Bible Commentaries
2 Chronicles 4

Verse 1

Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof.

Moreover, he made an altar of brass. — This altar was a type of the cross of Christ, yea, of Christ himself. "We also have an altar," … Hebrews 13:10

And ten cubits the height thereof. — That all the people might see the burnt offerings, and be reminded of their sins and of their Saviour; for the ceremonial law was their gospel.

Verse 2

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.

Also he made a molten sea. — See on 1 Kings 7:23 , …

Verse 3

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.

The similitude of oxen. — Haply called knops. 1 Kings 7:24

Verse 4

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.

It stood upon twelve oxen. — Prefiguring, say some, the twelve apostles, who carried the water of life all the world over. See 1 Kings 7:25 .

Verse 5

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.

Three thousand baths. — See on 1 Kings 7:26 . There it is said "two thousand baths": Dicendum hic addi, …, salth Vatablus. This prophet addeth what is wanting in the other; ea enim est mens autheris huius libri, for that is the design of this our author.

Verse 6

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.

He made also ten lavers. — See on 1 Kings 7:37 .

Verse 7

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.

And he made ten candlesticks of gold, according to their form. — According to David’s pattern.

Five on the right hand. — See 1 Kings 7:49 .

Verse 8

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.

He made also ten tables. — Lyra holdeth that all these were for shewbread, each of them having twelve loaves weekly set thereon, one hundred thirty-two in all. In our heavenly "Father’s house is bread enough."

He made a hundred basons of gold. — To receive the blood of the sacrifices. The blood of Christ is most precious, and must not be trampled on.

Verse 9

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.

Furthermore he made the court. — See 1 Kings 6:30 .

And the great court, — i.e., The people’s court, called here gnazarah: Forte ex azar fit azirum, et inde asilum. haply because here God helped the people, when he heard their prayers, or when here they took sanctuary.

Verse 10

And he set the sea on the right side of the east end, over against the south.

And he set the sea. — See 1 Kings 7:39 .

Verse 11

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;

And Huram made the pots, and the shovels. — This diligent and exact description of these vessels of the temple showeth that all things needful to salvation are set down in the holy Scriptures, as Lavater well observeth.

Verse 12

[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;

And the chapiters. — Of these, see 1 Kings 7:16 .

Verse 13

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.

See 1 Kings 7:18 ; 1 Kings 7:20 .

Verse 14

He made also bases, and lavers made he upon the bases;

See on 1 Kings 7:27 , …

Verse 16

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.

Did Huram his father, — i.e., Whom Solomon called father for his age and great worth.

Verse 17

In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredathah.

In the clay ground. — In holes digged in the earth, without moulds did he cast them, say some.

Verse 22

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.

And the snuffers, … — See on 2 Chronicles 4:11 .