Worthy.Bible » STRONG » 2 Chronicles » Chapter 4

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

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

Commentary on 2 Chronicles 4 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill   Keil & Delitzsch   Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible  

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.