EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)
(31)
And the mouth.—This is most obscure, and in our version unintelligible. Keil renders it: “And the mouth of it (the laver) was within the chapiter, and in a cubit above it; and the mouth of it (the chapiter) was round, after the manner of pedestal, a cubit and a half; and upon the mouth was carved work, and the panels of it (the mouth) were square, not round.” But the rendering of the word “mouth,” now for the laver, now for the chapiter, is arbitrary, and the whole is still obscure. As the circular stand (or chapiter) was half a cubit deep, it looks as if the lower surface of the laver was a cubit above the “mouth.” If the laver were emptied by a cock near the bottom, this circular stand may have received the drippings. And as the top of this base would be square on plan, and the stand circular, there would be, of course, spaces left at each corner, which may possibly be the engraved “panels” referred to.
1 Kings 7:31.
The mouth of it — So he calls that part in the top of the base which was left hollow, that the foot of the laver might be let into it.
Within the chapiter — Within the little base, which he calls
the chapiter, because it rose up from, and stood above the great base.
And above — Above the chapiter; for the mouth went up and grew wider like a funnel.
Was a cubit — In height, (
1 Kings 7:35,) whereof half a cubit was above the chapiter or little base, and the other half below it.
A cubit and half — In compass.
Four-square — So the innermost part, called the mouth, was round, but the outward part was square, as when a circle is made within a quadrangle.
7:13-47 The two brazen pillars in the porch of the temple, some think, were to teach those that came to worship, to depend upon God only, for strength and establishment in all their religious exercises. Jachin, God will fix this roving mind. It is good that the heart be established with grace. Boaz, In him is our strength, who works in us both to will and to do. Spiritual strength and stability are found at the door of God's temple, where we must wait for the gifts of grace, in use of the means of grace. Spiritual priests and spiritual sacrifices must be washed in the laver of Christ's blood, and of regeneration. We must wash often, for we daily contract pollution. There are full means provided for our cleansing; so that if we have our lot for ever among the unclean it will be our own fault. Let us bless God for the fountain opened by the sacrifice of Christ for sin and for uncleanness.
It seems impossible to determine what is meant by the "mouth" of the laver, or what by its "chapiter."
27-39. he made ten bases of brass—These were trucks or four-wheeled carriages, for the support and conveyance of the lavers. The description of their structure shows that they were elegantly fitted up and skilfully adapted to their purpose. They stood, not on the axles, but on four rests attached to the axles, so that the figured sides were considerably raised above the wheels. They were all exactly alike in form and size. The lavers which were borne upon them were vessels capable each of holding three hundred gallons of water, upwards of a ton weight. The whole, when full of water, would be no less than two tons [Napier].
The mouth of it; so he calls that part in the top of the base which was left hollow, that the foot of the laver might be let into it, and fastened in it.
Within the chapiter, i.e. within the little base, which he calls the
chapiter, because it rose up from and stood above the great base, as the head doth above the rest of the body.
And above; above the chapiter; for the mouth went up and grew wider, like a funnel.
Was a cubit; either in breadth; or rather in height,
1 Kings 7:35; whereof half a cubit was above the chapiter or little base, as is said,
1 Kings 7:35, and the other half is here implied to be within it, and e heart be established 2;These were trucks or four-wheeled carriages, for the support and conveyance of the lavers. The description of their structure shows that they were elegantly fitted up and skilfully adapted to their purpose. They stood, not on the axles, but on four rests attached to the axles, so that the figured sides were considerably raised above the wheels. They were all exactly alike in form and size. The lavers which were borne upon them were vessels capable each of holding three hundred gallons of water, upwards of a ton weight. The whole, when full of water, would be no less than two tons [Napier].
The mouth of it; so he calls that part in the top of the base which was left hollow, that the foot of the laver might be let into it, and fastened in it.
Within the chapiter, i.e. within the little base, which he calls the
chapiter, because it rose up from and stood above the great base, as the head doth above the rest of the body.
And above; above the chapiter; for the mouth went up and grew wider, like a funnel.
Was a cubit; either in breadth; or rather in height,
1 Kings 7:35; whereof half a cubit was above the chapiter or little base, as is said,
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