1 Kings 7:38

38 Also he made ten washing vessels of brass; one washing vessel took, (or held,) forty baths, and it was of four cubits; and he put each washing vessel by itself by each foundament by itself, that is, ten (and he put one washing vessel by itself on one foundation by itself, that is, ten altogether).

1 Kings 7:38 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 7:38

Then made he ten lavers of brass
There was but one in the tabernacle of Moses, and what became of that is not known: some Jewish writers ^F3 say it was placed in Solomon's temple, and these lavers, five on the right and five on the left of it; however, here were enough provided for the purpose for the priests to wash their burnt offerings in, ( 2 Chronicles 4:6 ) and were typical of the large provision made in the blood of Christ for the cleansing of his people; whose works, services, and sacrifices, as well as persons and garments, need continual washing in that blood; see ( Romans 12:1 ) ( Revelation 7:13 ) ,

one laver contained forty baths;
and a bath, according to Bishop Cumberland ^F4 held seven wine gallons, and two quarts and half a pint:

and every laver was four cubits:
that is, square; this was the diameter of it:

and upon every of the ten bases one laver;
for which they were made, even to set the lavers on, and were exactly of the same measure.

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 Targum, Jarchi, and Kimchi, in 2 Chron. iv. 6.
F4 Scripture Weights and Measures, c. 3. p. 70, 71.

1 Kings 7:38 In-Context

36 Also he graved in those walls, that were of brass, and in the corners, cherubims, and lions, and palms, as by the likeness of a man standing, that those seemed not graven, but put to by compass. (And he engraved on their bronze walls, and on their corners, cherubim, and lions, and palms, like the likeness of a man standing there, wherever there was an empty space, with spiral work all around it.)

37 By this manner he made ten foundaments, by one melting out, and one measure, and like engraving.

38 Also he made ten washing vessels of brass; one washing vessel took, (or held,) forty baths, and it was of four cubits; and he put each washing vessel by itself by each foundament by itself, that is, ten (and he put one washing vessel by itself on one foundation by itself, that is, ten altogether).

39 And he made ten foundaments, five at the right half of the temple, and five at the left half; and he set the sea at the right half of the temple, against the east, at the south. (And he put ten foundations, five on the right side of the Temple, and five on the left side; and he put the Sea on the right side of the Temple, at the southeast corner.)

40 Also Hiram made cauldrons, and pans, and wine vessels; and he made perfectly all the work of king Solomon in the temple of the Lord. (And Hiram made cauldrons, and pans, and basins; and so he finished all the work for King Solomon for the Temple of the Lord.)