Ch. 2 Chronicles 4:1. The Altar of Brass

1. twenty cubits] The measurements of the altar belonging to Solomon’s Temple are not given in 1 Kings; but in Exodus 38:1 the altar made in the wilderness is described as measuring five cubits by five cubits, and in height three cubits. An altar three cubits high could perhaps be served from the ground, but one of ten cubits would require steps, which are forbidden in Exodus 20:26. In Ezekiel 43:17, however, it is assumed that the altar must have steps and a position is assigned them on the East, so that the priest ascending them faces the direction of the Holy of Holies which was on the West.

2–5 (= 1 Kings 7:23-26). The Molten Sea

2. he made a molten sea] Render, he made the sea of molten metal. The “sea” or great laver was a well-known feature in temples, being a symbol of the purity needful for those who come into the divine presence. So in the heavenly temple before the throne there is a “sea” of glass (Revelation 4:6).

five cubits the height thereof] R.V. the height thereof was five cubits.

a line of thirty cubits did compass it] i.e. it was thirty cubits in circumference.

3. under it was the similitude of oxen] This reading has the support of the LXX., but can hardly be correct. Read (cp. 1 Kings 7:24), under it there were knops, “knops” being embossed ornaments of some kind.

ten in a cubit] R.V. for ten cubits. According to the A.V. there would be ten “knops” in every eighteen inches of the circumference, but the Hebrew is more correctly represented by the R.V. Probably there is some corruption of the text here (and in 1 Kings 7:24).

Two rows of oxen were cast, when it was cast] Correct the reading as before and render, The knops were in two rows, cast when it was cast. It is mentioned as a triumph of the founder’s art that the laver was cast complete, with its ornaments from the first.

4. three … and three … and three … and three] Thus the base stood “foursquare,” satisfying the Hebrew idea of completeness; cp. Revelation 21:12-16.

5. the brim of it like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies] R.V. the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily.

three thousand baths] In 1 Kings 7:26, two thousand baths. Whether the textual corruption is to be attributed to 1 Kin. or to Chron. cannot be determined. The bath was a measure for liquids equal to about 8¼ gallons.

6 (cp. 2 Chronicles 4:14 and 1 Kings 7:38-39). The Lavers

6. such things as they offered for the burnt offering] R.V. such things as belonged to the burnt offering. The lavers were mounted on bases; cp. 2 Chronicles 4:14.

for the priests] Cp. Exodus 30:18-21; Exodus 38:8; Exodus 40:30-32.

7 (= 1 Kings 7:49). The Golden Candlesticks

ten candlesticks] Rather, the ten lamp-stands; cp. Exodus 40:4.

according to their form] R.V. according to the ordinance concerning them; cp. Exodus 25:31-37; Exodus 40:4.

in the temple] In 1 Kings 7:49 more precisely, before the oracle, i.e. before the Holy of Holies.

8. The Tables and Basons

8. ten tables] In 2 Chronicles 4:19 “the tables (plural) whereon the shewbread was set” are mentioned (cp. 1 Chronicles 28:16), but the parallel place (1 Kings 7:48) has “the table” (sing.), and elsewhere both in Chronicles and in the rest of the O.T. one table only is assigned to the shewbread (2 Chronicles 13:11; 2 Chronicles 29:18). Probably therefore the ten tables here mentioned were not for the shewbread.

basons] These were used for dashing the blood of the sacrifices against the altar.

9, 10. The Two Courts

9. the court of the priests, and the great court] There is a difficulty in this mention of two Temple courts by the Chronicler, for it may be doubted whether Solomon’s Temple, strictly speaking, had more than one court, for in “the other court” stood Solomon’s house (1 Kings 7:8). This “other court” seems to be called the “middle court” (2 Kings 20:4), and the “higher court” (Jeremiah 36:10). The “great court” (1 Kings 7:12) was perhaps a third court containing not only the king’s house, but all the royal buildings as well. The Heb. word for “court” in all the above passages is ḥâçer, but here the “court (ḥâççr) of the priests” is distinguished from a court called the “great court” (Heb. “great Azârâh”). Perhaps the Chronicler wishes to make the same distinction when he says that Solomon’s great prayer was offered (2 Chronicles 6:13) in “the court” (Heb. Azârâh).

10. the sea] See 2 Chronicles 4:2-5.

on the right side of the east end, over against the south] R.V. on the right side of the house eastward, toward the south; cp. 1 Kings 7:39.

11–18 (= 1 Kings 7:40-47). The Works of Huram

This section is taken from the parallel passage of 1 Kings. The variations are few.

11. Huram] For the form of the name see note on 2 Chronicles 2:3.

And Huram finished the work that he was to make for king Solomon for the house of God] R.V. So Huram made an end of doing the work that he wrought for king Solomon in the house of God.

12. two pillars] See 2 Chronicles 3:15-17.

the pommels] R.V. the bowls, as in 1 Kings 7:41 for the same Hebrew word, i.e. the bowl-shaped part of the capital of a pillar. “Pommel” = “knob.”

the chapiters] In modern English, “capitals.”

two wreaths] R.V. two networks, as in 1 Kings 7:41 for the same Hebrew word.

13. wreaths … pommels] R.V. networks … bowls. See notes on 2 Chronicles 4:12.

14. He made also bases, and lavers made he upon the bases] A simple correction of the Hebrew text gives, And the ten bases and the ten lavers on the bases, as in 1 Kings 7:43.

16. the fleshhooks] Heb. mizlagoth. In 2 Chronicles 4:11 and 1 Kings 7:45 (the parallel passages) the basons (Heb. mizraḳoth).

Huram his father] See note on 2 Chronicles 2:13.

17. in the clay ground] G. A. Smith (Historical Geography, p. 488) speaks of traces of old brick-fields found by Sir C. Warren in the Jordan valley. Succoth is perhaps Tell Deir ‘Alla, east of Jordan, north of the Jabbok.

Zeredathah] R.V. Zeredah (1 Kings 11:26); but in 1 Kings 7:46 (R.V.) Zarethan (cp. Joshua 3:16, R.V.). It was not far from Scythopolis (Bethshan), but its exact position is unknown.

18. Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance] In 1 Kings 7:47, And Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because they were exceeding many.

19–5:1 (= 1 Kings 7:48-51). The Vessels of Gold. The Completion of the Work

19. that were for the house] R.V. that were in the house.

the tables whereon the shewbread was set] R.V. the tables whereon was the shewbread. In 1 Kings 7:48 (parallel passage), the table (sing.); a reading probably to be accepted here also; cp. note on 2 Chronicles 4:8.

20. moreover the candlesticks] R.V. and the candlesticks. See 2 Chronicles 4:7, note.

after the manner] R.V. according to the ordinance.

the oracle] See note on 2 Chronicles 3:16.

21. the flowers] These were ornaments on the golden candlesticks; cp. Exodus 37:19.

22. the censers] R.V. the firepans, in which fire was carried to and from the altar.

and the entry] R.V. and as for the entry.

the doors of the house of the temple] R.V. the doors of the house, to wit, of the temple. The “[greater] house” or “temple” is here distinguished from the “most holy place” or “shrine.” Cp. 2 Chronicles 3:5; 2 Chronicles 3:8.

were of gold] According to 1 Kings 7:50 the hinges were of gold; the doors themselves were of olive wood overlaid with gold (1 Kings 6:31-32).