1 Kings 7:11-21

11 Above were also costly stones, cut to size, as well as cedar wood.
12 Around the great courtyard, as well as the inner courtyard of the Lord's temple and the portico of the temple, were three rows of dressed stone and a row of trimmed cedar beams.[a]
13 King Solomon had Hiram[b] brought from Tyre.
14 He was a widow's son from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a bronze craftsman. Hiram had great skill, understanding, and knowledge to do every kind of bronze work. So he came to King Solomon and carried out all his work.[c]

The Bronze Pillars

15 He cast two [hollow] bronze pillars: each 27 feet[d] high and 18 feet[e] in circumference.[f]
16 He also made two capitals of cast bronze to set on top of the pillars; seven and a half feet[g] was the height of the first capital, and seven and a half feet[h] was also the height of the second capital.
17 The capitals on top of the pillars had gratings of latticework, wreaths[i] made of chainwork-seven for the first capital and seven for the second.
18 He made the pillars with two encircling rows of pomegranates on the one grating to cover the capital on top; he did the same for the second capital.
19 And the capitals on top of the pillars in the portico were shaped like lilies, six feet[j] [high].
20 The capitals on the two pillars were also immediately above the rounded surface next to the grating, and 200 pomegranates were in rows encircling each[k] capital.
21 He set up the pillars at the portico of the sanctuary: he set up the right pillar and named it Jachin;[l] then he set up the left pillar and named it Boaz.[m]

1 Kings 7:11-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 7

This chapter gives an account of some buildings of Solomon for himself, 1Ki 7:1-12; and of other things for the use of the temple; of two pillars of brass, 1Ki 7:13-22; of the molten sea, 1Ki 7:23-26; and of ten bases, and ten layers on them, 1Ki 7:27-39; with other utensils and ornaments, 1Ki 7:40-51.

Footnotes 13

  • [a]. 1 Kg 6:36
  • [b]. Huram in 2 Ch 2:13; here not the king of Tyre (1 Kg 5:1)
  • [c]. 2 Ch 3:13-14
  • [d]. Lit 18 cubits
  • [e]. Lit 12 cubits
  • [f]. LXX adds and the thickness of the pillar was four fingers hollowed and similarly the second pillar
  • [g]. Lit five cubits
  • [h]. Lit five cubits
  • [i]. Lit tassels
  • [j]. Lit four cubits
  • [k]. Lit encircling the second
  • [l]. He will establish
  • [m]. In Him is strength
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