1 Kings 7:38

38 And he maketh ten lavers of brass; forty baths doth the one laver contain, four by the cubit [is] the one laver, one laver on the one base [is] to the ten bases;

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.

---

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 And he openeth on the tablets of its spokes, and on its borders, cherubs, lions, and palm-trees, according to the void space of each, and additions round about.

37 Thus he hath made the ten bases; one casting, one measure, one form, have they all.

38 And he maketh ten lavers of brass; forty baths doth the one laver contain, four by the cubit [is] the one laver, one laver on the one base [is] to the ten bases;

39 and he putteth the five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house, and the sea he hath put on the right side of the house, eastward -- over-against the south.

40 And Hiram maketh the lavers, and the shovels, and the bowls; and Hiram completeth to do all the work that he made for king Solomon, [for] the house of Jehovah;