the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Encyclopedias
Sea Molten
Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
or Sea, Molten. The immense brazen reservoir which, with smaller lavers [LAVER], stood in the court of Solomon's temple, was thus, by hyperbole, denominated. It was of a hemispherical figure, ten cubits in width, five deep, and thirty in circumference. In , it is stated to have contained 2000 baths, equal to 16,000 gallons; but in , it is said to have contained 3000 baths, and the latter estimate is followed by Josephus. It was probably capable of holding the larger quantity, but did not usually contain more that the smaller. It was decorated on the upper edge with figures resembling lilies in bloom, and was enriched with various ornamental objects; and it rested, or seemed to rest, upon the backs of twelve oxen, three looking to the north, three to the east, three to the south, and three to the west (;; . The conception, and still more the successful execution of this great work, gives a very favorable idea of the state of the metallurgical arts in the time of Solomon.
Public Domain.
Kitto, John, ed. Entry for 'Sea Molten'. "Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature". https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/kbe/s/sea-molten.html.
