Matthew Poole's Commentary Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof. The altar of brass, 2 Chronicles 4:1. The molten sea upon twelve oxen, 2 Chronicles 4:2-5. The ten lavers, candlesticks, and tables, 2 Chronicles 4:6-8. The courts, and the instruments of brass, 2 Chronicles 4:9-18. The instruments of gold, 2 Chronicles 4:19-22. Quest. How could this be, when God had said, Thou shalt not go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon, Exodus 20:26, and steps were necessary for so high an altar as this was? Answ. 1. These steps were so made that there was no fear of this inconvenience. 2. That law was useful and fit when it was made; but afterwards, when the priests were commanded to wear linen breeches in their holy ministrations to cover their nakedness, Exodus 28:42, it was not necessary. 3. Howsoever God could undoubtedly dispense with his own law, as here he did; for he it was that gave these dimensions for the altar. Also he made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits the height thereof; and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about. A molten sea: of this and 2 Chronicles 4:3-5, &c., See Poole "1 Kings 7:23", &c. And under it was the similitude of oxen, which did compass it round about: ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about. Two rows of oxen were cast, when it was cast. No text from Poole on this verse. It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward. No text from Poole on this verse. And the thickness of it was an handbreadth, and the brim of it like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies; and it received and held three thousand baths. No text from Poole on this verse. He made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them: such things as they offered for the burnt offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to wash in. Ten lavers; of which see 1 Kings 7:38, &c. And he made ten candlesticks of gold according to their form, and set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left. According to their form; either, 1. the form which was appointed for them by God, who signified it to David. Or rather, 2. The old form which God prescribed to Moses, Exodus 25:31, &c., for so these were made. And this clause seems to be added here, because in many things there was a great variation from the old form, as in the posture of the cherubims, the height of the altar, and divers other things. He made also ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right side, and five on the left. And he made an hundred basons of gold. Ten tables; of which see 1 Kings 7:48. Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass. No text from Poole on this verse. And he set the sea on the right side of the east end, over against the south. No text from Poole on this verse. And Huram made the pots, and the shovels, and the basons. And Huram finished the work that he was to make for king Solomon for the house of God; Of these and the following verses See Poole "1 Kings 7:40", &c. To wit, the two pillars, and the pommels, and the chapiters which were on the top of the two pillars, and the two wreaths to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were on the top of the pillars; No text from Poole on this verse. And four hundred pomegranates on the two wreaths; two rows of pomegranates on each wreath, to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were upon the pillars. No text from Poole on this verse. He made also bases, and lavers made he upon the bases; No text from Poole on this verse. One sea, and twelve oxen under it. No text from Poole on this verse. The pots also, and the shovels, and the fleshhooks, and all their instruments, did Huram his father make to king Solomon for the house of the LORD of bright brass. His father, i.e. Solomon’s father; the relative being put before the antecedent, which is not unusual in the Hebrew tongue. And he is so called here, because Solomon usually called him by that name, out of that great respect which he bore to him for his excellent art and service which he did for him; it being usual to call great artists and inventors of things by this name; of which see Genesis 4:20,21. Or, Huram Abiu, or Abif, a man so called, or Huram Abi, as 2 Chronicles 2:18. In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredathah. No text from Poole on this verse. Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance: for the weight of the brass could not be found out. No text from Poole on this verse. And Solomon made all the vessels that were for the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables whereon the shewbread was set; Which were of gold; and so are distinguished from those ten tables mentioned 2 Chronicles 4:8, which seems to have been made of silver. Compare 1 Chronicles 28:16. Moreover the candlesticks with their lamps, that they should burn after the manner before the oracle, of pure gold; After the manner; according to the prescription of God to and by Moses. And the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, made he of gold, and that perfect gold; No text from Poole on this verse. And the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and the censers, of pure gold: and the entry of the house, the inner doors thereof for the most holy place, and the doors of the house of the temple, were of gold. To wit, in part; they were made of wood, 1 Kings 6:30,2 Kings 18:16, but covered with golden plates. |
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