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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 » Keil & Delitzsch Commentary » Commentary on 2 Chronicles 4
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 4 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
2 Chronicles 4:1-6. The copper furniture of the court. 2 Chronicles 4:1. The altar of burnt-offering . Its preparation is passed over in 1 Kings 6 and 7, so that there it is only mentioned incidentally in connection with the consecration of the temple, 1 Kings 8:22, 1 Kings 8:54, and 1 Kings 9:25. It was twenty cubits square (long and broad) and ten cubits high, and constructed on the model of the Mosaic altar of burnt- offering, and probably of brass plates, which enclosed the inner core, consisting of earth and unhewn stones; and if we may judge from Ezekiel's description, Ezekiel 43:13-17, it rose in steps, as it were, so that at each step its extent was smaller; and the measurement of twenty cubits refers only to the lowest scale, while the space at the top, with the hearth, was only twelve cubits square; cf. my Bibl. Archaeol . i. S. 127, with the figure, plate iii. fig. 2.
The brazen sea described as in 1 Kings 7:23-26. See the commentary on that passage, and the sketch in my Archaeol . i. plate iii. fig. 1. The differences in substance, such as the occurrence of בּקרים and הבּקר , 2 Chronicles 4:3, instead of פּקעים and הפּקים , and 3000 baths instead of 2000, are probably the result of orthographical errors in the Chronicle. יכיל in 2 Chronicles 4:5 appears superfluous after the preceding מחזיק , and Berth. considers it a gloss which has come from 1 Kings into our text by mistake. But the expression is only pleonastic: “receiving baths, 3000 it held;” and there is no sufficient reason to strike out the words.
The ten lavers which, according to 1 Kings 7:38, stood upon ten brazen stands, i.e., chests provided with carriage wheels. These stands, the artistic work on which is circumstantially described in 1 Kings 7:27-37, are omitted in the Chronicle, because they are merely subordinate parts of the lavers. The size or capacity of the lavers is not stated, only their position on both sides of the temple porch, and the purpose for which they were designed, “to wash therein, viz., the work of the burnt-offering (the flesh of the burnt-offering which was to be burnt upon the altar) they rinsed therein,” being mentioned. For details, see in 1 Kings 7:38. and the figure in my Archaol . i. plate iii. fig. 4. Occasion is here taken to mention in a supplementary way the use of the brazen sea.
The golden furniture of the holy place and the courts . These three verses are not found in the parallel narrative 1 Kings 7, where in 1 Kings 7:39 the statement as to the position of the brazen sea (2 Chronicles 4:10) follows immediately the statement of the position of the stands with the lavers. The candlesticks and the table of the shew-bread are indeed mentioned in the summary enumeration of the temple furniture, 1 Kings 7:48 and 1 Kings 7:49, as in the corresponding passage of the Chronicle ( 2 Chronicles 4:19, 2 Chronicles 4:20) they again occur; and in 1 Kings 6:36 and 1 Kings 7:12, in the description of the temple building, the inner court is spoken of, but the outer court is not expressly mentioned. No reason can be given for the omission of these verses in 1 Kings 7; but that they have been omitted or have dropped out, may be concluded from the fact that not only do the whole contents of our fourth chapter correspond to the section 1 Kings 7:23-50, but both passages are rounded off by the same concluding verse (2 Chronicles 5:1 and 1 Kings 7:51).
2 Chronicles 4:7
He made ten golden candlesticks כּמשׁפּטם , according to their right, i.e., as they should be according to the prescript, or corresponding to the prescript as to the golden candlesticks in the Mosaic sanctuary (Exodus 25:31.). משׁפּט is the law established by the Mosaic legislation.
2 Chronicles 4:8
Ten golden tables, corresponding to the ten candlesticks, and, like these, placed five on the right and five on the left side of the holy place. The tables were not intended to bear the candlesticks (Berth.), but for the shew-bread; cf. on 2 Chronicles 4:19 and 1 Chronicles 28:16. And a hundred golden basins, not for the catching and sprinkling of the blood (Berth.), but, as their connection with the tables for the shew-bread shows, wine flagons, or sacrificial vessels for wine libations, probably corresponding to the מנקּיּות on the table of shew-bread in the tabernacle (Exodus 25:29). The signification, wine flagons, for מזרקים , is placed beyond a doubt by Amos 6:6.
The two courts are not further described. For the court of the priests, see on 1 Kings 6:36 and 1 Kings 7:12. As to the great or outer court, the only remark made is that it had doors, and its doors, i.e., the folds or leaves of the doors, were overlaid with copper. In 2 Chronicles 4:10 we have a supplementary statement as to the position of the brazen sea, which coincides with 1 Kings 7:39; see on the passage. In 2 Chronicles 4:11 the heavier brazen (copper) utensils, belonging to the altar of burnt-offering, are mentioned: סידות , pots for the removal of the ashes; יעים , shovels, to take the ashes out from the altar; and מזרקות , basins to catch and sprinkle the sacrificial blood. This half verse belongs to the preceding, notwithstanding that Huram is mentioned as the maker. This is clear beyond doubt, from the fact that the same utensils are again introduced in the summary catalogue which follows (2 Chronicles 4:16).
Summary catalogue of the temple utensils and furniture . - 2 Chronicles 4:11-18. The brass work wrought by Huram.
The golden furniture of the holy place and the gilded doors of the temple. This section is found also in 1 Kings 7:40-50. The enumeration of the things wrought in brass coincides to a word, with the exception of trifling linguistic differences and some defects in the text, with 1 Kings 7:40-47. In 2 Chronicles 4:12 והכּתרות הגּלּות is the true reading, and we should so read in 1 Kings 7:41 also, since the גּלּות , circumvolutions, are to be distinguished from the כּתרות , crowns; see on 2 Chronicles 3:16. In 2 Chronicles 4:14 the first עשׂה is a mistake for עשׂר , the second for עשׂרה , 1 Kings 7:43; for the verb עשׂה is not required nor expected, as the accusative depends upon לעשׂות , 2 Chronicles 4:11, while the number cannot be omitted, since it is always given with the other things. In 2 Chronicles 4:16 מזלנות is an orthographic error for מזרקות ; cf. 2 Chronicles 4:11 and 1 Kings 7:44. ואת־כּל־כּליחם is surprising, for there is no meaning in speaking of the utensils of the utensils enumerated in 2 Chronicles 4:12-16 . According to 1 Kings 7:45, we should read האלּה כּל־הכּלים את . As to אביו , see on 2 Chronicles 2:12. מרוּק נחשׁת is accusative of the material, of polished brass; and so also ממרט נח , 1 Kings 7:45, with a similar signification. In reference to the rest, see the commentary on 1 Kings 7:40.
2 Chronicles 4:19-21
In the enumeration of the golden furniture of the holy place, our text diverges somewhat more from 1 Kings 7:48-50. On the difference in respect to the tables of the shew-bread, see on 1 Kings 7:48. In 2 Chronicles 4:20 the number and position of the candlesticks in the holy place are not stated as they are in 1 Kings 7:49, both having been already given in 2 Chronicles 4:7. Instead of that, their use is emphasized: to light them, according to the right, before the most holy place ( כּמּשׁפּט as in 2 Chronicles 4:7). As to the decorations and subordinate utensils of the candlesticks, see on 1 Kings 7:49. To זהב , 2 Chronicles 4:21 (accus. of the material), is added זהב מכלות הוּא , “that is perfect gold.” מכלה , which occurs only here, is synonymous with מכלל , perfection. This addition seems superfluous, because before and afterwards it is remarked of these vessels that they were of precious gold ( סגוּר זהב ), and it is consequently omitted by the lxx, perhaps also because מכלות was not intelligible to them. The words, probably, are meant to indicate that even the decorations and the subordinate utensils of the candlesticks (lamps, snuffers, etc.) were of solid gold, and not merely gilded.
2 Chronicles 4:22
מזמּרות , knives, probably used along with the snuffers for the cleansing and trimming of the candlesticks and lamps, are not met with among the utensils of the tabernacle, but are here mentioned (Chr. and Kings), and in 2 Kings 12:14 and Jeremiah 52:18, among the temple utensils. Along with the מזרקות , sacrificial vessels (see on 2 Chronicles 4:8), in 1 Chronicles 28:17 מזלנות , forks of gold, are also mentioned, which are not elsewhere spoken of. Among the utensils of the tabernacle we find only מזלגות of brass, flesh-forks, as an appurtenance of the altar of burnt-offering (Exodus 27:3; Exodus 38:3; Numbers 4:14; cf. 1 Samuel 2:13.), which, however, cannot be intended here, because all the utensils here enumerated belonged to the holy place. What purpose the golden forks served cannot be determined, but the mention of golden knives might lead us to presuppose that there would be golden forks as well. That the forks are not mentioned in our verse does not render their existence doubtful, for the enumeration is not complete: e.g., the ספּות , 1 Kings 7:50, are also omitted. כּפּות , vessels for the incense, and מחתּות , extinguishers, as in 1 Kings 7:50. Instead of דּלתותיו הבּית וּפּתח הבּית , “and as regards the opening (door) of the house, its door-leaves,” in 1 Kings 7:50 we have הבּית לדלתות והפּתת , “and the hinges of the door-leaves of the house.” This suggests that פתח is only an orthographical error for פּתת ; but then if we take it to be so, we must alter דּלתותיו into לדלתותיו . And, moreover, the expression הבּית פּתת , door-hinges of the house, is strange, as פּות properly denotes a recess or space between, and which renders the above-mentioned conjecture improbable. The author of the Chronicle seems rather himself to have generalized the expression, and emphasizes merely the fact that even the leaves of the doors in the most holy place and on the holy place were of gold; - of course not of solid gold; but they were, as we learn from 2 Chronicles 3:7, overlaid with gold. This interpretation is favoured by the simple זהב being used without the predicate סגוּר . To the sing. פּתח no objection can be made, for the word in its fundamental signification, “opening,” may easily be taken collectively.