1 Kings 7:15

15 ¹He cast ²two pillars of bronze. ³Eighteen cubits was the height of one pillar, and a line of twelve cubits measured its circumference. It was hollow, and its thickness was four fingers. The second pillar was the same.^[a]

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 And King Solomon sent and brought Hiram from Tyre.

14 He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze. And he was full of wisdom, understanding, and skill for making any work in bronze. He came to King Solomon and did all his work.

15 He cast two pillars of bronze. Eighteen cubits was the height of one pillar, and a line of twelve cubits measured its circumference. It was hollow, and its thickness was four fingers. The second pillar was the same.

16 He also made two capitals of cast bronze to set on the tops of the pillars. The height of the one capital was five cubits, and the height of the other capital was five cubits.

17 There were lattices of checker work with wreaths of chain work for the capitals on the tops of the pillars, a lattice for the one capital and a lattice for the other capital.

Cross References

• 1. For ver. 15-21, see 2 Chronicles 3:15-17
• 2. 2 Kings 25:17; 1 Chronicles 18:8; 2 Chronicles 4:12; Jeremiah 52:21-23
• 3. ver. 41

Footnotes

• [a]. Targum, Syriac (compare Septuagint and Jeremiah 52:21); Hebrew fingers. And a line of twelve cubits measured the circumference of the second pillar