The king then said, “Cut the living child in two, and give half to one and half to the other!”

At that time the people of Israel were divided in their loyalties. Half the people supported Tibni son of Ginath and wanted to make him king; the other half supported Omri.

I did not believe these things until I came and saw them with my own eyes. Indeed, I didn’t hear even half the story! ¹  Your wisdom and wealth ²  surpass what was reported to me.

But the prophet said to the king, “Even if you were to give me half your possessions, ¹  I could not go with you and eat and drink ²  in this place.

His servant Zimri, a commander of half of his chariot force, conspired against him. While Elah was drinking heavily ¹  at the house of Arza, who supervised the palace in Tirzah,

He made two bronze tops for the pillars; each was seven-and-a-half feet high. ¹ 

Inside the stand was a round opening that was a foot-and-a-half deep; it had a support that was two and one-quarter feet long. ¹  On the edge of the opening were carvings in square frames. ² 

He also made ten bronze movable stands. Each stand was six feet ¹  long, six feet ²  wide, and four-and-a-half feet ³  high.

He built an extension all around the temple; it was seven and a half feet high ¹  and it was attached to the temple by cedar beams.

Each of the first cherub’s wings was seven and a half feet long; its entire wingspan was 15 feet. ¹ 

The bottom floor of the extension was seven and a half feet ¹  wide, the middle floor nine feet ²  wide, and the third floor ten and a half ³  feet wide. He made ledges ⁴  on the temple’s outer walls so the beams would not have to be inserted into the walls. ⁵ 

He also made the large bronze basin called “The Sea.” ¹  It measured 15 feet ²  from rim to rim, was circular in shape, and stood seven-and-a-half feet ³  high. Its circumference was 45 feet. ⁴ 

On top of each stand was a round opening three-quarters of a foot deep; ¹  there were also supports and frames on top of the stands.

The four wheels were under the frames and the crossbars of the axles were connected to the stand. Each wheel was two and one-quarter feet ¹  high.

He collaborated ¹  with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they supported ²  him. ³ 

He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, ¹  and his father was a craftsman in bronze from Tyre. He had the skill and knowledge ²  to make all kinds of works of bronze. He reported to King Solomon and did all the work he was assigned.