen under it.

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.

17 In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredathah.

18 Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance: for the weight of the brass could not be found out.

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;

20 Moreover the candlesticks with their lamps, that they should burn after the manner before the oracle, of pure gold;

21 And the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, made he of gold, and that perfect gold;

22 And the snuffers, and the basins, 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.


2 Chronicles 4:1-22 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 Moreover he made H6213 an altar H4196 of brass, H5178 twenty H6242 cubits H520 the length H753 thereof, and twenty H6242 cubits H520 the breadth H7341 thereof, and ten H6235 cubits H520 the height H6967 thereof.

2 Also he made H6213 a molten H3332 sea H3220 of ten H6235 cubits H520 from brim H8193 to brim, H8193 round H5696 in compass, H5439 and five H2568 cubits H520 the height H6967 thereof; and a line H6957 of thirty H7970 cubits H520 did compass H5437 it round about. H5439

3 And under it was the similitude H1823 of oxen, H1241 which did compass H5437 it round about: H5439 ten H6235 in a cubit, H520 compassing H5362 the sea H3220 round about. H5439 Two H8147 rows H2905 of oxen H1241 were cast, H3332 when it was cast. H4166

4 It stood H5975 upon twelve H8147 H6240 oxen, H1241 three H7969 looking H6437 toward the north, H6828 and three H7969 looking H6437 toward the west, H3220 and three H7969 looking H6437 toward the south, H5045 and three H7969 looking H6437 toward the east: H4217 and the sea H3220 was set above H4605 upon them, and all their hinder parts H268 were inward. H1004

5 And the thickness H5672 of it was an handbreadth, H2947 and the brim H8193 of it like the work H4639 of the brim H8193 of a cup, H3563 with flowers H6525 of lilies; H7799 and it received H2388 and held H3557 three H7969 thousand H505 baths. H1324

6 He made H6213 also ten H6235 lavers, H3595 and put H5414 five H2568 on the right hand, H3225 and five H2568 on the left, H8040 to wash H7364 in them: such things as they offered H4639 for the burnt offering H5930 they washed H1740 in them; but the sea H3220 was for the priests H3548 to wash in. H7364

7 And he made H6213 ten H6235 candlesticks H4501 of gold H2091 according to their form, H4941 and set H5414 them in the temple, H1964 five H2568 on the right hand, H3225 and five H2568 on the left. H8040

8 He made H6213 also ten H6235 tables, H7979 and placed H3240 them in the temple, H1964 five H2568 on the right side, H3225 and five H2568 on the left. H8040 And he made H6213 an hundred H3967 basons H4219 of gold. H2091

9 Furthermore he made H6213 the court H2691 of the priests, H3548 and the great H1419 court, H5835 and doors H1817 for the court, H5835 and overlaid H6823 the doors H1817 of them with brass. H5178

10 And he set H5414 the sea H3220 on the right H3233 side H3802 of the east end, H6924 over against H4136 the south. H5045

11 And Huram H2361 made H6213 the pots, H5518 and the shovels, H3257 and the basons. H4219 And Huram H2361 H2438 finished H3615 H6213 the work H4399 that he was to make H6213 for king H4428 Solomon H8010 for the house H1004 of God; H430

12 To wit, the two H8147 pillars, H5982 and the pommels, H1543 and the chapiters H3805 which were on the top H7218 of the two pillars, H5982 and the two H8147 wreaths H7639 to cover H3680 the two H8147 pommels H1543 of the chapiters H3805 which were on the top H7218 of the pillars; H5982

13 And four H702 hundred H3967 pomegranates H7416 on the two H8147 wreaths; H7639 two H8147 rows H2905 of pomegranates H7416 on each H259 wreath, H7639 to cover H3680 the two H8147 pommels H1543 of the chapiters H3805 which were upon H6440 the pillars. H5982

14 He made H6213 also bases, H4350 and lavers H3595 made H6213 he upon the bases; H4350

15 One H259 sea, H3220 and twelve H8147 H6240 oxen H1241 under it.

16 The pots H5518 also, and the shovels, H3257 and the fleshhooks, H4207 and all their instruments, H3627 did Huram H2361 his father H1 make H6213 to king H4428 Solomon H8010 for the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 of bright H4838 brass. H5178

17 In the plain H3603 of Jordan H3383 did the king H4428 cast H3332 them, in the clay H5645 ground H127 between Succoth H5523 and Zeredathah. H6868

18 Thus Solomon H8010 made H6213 all these vessels H3627 in great H3966 abundance: H7230 for the weight H4948 of the brass H5178 could not be found out. H2713

19 And Solomon H8010 made H6213 all the vessels H3627 that were for the house H1004 of God, H430 the golden H2091 altar H4196 also, and the tables H7979 whereon the shewbread H3899 H6440 was set;

20 Moreover the candlesticks H4501 with their lamps, H5216 that they should burn H1197 after the manner H4941 before H6440 the oracle, H1687 of pure H5462 gold; H2091

21 And the flowers, H6525 and the lamps, H5216 and the tongs, H4457 made he of gold, H2091 and that perfect H4357 gold; H2091

22 And the snuffers, H4212 and the basons, H4219 and the spoons, H3709 and the censers, H4289 of pure H5462 gold: H2091 and the entry H6607 of the house, H1004 the inner H6442 doors H1817 thereof for the most H6944 holy H6944 place, and the doors H1817 of the house H1004 of the temple, H1964 were of gold. H2091


2 Chronicles 4:1-22 American Standard (ASV)

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.

2 Also he made the molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass; and the height thereof was five cubits; and a line of thirty cubits compassed it round about.

3 And under it was the likeness of oxen, which did compass it round about, for ten cubits, compassing the sea round about. The oxen were in two rows, cast when it was cast.

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 upon them above, and all their hinder parts were inward.

5 And it was a handbreadth thick; and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily: it received and held three thousand baths.

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 belonged to the burnt-offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to wash in.

7 And he made the ten candlesticks of gold according to the ordinance concerning them; and he set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left.

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 a hundred basins of gold.

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.

10 And he set the sea on the right side `of the house' eastward, toward the south.

11 And Huram made the pots, and the shovels, and the basins. So Huram made an end of doing the work that he wrought for king Solomon in the house of God:

12 the two pillars, and the bowls, and the two capitals which were on the top of the pillars, and the two networks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars,

13 and the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks; two rows of pomegranates for each network, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were upon the pillars.

14 He made also the bases, and the lavers made he upon the bases;

15 one sea, and the twelve oxen under it.

16 The pots also, and the shovels, and the flesh-hooks, and all the vessels thereof, did Huram his father make for king Solomon for the house of Jehovah of bright brass.

17 In the plain of the Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah.

18 Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance: for the weight of the brass could not be found out.

19 And Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables whereon was the showbread;

20 and the candlesticks with their lamps, to burn according to the ordinance before the oracle, of pure gold;

21 and the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, of gold, and that perfect gold;

22 and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the firepans, of pure gold: and as for the entry of the house, the inner doors thereof for the most holy place, and the doors of the house, `to wit', of the temple, were of gold.


2 Chronicles 4:1-22 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And he maketh an altar of brass, twenty cubits its length, and twenty cubits its breadth, and ten cubits its height.

2 And he maketh the molten sea; ten by the cubit, from its edge unto its edge, round in compass, and five by the cubit its height, and a line of thirty by the cubit doth compass it, round about.

3 And the likeness of oxen `is' under it, all round about encompassing it, ten in the cubit, compassing the sea round about; two rows of oxen are cast in its being cast.

4 It is standing on twelve oxen, three facing the north, and three facing the west, and three facing the south, and three facing the east, and the sea `is' upon them above, and all their hinder parts `are' within.

5 And its thickness `is' a handbreadth, and its lip as the work of the lip of a cup flowered with lilies; taking hold -- baths three thousand it containeth.

6 And he maketh ten lavers, and putteth five on the right, and five on the left, to wash with them; the work of the burnt-offering they purge with them; and the sea `is' for priests to wash with.

7 And he maketh the ten candlesticks of gold, according to their ordinance, and placeth in the temple, five on the right, and five on the left.

8 And he maketh ten tables, and placeth in the temple, five on the right, and five on the left; and he maketh bowls of gold a hundred.

9 And he maketh the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and their doors he hath overlaid with brass.

10 And the sea he hath placed on the right shoulder eastward, over-against the south.

11 And Huram maketh the pots, and the shovels, and the bowls, and Huram finisheth to make the work that he made for king Solomon in the house of God;

12 two pillars, and the bowls, and the crowns on the heads of the two pillars, and the two wreaths to cover the two bowls of the crowns that `are' on the heads of the pillars;

13 and the pomegranates four hundred to the two wreaths, two rows of pomegranates to the one wreath, to cover the two bowls of the crowns that `are' on the front of the pillars.

14 And the bases he hath made; and the lavers he hath made on the bases;

15 the one sea, and the twelve oxen under it,

16 and the pots, and the shovels, and the forks, and all their vessels, hath Huram his father made for king Solomon, for the house of Jehovah, of brass purified.

17 In the circuit of the Jordan hath the king cast them, in the thick soil of the ground, between Succoth and Zeredathah.

18 And Solomon maketh all these vessels in great abundance, that the weight of the brass hath not been searched out.

19 And Solomon maketh all the vessels that `are for' the house of God, and the altar of gold, and the tables, and on them `is' bread of the presence;

20 and the candlesticks, and their lamps, for their burning according to the ordinance, before the oracle, of gold refined;

21 and the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold -- it `is' the perfection of gold;

22 and the snuffers, and the bowls, and the spoons, and the censers, of gold refined, and the opening of the house, its innermost doors to the holy of holies, and the doors of the house to the temple, of gold.


2 Chronicles 4:1-22 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 And he made a brazen altar: its length was twenty cubits, and its breadth twenty cubits, and its height ten cubits.

2 And he made the sea, molten, ten cubits from brim to brim, round all about; and its height was five cubits; and a line of thirty cubits encompassed it round about.

3 And under it was the similitude of oxen, encompassing it round about, ten in a cubit enclosing the sea round about, two rows of oxen, cast when it was cast.

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 above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.

5 And its thickness was a hand-breadth, and its brim like the work of the brim of a cup, with lily-blossoms; in capacity it held three thousand baths.

6 And he made ten lavers, and put five on the right and five on the left, to wash in them: they rinsed in them what they prepared for the burnt-offering; and the sea was for the priests to wash in.

7 And he made ten candlesticks of gold according to the ordinance respecting them, and set them in the temple, five on the right hand and five on the left.

8 And he made ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right hand and five on the left. And he made a hundred golden bowls.

9 And he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors thereof with bronze.

10 And he set the sea on the right side eastward, over against the south.

11 And Huram made the pots and the shovels and the bowls. So Huram ended doing the work that he made for king Solomon in the house of God:

12 two pillars, and the globes and the capitals on the top of the pillars, two; and the two networks, to cover the two globes of the capitals which were on the top of the pillars;

13 and the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, two rows of pomegranates for one network, to cover the two globes of the capitals which were upon the pillars.

14 And he made the bases, and he made the lavers on the bases;

15 one sea, and the twelve oxen under it.

16 And the pots, and the shovels, and the forks, and all their instruments did Huram Abiv make king Solomon for the house of Jehovah, of bright brass.

17 In the plain of the Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay-ground between Succoth and Zeredathah.

18 And Solomon made all these vessels in great number; for the weight of the brass was not ascertained.

19 And Solomon made all the vessels that were [in] the house of God: the golden altar; and the tables whereon was the shewbread;

20 and the candlesticks with their lamps to burn according to the ordinance before the oracle, of pure gold;

21 and the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, of gold (it was perfect gold);

22 and the knives, and the bowls, and the cups, and the censers, of pure gold; and the entrance of the house, the inner folding-doors thereof for the most holy place, and the doors of the house, of the temple, of gold.


2 Chronicles 4:1-22 World English Bible (WEB)

1 Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length of it, and twenty cubits the breadth of it, and ten cubits the height of it.

2 Also he made the molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass; and the height of it was five cubits; and a line of thirty cubits compassed it round about.

3 Under it was the likeness of oxen, which did compass it round about, for ten cubits, compassing the sea round about. The oxen were in two rows, cast when it was cast.

4 It stood on 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 on them above, and all their hinder parts were inward.

5 It was a handbreadth thick; and the brim of it was worked like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily: it received and held three thousand baths.

6 He made also ten basins, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them; such things as belonged to the burnt-offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to wash in.

7 He made the ten lampstands of gold according to the ordinance concerning them; and he set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left.

8 He made also ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right side, and five on the left. He made one hundred basins of gold.

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.

10 He set the sea on the right side [of the house] eastward, toward the south.

11 Huram made the pots, and the shovels, and the basins. So Huram made an end of doing the work that he did for king Solomon in the house of God:

12 the two pillars, and the bowls, and the two capitals which were on the top of the pillars, and the two networks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars,

13 and the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks; two rows of pomegranates for each network, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the pillars.

14 He made also the bases, and the basins made he on the bases;

15 one sea, and the twelve oxen under it.

16 The pots also, and the shovels, and the flesh-hooks, and all the vessels of it, did Huram his father make for king Solomon for the house of Yahweh of bright brass.

17 In the plain of the Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah.

18 Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance: for the weight of the brass could not be found out.

19 Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables whereon was the show bread;

20 and the lampstands with their lamps, to burn according to the ordinance before the oracle, of pure gold;

21 and the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, of gold, and that perfect gold;

22 and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the fire pans, of pure gold: and as for the entry of the house, the inner doors of it for the most holy place, and the doors of the house, [to wit], of the temple, were of gold.


2 Chronicles 4:1-22 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 Then he made a brass altar, twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide and ten cubits high.

2 And he made the great water-vessel of metal, round in form, measuring ten cubits across from edge to edge; it was five cubits high and thirty cubits round.

3 And under it was a design of flowers all round it, ten to a cubit, circling the water-vessel in two lines; they were made from liquid metal at the same time as the water-vessel.

4 It was supported on twelve oxen, three facing to the north, three to the west, three to the south, and three to the east, the water-vessel resting on top of them; their back parts were all turned to the middle of it.

5 It was as thick as a man's open hand, and the edge of it was curved like the edge of a cup, like a lily flower; it would take three thousand baths.

6 And he made ten washing-vessels, putting five on the right side and five on the left; such things as were used in making the burned offering were washed in them; but the great water-vessel was to be used by the priests for washing themselves.

7 And he made the ten gold supports for the lights, as directions had been given for them, and he put them in the Temple, five on the right side and five on the left.

8 He made ten tables, and put them in the Temple, five on the right side and five on the left. And he made a hundred gold basins.

9 Then he made the open space for the priests, and the great open space and its doors, plating the doors with brass.

10 He put the great water-vessel on the right side of the house to the east, facing south.

11 And Huram made all the pots and the spades and the basins. So he came to the end of all the work he did for King Solomon in the house of God:

12 The two pillars, and the two crowns on the tops of the pillars, and the network covering the two cups of the crowns on the tops of the pillars;

13 And the four hundred apples for the network, two lines of apples for the network covering the two cups of the crowns on the pillars.

14 And he made the ten bases and the ten washing-vessels which were on the bases;

15 The great water-vessel with the twelve oxen under it.

16 All the pots and the spades and the meat-hooks and their vessels, which Huram, who was as his father, made for King Solomon for the house of the Lord, were of polished brass.

17 The king made them of liquid metal in the lowland of Jordan, in the soft earth between Succoth and Zeredah.

18 So Solomon made all these vessels, a very great store of them, and the weight of the brass used was not measured.

19 And Solomon made all the vessels used in the house of God, the gold altar and the tables on which the holy bread was placed,

20 And the supports for the lights with their lights, to be burning in the regular way in front of the inmost room, of the best gold;

21 The flowers and the vessels for the lights and the instruments used for them, were all of gold; it was the best gold.

22 The scissors and the basins and the spoons and the fire-trays, of the best gold; and the inner doors of the house, opening into the most holy place, and the doors of the Temple, were all of gold.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 2 Chronicles 4

Commentary on 2 Chronicles 4 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 4

We have here a further account of the furniture of God's house.

  • I. Those things that were of brass. The altar for burnt-offerings (v. 1), the sea and lavers to hold water (v. 2-6), the plates with which the doors of the court were overlaid (v. 9), the vessels of the altar, and other things (v. 10-18).
  • II. Those that were of gold. The candlesticks and tables (v. 7, 8), the altar of incense (v. 19), and the appurtenances of each of these (v. 20-22). All these, except the brazen altar (v. 1), were accounted for more largely, 1 Ki. 7:23, etc.

2Ch 4:1-10

David often speaks with much affection both of the house of the Lord and of the courts of our God. 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.

  • I. There were those things in the open court, in the view of all the people, which were very significant.
    • 1. There was the brazen altar, v. 1. The making of this was not mentioned in the Kings. On this all the sacrifices were offered, and it sanctified the gift. This altar was much larger than that which Moses made in the tabernacle; that was five cubits square, this was twenty cubits square. Now that Israel had become both numerous and more rich, and it was to be hoped more devout (for every age should aim to be wiser and better than that which went before it), it was expected that there would be a greater abundance of offerings brought to God's altar than had been. It was therefore made such a capacious scaffold that it might hold them all, and none might excuse themselves from bringing those temptations of their devotion by alleging that there was not room to receive them. God had greatly enlarged their borders; it was therefore fit that they should enlarge his altars. Our returns should bear some proportion to our receivings. It was ten cubits high, so that the people who worshipped in the courts might see the sacrifice burnt, and their eye might affect their heart with sorrow for sin: "It is of the Lord's mercies that I am not thus consumed, and that this is accepted as an expiation of my guilt.' They might thus be led to consider the great sacrifice which should be offered in the fulness of time to take away sin and abolish 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 great propitiation. How they went up to this altar, and carried the sacrifices up to it, we are not told; some think by a plain ascent like a hill: if by steps, doubtless they were so contrived as that the end of the law (mentioned Ex. 20:26) might be answered.
    • 2. There was the molten sea, a very large brass pan, in which they put water for the priests to wash in, v. 2, 6. It was put just at the entrance into the court of the priests, like the font at the church door. If it were filled to the brim, it would hold 3000 baths (as here, v. 5), but ordinarily there were only 2000 baths in it, 1 Ki. 7:26. The Holy Ghost by this signified,
      • (1.) Our great gospel privilege, that the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin, 1 Jn. 1:7. To us there is a fountain opened for all believers (who are spiritual priests, Rev. 1:5, 6), nay, for all the inhabitants of Jerusalem to wash in, from sin, which is uncleanness. There is a fulness of merit in Jesus Christ for all those that by faith apply to him for the purifying of their consciences, that they might serve the living God, Heb. 9:14.
      • (2.) Our great gospel duty, which is to cleanse ourselves by true repentance from all the pollutions of the flesh and the corruption that is in the world. Our hearts must be sanctified, or we cannot sanctify the name of God. Those that draw nigh to God must cleanse their hands, and purify their hearts, Jam. 4:8. If I was thee not, thou hast no part with me; and he that is washed still needs to wash his feet, to renew his repentance, whenever he goes in to minister, Jn. 13:10.
    • 3. There were ten lavers of brass, in which they washed such things as they offered for the burnt-offerings, v. 6. As the priests must be washed, so must the sacrifices. We must not only purify ourselves in preparation for our religious performances, but carefully put away all those vain thoughts and corrupt aims which cleave to our performances themselves and pollute them.
    • 4. The doors of the court were overlaid with brass (v. 9), both for strength and beauty, and that they might not be rotted with the weather, to which they were exposed. Gates of brass we read of, Ps. 107:16.
  • II. There were those things in the house of the Lord (into which the priests alone went to minister) that were very significant. All was gold there. The nearer we come to God the purer we must be, the purer we shall be.
    • 1. There were ten golden candlesticks, according to the form of that one which was in the tabernacle, v. 7. The written word is a lamp and a light, shining in a dark place. In Moses's time they had but one candlestick, the Pentateuch; but the additions which, in process of time, were to be made of other books of scripture might be signified by this increase of the number of the candlesticks. Light was growing. The candlesticks are the churches, Rev. 1:20. Moses set up but one, the church of the Jews; but, in the gospel temple, not only believers, but churches, are multiplied.
    • 2. There were ten golden tables (v. 8), tables whereon the show-bread was set, v. 19. Perhaps every one of the tables had twelve loaves of show-bread on it. As the house was enlarged, the house-keeping was. In my father's house there is bread enough for the whole family. To those tables belonged 100 golden basins, or dishes; for God's table is well furnished.
    • 3. There was a golden altar (v. 19), on which they burnt incense. It is probable that this was enlarged in proportion to the brazen altar. Christ, who once for all made atonement for sin, ever lives, making intercession, in virtue of that atonement.

2Ch 4:11-22

We have here such a summary both of the brass-work and the gold-work of the temple as we had before (1 Ki. 7:13, etc.), in which we have nothing more to observe than,

  • 1. That Huram the workman was very punctual: He finished all that he was to make (v. 11), and left no part of his work undone. Huram, his father, he is called, v. 16. Probably it was a sort of nickname by which he was commonly known, Father Huram; for the king of Tyre called him Huram Abi, my father, in compliance with whom Solomon called him his, he being a great artist and father of the artificers in brass and iron. He acquitted himself well both for ingenuity and industry.
  • 2. Solomon was very generous. He made all the vessels in great abundance (v. 18), many of a sort, that many hands might be employed, and so the work might go on with expedition, or that some might be laid up for use when others were worn out. Freely he has received, and he will freely give. When he had made vessels enough for the present he could not convert the remainder of the brass to his own use; it is devoted to God, and it shall be used for him.