Jeremiah 52:20-23

20 The two pillars, the one sea, and the twelve * bronze bulls that were under the sea, and the stands, which King Solomon had made for the house of the LORD -the bronze of all these vessels was 1beyond weight.
21 As for the pillars, the 2height of each pillar was eighteen * cubits, and it was twelve * cubits in 3circumference * and four fingers in thickness, and hollow.
22 Now a 4capital of bronze was on it; and the height of each capital was five cubits, with network and 5pomegranates upon the capital all around, all of bronze. And the second pillar was like these, including pomegranates.
23 There were ninety-six exposed pomegranates; all 6the pomegranates numbered a hundred on the network all around.

Jeremiah 52:20-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 52

This chapter contains the history of the besieging, taking, and destroying of Jerusalem; the moving cause of it, the wicked reign of Zedekiah, Jer 52:1-3; the instruments of it, the king of Babylon and his army, which besieged and took it, Jer 52:4-7; into whose hands the king of Judah, his sons, and the princes of Judah, fell; and were very barbarously and cruelly used by them, Jer 52:8-11. Then follows an account of the burning of the temple, the king's palace, and the houses in Jerusalem, and the breaking down of the walls of it, Jer 52:12-14; and of those that were carried captive, and of those that were left in the land by Nebuzaradan, Jer 52:15,16; and of the several vessels and valuable things in the temple, of gold, silver, and brass, it was plundered of, and carried to Babylon, Jer 52:17-23; and of the murder of several persons of dignity and character, Jer 52:24-27; and of the number of those that were carried captive at three different times, Jer 52:28-30; and the chapter is concluded with the exaltation of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and of the good treatment he met with from the king of Babylon to the day of his death, Jer 52:31-34.

Cross References 6

  • 1. 1 Kings 7:47; 2 Kings 25:16
  • 2. 1 Kings 7:15; 2 Kings 25:17; 2 Chronicles 3:15
  • 3. 1 Kings 7:15; 2 Kings 25:17; 2 Chronicles 3:15
  • 4. 1 Kings 7:16; 2 Kings 25:17
  • 5. 1 Kings 7:20, 42
  • 6. 1 Kings 7:20

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. So Gr and Syriac; Heb omits "the sea"
  • [b]. I.e. One cubit equals approx 18 in.
  • [c]. Lit "a line of 12 cubits would encircle it"
  • [d]. Lit "windward"
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