1 Kings 7:15

15 He made two bronze pillars, each one twenty-seven feet tall and eighteen feet around.

1 Kings 7:15 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 7:15

For he cast two pillars of brass, eighteen cubits high
apiece
In ( 2 Chronicles 3:15 ) they are said to be thirty five cubits high, which must be understood of the length or height of them both; and whereas that would allow but seventeen cubits and a half to a pillar, either the round number of eighteen is used, or half a cubit in each may be allowed, either for the base or pedestal into which they were put; or the chapiter at the top of them, into which they might go such a length, and so only what was seen is described:

and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about;
that was the circumference of them, and therefore their diameter must be four cubits. Eupolemus, an Heathen writer ^F14 speaks of these pillars, but he makes the circuit of them to be but ten cubits; and says they were equal in height with the temple, and stood on the right and left, and were made of brass, and covered with gold, the thickness of a finger.

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 Apud Euseb, Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 34. p. 450.

1 Kings 7:15 In-Context

13 King Solomon sent to Tyre and had Huram brought to him.

14 Huram's mother was a widow from the tribe of Naphtali. His father was from Tyre and had been skilled in making things from bronze. Huram was also very skilled and experienced in bronze work. So he came to King Solomon and did all the bronze work.

15 He made two bronze pillars, each one twenty-seven feet tall and eighteen feet around.

16 He also made two bronze capitals that were seven and one-half feet tall, and he put them on top of the pillars.

17 Then he made a net of seven chains for each capital, which covered the capitals on top of the two pillars.