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Texts -- 2 Chronicles 4:1-20 (NET)

Context
4:1 He made a bronze altar , 30 feet long , 30 feet wide , and 15 feet high . 4:2 He also made the big bronze basin called “The Sea .” It measured 15 feet from rim to rim , was circular in shape , and stood seven and one-half feet high . Its circumference was 45 feet . 4:3 Images of bulls were under it all the way around , ten every eighteen inches all the way around . The bulls were in two rows and had been cast with “The Sea .” 4:4 “The Sea” stood on top of twelve bulls . Three faced northward , three westward , three southward , and three eastward . “The Sea ” was placed on top of them, and they all faced outward . 4:5 It was four fingers thick and its rim was like that of a cup shaped like a lily blossom . It could hold 18,000 gallons . 4:6 He made ten washing basins ; he put five on the south side and five on the north side. In them they rinsed the items used for burnt sacrifices ; the priests washed in “The Sea .” 4:7 He made ten gold lampstands according to specifications and put them in the temple , five on the right and five on the left . 4:8 He made ten tables and set them in the temple , five on the right and five on the left . He also made one hundred gold bowls . 4:9 He made the courtyard of the priests and the large enclosure and its doors ; he plated their doors with bronze . 4:10 He put “The Sea ” on the south side , in the southeast corner. 4:11 Huram Abi made the pots , shovels , and bowls . He finished all the work on God’s temple he had been assigned by King Solomon . 4:12 He made the two pillars , the two bowl-shaped tops of the pillars , the latticework for the bowl-shaped tops of the two pillars , 4:13 the four hundred pomegranate-shaped ornaments for the latticework of the two pillars (each latticework had two rows of these ornaments at the bowl-shaped top of the pillar ), 4:14 the ten movable stands with their ten basins , 4:15 the big bronze basin called “The Sea ” with its twelve bulls underneath , 4:16 and the pots , shovels , and meat forks . All the items King Solomon assigned Huram Abi to make for the Lord’s temple were made from polished bronze . 4:17 The king had them cast in earthen foundries in the region of the Jordan between Succoth and Zarethan . 4:18 Solomon made so many of these items they did not weigh the bronze . 4:19 Solomon also made these items for God’s temple : the gold altar , the tables on which the Bread of the Presence was kept, 4:20 the pure gold lampstands and their lamps which burned as specified at the entrance to the inner sanctuary ,

Pericope

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Bible Dictionary

  • Solomon

    [ebd] peaceful, (Heb. Shelomoh), David's second son by Bathsheba, i.e., the first after their legal marriage (2 Sam. 12). He was probably born about B.C. 1035 (1 Chr. 22:5; 29:1). He succeeded his father on the throne in early man...
    [nave] SOLOMON Son of David by Bathsheba, 2 Sam. 12:24; 1 Kin. 1:13, 17, 21. Named Jedidiah, by Nathan the prophet, 2 Sam. 12:24, 25. Ancestor of Joseph, Matt. 1:6. Succeeds David to the throne of Israel, 1 Kin. 1:11-48; 2:12; 1...

  • Laver

    [ebd] (Heb. kiyor), a "basin" for boiling in, a "pan" for cooking (1 Sam. 2:14), a "fire-pan" or hearth (Zech. 12:6), the sacred wash-bowl of the tabernacle and temple (Ex. 30:18, 28; 31:9; 35:16; 38:8; 39:39; 40:7, 11, 30, etc.),...
    [isbe] LAVER - la'-ver (kiyor): 1. In the Tabernacle: Every priest in attendance on the altar of Yahweh was required to wash his hands and his feet before entering upon his official duties (Ex 30:19 ff). To this end a laver was ord...
    [smith] In the tabernacle, a vessel of brass containing water for the priests to wash their hands and feet before offering sacrifice. It stood in the fore offering sacrifice. It stood in the court between the altar and the door of t...
    [nave] LAVER Directions for making, Ex. 30:18-20. Situation of, in the tabernacle, tent of the congregation, and the altar, Ex. 40:7. Sanctified, Ex. 30:28; 40:11; Lev. 8:11. Used for washing, Ex. 40:30-32. Brazen, made by Solo...

  • Temple

    [nave] TEMPLE. Solomon's Called also Temple of the Lord, 2 Kin. 11:10; Holy Temple, Psa. 79:1; Holy House, 1 Chr. 29:3; House of God, 1 Chr. 29:2; 2 Chr. 23:9; House of the Lord, 2 Chr. 23:5, 12; Jer. 28:5; Father's House, John 2...

  • TEMPLE, A1

    [isbe] TEMPLE, A1 - tem'-p'l (hekhal, "palace"; sometimes, as in 1 Ki 6:3,5, etc.; Ezek 41:1,15 ff, used for "the holy place" only; bayith, "house," thus always in the Revised Version (British and American); hieron, naos): A. STRUC...

  • Master Workman

    [nave] MASTER WORKMAN, Prov. 8:30; 1 Cor. 3:10. Instances of Tubal-cain, Gen. 4:22; Bezaleel, Ex. 31:2-11; 35:30-35; Hiram, 1 Kin. 7:13-50; 2 Chr. 2:13, 14; 4:11-18. See: Arts and Crafts.

  • Hiram

    [ebd] high-born. (1.) Generally "Huram," one of the sons of Bela (1 Chr. 8:5). (2.) Also "Huram" and "Horam," king of Tyre. He entered into an alliance with David, and assisted him in building his palace by sending him able workme...
    [nave] HIRAM 1. Called Huram, king of Tyre. Builds a house for David, 2 Sam. 5:11; 1 Chr. 14:1; 2 Chr. 2:3. Aids Solomon in building the temple, 1 Kin. 5; 2 Chr. 2:3-16. Dissatisfied with cities given by Solomon, 1 Kin. 9:11-13. ...

  • Temple, Solomon's

    [ebd] Before his death David had "with all his might" provided materials in great abundance for the building of the temple on the summit of Mount Moriah (1 Chr. 22:14; 29:4; 2 Chr. 3:1), on the east of the city, on the spot where ...

  • SEA, THE MOLTEN; SEA, THE BRAZEN

    [isbe] SEA, THE MOLTEN; SEA, THE BRAZEN - mol'-t'n, or (yam mutsaq, yam hanechosheth): This was a large brazen (bronze) reservoir for water which stood in the court of Solomon's Temple between the altar and the temple porch, toward...

  • Altar

    [ebd] (Heb. mizbe'ah, from a word meaning "to slay"), any structure of earth (Ex. 20:24) or unwrought stone (20:25) on which sacrifices were offered. Altars were generally erected in conspicuous places (Gen. 22:9; Ezek. 6:3; 2 Kin...
    [isbe] ALTAR - ol'-ter (mizbeach, literally, "place of slaughter or sacrifice," from zabhach, which is found in both senses; bomos, (only in Acts 17:23), thusiasterion): I. CLASSIFICATION OF HEBREW ALTARS Importance of the Distinct...
    [nave] ALTAR Built by Noah, Gen. 8:20; Abraham, Gen. 12:7, 8; 13:18; 22:9; Isaac, Gen. 26:25; Jacob, Gen. 33:20; 35:1-7; Moses, Ex. 17:15; 24:4; Balaam, Num. 23:1, 14, 29; Joshua, Deut. 27:4-7; Josh. 8:30-32; Reubenites and Gadites...

  • POMMELS

    [ebd] (2 Chr. 4:12, 13), or bowls (1 Kings 7:41), were balls or "rounded knobs" on the top of the chapiters (q.v.).
    [smith] only in (2 Chronicles 4:12,13) In (1 Kings 7:41) "bowls." The word signifies convex projections belonging to the capitals of pillars.

  • HURAM

    [isbe] HURAM - hu'-ram (churam, "noble-born"): (1) Grandson of Benjamin (1 Ch 8:5). (2) King of Tyre in alliance with David and Solomon. So named in 2 Ch 2:3,11,12; 8:2; 9:10,21, but elsewhere written HIRAM (which see). (3) The Tyr...
    [smith] (noble born). A Benjamite; son of Bela, the first-born of the patriarch. (1 Chronicles 8:5) The form in which the name of the king of Tyre in alliance with David and Solomon --and elsewhere given as HIRAM, OR HURAM-- appe...

  • Sea, The molten

    [ebd] the great laver made by Solomon for the use of the priests in the temple, described in 1 Kings 7:23-26; 2 Chr. 4:2-5. It stood in the south-eastern corner of the inner court. It was 5 cubits high, 10 in diameter from brim to...

  • Lily

    [ebd] The Hebrew name shushan or shoshan, i.e., "whiteness", was used as the general name of several plants common to Syria, such as the tulip, iris, anemone, gladiolus, ranunculus, etc. Some interpret it, with much probability, a...
    [isbe] LILY - lil'-i (shushan (1 Ki 7:19), shoshannah (2 Ch 4:5; Song 2:1 f; Hos 14:5); plural (Song 2:16; 4:5; 5:13; 6:2 f; 7:2; Ecclesiasticus 39:14; 50:8); krinon (Mt 6:28; Lk 12:27)): The Hebrew is probably a loan word from the...
    [nave] LILY The principal chapiters of the temple ornamented with carvings of, 1 Kin. 7:19, 22, 26. Molded on the rim of the molten layer in the temple, 1 Kin. 7:26; 2 Chr. 4:5. Lessons of trust gathered from, Matt. 6:28-30; Luke...

  • Chapiter

    [ebd] the ornamental head or capital of a pillar. Three Hebrew words are so rendered. (1.) Cothereth (1 Kings 7:16; 2 Kings 25:17; 2 Chr. 4:12), meaning a "diadem" or "crown." (2.) Tzepheth (2 Chr. 3:15). (3.) Rosh (Ex. 36:38; 38:...
    [nave] CHAPITER, head of a pillar, Ex. 36:38; 1 Kin. 7:16-42; 2 Kin. 25:17; 2 Chr. 4:12, 13; Jer. 52:22.

  • Bowl

    [isbe] BOWL - bol: (1) The primitive Hebrews, like the wandering Bedouin of today, probably used bowls of wood, as less breakable than earthenware. Some hollow dish of the sort would be indispensable, even in the lowest stage of no...
    [nave] BOWL Made of gold: For the tabernacle, Ex. 25:29; 37:16; temple, 1 Kin. 7:50; 1 Chr. 28:17; 2 Chr. 4:8; of silver, Num. 4:7; 7:13, 19, 25, 31, 37, 43, 49, 55, 61, 67, 73, 79, 84. Stamped "Holiness to the Lord,'' Zech. 14:20...

  • SHOVEL

    [isbe] SHOVEL - shuv'-l: (1) rachath, is a wooden shovel used on the threshing-floor for winnowing the grain (Isa 30:24). (2) ya`, is used in various passages to indicate some instrument employed to carry away ashes from the altar ...

  • POMMEL

    [isbe] POMMEL - pum'-el (2 Ch 4:12,13): the Revised Version (British and American) reads "bowl" (which see).

  • Succoth

    [smith] (booths). An ancient town, first heard of in the account of the homeward journey of Jacob from Padan-aram. (Genesis 35:17) The name is derived from the fact of Jacob?s having there put up "booths" (succoth) for his cattle as...
    [nave] SUCCOTH 1. A city probably east of the Jordan. Jacob builds a house in, Gen. 33:17. Allotted to Gad, Josh. 13:27. People of, punished by Gideon, Judg. 8:5-8, 14-16. Located near the Jordan, 1 Kin. 7:46; 2 Chr. 4:17; Psa. ...

  • Handbreadth

    [isbe] HANDBREADTH - hand'-bredth (Tephach, Tophach, 1 Ki 7:26; 2 Ch 4:5; Ps 39:5; Ex 25:25; 37:12; Ezek 40:5,43; 43:13): A Hebrew linear measure containing 4 fingers, or digits, and equal to about 3 inches. See WEIGHTS AND MEASURE...
    [nave] HANDBREADTH, a measure, about four inches, Ex. 25:25; 1 Kin. 7:26; 2 Chr. 4:5; Psa. 39:5; Isa. 48:13; Ezek. 40:5, 43; Jer. 52:21. See: Span; Fingerbreadth.

  • BRIM

    [isbe] BRIM - qatseh or qetseh = "an extremity" (in a variety of applications and idioms), "border," "edge," "side," "shore" (Josh 3:15 the King James Version; the Revised Version (British and American) "brink"); also saphah or sep...
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Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • The Book of Samuel covers the period of Israel's history bracketed by Samuel's conception and the end of David's reign. David turned the kingdom over to Solomon in 971 B.C.3David reigned for 40 and one-half years (2 Sam. 2:11...
  • The altar (vv. 19, 22) refers to the altar of incense (cf. 7:48). This altar evidently stood in the west end of the holy place (cf. Exod. 30:6; 40:5; Lev. 16:2; Heb. 9:4, 7).The cherubim were figures of angels sculptured out ...
  • This Hiram was obviously a different person from the King of Tyre (5:1). God evidently guided him as he fashioned the furnishings (cf. Exod. 31:1-11).80The two pillars on the temple porch were common features that flanked the...
  • Chronicles covers a broader period of history than any other Old Testament book. It begins with Adam and ends with Anani who lived eight generations after King Jehoiachin (1 Chron. 3:24). If we allow 25 years for each generat...
  • Numbers in Chronicles That Disagree With Their Old Testament Parallels89HigherSameLowerParallel PassageEvaluation of ChroniclesA.1 Chron. 11:11300 slain by Jashobeam, not 8002 Sam. 23:8Scribal errorB.1 Chron. 18:4Hadadezer's ...
  • Even though 1 and 2 Chronicles give one continuous story the emphasis in 2 Chronicles is different from that in 1 Chronicles. In 1 Chronicles the emphasis is the importance of the temple in national life. However in 2 Chronic...
  • (Continued from notes on 1 Chronicles)III. The reign of Solomon chs. 1-9A. Solomon's wisdom and prosperity ch. 1B. The building of the temple 2:1-5:11. Preparations for building the temple ch. 22. The temple proper 3:1-93. Th...
  • The cherubim (3:10-13) represented angelic beings (cf. Gen. 3:24). Probably they looked more like the sculptured combination human-animal-bird creatures that archaeologists have discovered in the ancient Assyrian and Babyloni...
  • This section reprises the destruction of the temple just described. Before the Babylonians burned the temple, they looted it. This was the second time they had done this, the first being in 597 B.C. (27:16; 2 Kings 24:13; cf....
  • 8:16 The Lord next took Ezekiel to the main entrance into the temple, to a place between the altar of burnt offerings and the temple porch. There Ezekiel saw about 25 men bowing down to the ground with their backs to the temp...
  • Some scholars view this section as the central one in chapters 40-48.536The altar was at the very center of the whole temple complex, and it was the centerpiece of the system of worship represented in the new temple complex.4...
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