1 Kings 7:23-26

The Reservoir

23 He made the cast [metal] reservoir,^[a] 15 feet^[b] from brim to brim, perfectly round. It was seven and a half feet^[c] high and 45 feet^[d] in circumference.

24 [Ornamental] gourds encircled it below the brim, 10 every half yard,^[e] completely encircling the reservoir. The gourds were cast in two rows when the reservoir was cast.

25 It stood on 12 oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The reservoir was on top of them and all their hindquarters were toward the center.

26 The reservoir was three inches^[f] thick, and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup or of a lily blossom. It held 11,000 gallons.^[g][h]

1 Kings 7:23-26 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

• [a] Lit sea
• [b] Lit 10 cubits
• [c] Lit five cubits
• [d] Lit 30 cubits
• [e] Lit 10 per cubit
• [f] Lit a handbreadth
• [g] Lit 2,000 baths
• [h] 2 Ch 4:2-5