Lexical Summary maabeh: Thicket, dense growth Original Word: מַעֲבֶה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance clay From abah; properly, compact (part of soil), i.e. Loam -- clay. see HEBREW abah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom abah Definition thickness, compactness NASB Translation clay (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs מַעֲבֶה noun [masculine] si vera lectio, thickness, compactness; — בְּמַעֲבֵה הָאֲדָמָה 1 Kings 7:46 in the compactness of the soil, i.e. clayey ground or clay mould = 2 Chronicles 4:17 (where ᵑ0 ׳בַּעֲבִי הָ); but read doubtless in both בְּמַעְבֶּרֶת אֲדָמָה at the ford of Adamah, see GFMJudges 7:22 BenzK. עָבוֺת see עבת. עבט (perhaps √ of following; compare Assyrian ubbu‰u° (II. of אבט [= עבט ?]) be pledged DlHWB 6; Aramaic (Talmud) עֲבִיטָה pledge, עֲבַט Ithpe`el be taken in pledge; but WeJoel 2:7 thinks עֲבוֺט Aramaic loan-word, and compare Arabic Topical Lexicon Setting in Scripture Maʿăveh occurs once, in the record of Solomon’s great building campaign: “The king had them cast in clay molds in the plain of the Jordan between Succoth and Zarethan” (1 Kings 7:46). The word designates the compacted clay bed that served as a casting pit for the bronze furnishings of the Temple. Geographic and Historical Background The plain of the Jordan is a broad alluvial terrace whose fine, water-deposited soil can be puddled into dense clay. Situated between the ancient sites of Succoth and Zarethan—both within the boundaries allotted to the tribe of Gad—the location offered abundant fuel, water, and raw materials for large-scale metallurgy. Archeological parallels from the Late Bronze Age confirm that open-air earthen foundries were common in the region, where molten metal was channeled into cavities cut into clay embankments. By placing his foundry in this valley rather than on the Temple Mount, Solomon kept noxious fumes away from Jerusalem and ensured a supply chain of timber from nearby forests and ore from Transjordan. Material Culture and Technology Maʿăveh underscores the sophistication of Israel’s artisans. Hiram of Tyre supervised the operation (1 Kings 7:13-14), but the infrastructure belonged to Solomon. The term points to a prepared clay matrix, rammed and dried to withstand the thermal shock of molten bronze. In effect, the “belly” of the earth became a mold, large enough to receive the molten metal for the twin pillars Jachin and Boaz, the massive laver “Sea,” and numerous shovels, basins, and utensils. The process required precise knowledge of alloy ratios (copper, tin, and trace metals) and bellows-driven furnace temperatures approaching 1,150 °C. The one Hebrew word silently attests to the integration of Canaanite, Phoenician, and Israelite skills under theocratic oversight. Theological Significance 1. Divine Provision. The earthen maʿăveh provided the means to fashion vessels devoted exclusively to the worship of the LORD. The very soil of the promised land served God’s redemptive purposes, reflecting His capacity to sanctify ordinary elements for sacred ends. Prophetic Echoes and Typology The Jordan valley, scene of Israel’s entry into Canaan (Joshua 3) and Elijah’s translation (2 Kings 2:11), appears again as the foundry of Temple vessels. Each event marks a transition: from wilderness to inheritance, from prophetic ministry to successor, from raw ore to consecrated bronze. Maʿăveh ties these moments together, suggesting that critical thresholds are forged in hidden, humbling settings before they manifest in public worship. Lessons for Ministry Today • Hidden Preparation. Visible ministry is often produced in secluded, even messy “clay pits.” Leaders should not despise seasons of obscurity where God refines both character and gifting. Summary Maʿăveh refers to the compacted clay ground used as a casting mold for the bronze articles of Solomon’s Temple. Though mentioned only once, it opens a window onto Israel’s technological aptitude, God’s use of material creation for sacred purposes, and the quiet processes by which He prepares vessels for His glory. Forms and Transliterations בְּמַעֲבֵ֖ה במעבה bə·ma·‘ă·ḇêh bəma‘ăḇêh bemaaVehLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Kings 7:46 HEB: יְצָקָ֣ם הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ בְּמַעֲבֵ֖ה הָאֲדָמָ֑ה בֵּ֥ין NAS: cast them, in the clay ground KJV: cast them, in the clay ground INT: cast the king the clay ground between 1 Occurrence |
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hold, keep, guard).