2 Chronicles 4

1 King Solomon had a bronze altar made, which was 30 feet square and 15 feet high. 1
2 He also made a round tank of bronze, 7 1/2 feet deep, 15 feet in diameter, and 45 feet in circumference.
3 All around the outer edge of the rim of the tank were two rows of decorations, one above the other. The decorations were in the shape of bulls, which had been cast all in one piece with the rest of the tank.
4 The tank rested on the backs of twelve bronze bulls that faced outward, three facing in each direction.
5 The sides of the tank were 3 inches thick. Its rim was like the rim of a cup, curving outward like the petals of a flower. The tank held about 15,000 gallons.
6 They also made ten basins, five to be placed on the south side of the Temple and five on the north side. They were to be used to rinse the parts of the animals that were burned as sacrifices. The water in the large tank was for the priests to use for washing. 2
7 They made ten gold lampstands according to the usual pattern, and ten tables, and placed them in the main room of the Temple, five lampstands and five tables on each side. They also made a hundred gold bowls. 3
9 They made an inner courtyard for the priests, and also an outer courtyard. The doors in the gates between the courtyards were covered with bronze.
10 The tank was placed near the southeast corner of the Temple.
11 Huram also made pots, shovels, and bowls. He completed all the objects that he had promised King Solomon he would make for the Temple: The two columns The two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the columns The design of interwoven chains on each capital The 400 bronze pomegranates arranged in two rows around the design of each capital The ten carts The ten basins The tank The twelve bulls supporting the tank The pots, shovels, and forks Huram the master metalworker made all these objects out of polished bronze, as King Solomon had commanded, for use in the Temple of the Lord.
17 The king had them all made in the foundry between Sukkoth and Zeredah in the Jordan Valley.
18 So many objects were made that no one determined the total weight of the bronze used.
19 King Solomon also had gold furnishings made for the Temple: the altar and the tables for the bread offered to God;
20 the lampstands and the lamps of fine gold that were to burn in front of the Most Holy Place, according to plan;
21 the flower decorations, the lamps, and the tongs;
22 the lamp snuffers, the bowls, the dishes for incense, and the pans used for carrying live coals. All these objects were made of pure gold. The outer doors of the Temple and the doors to the Most Holy Place were overlaid with gold.

2 Chronicles 4 Commentary

Chapter 4

The furniture of the temple.

- Here is a further account of the furniture of God's house. Both without doors and within, there was that which typified the grace of the gospel, and shadowed out good things to come, of which the substance is Christ. There was the brazen altar. The making of this was not mentioned in the book of Kings. On this all the sacrifices were offered, and it sanctified the gift. The people who worshipped in the courts might see the sacrifices burned. They might thus be led to consider the great Sacrifice, to be offered in the fulness of time, to take away sin, and put an end to death, which the blood of bulls and goats could not possibly do. And, with the smoke of the sacrifices, their hearts might ascend to heaven, in holy desires towards God and his favour. In all our devotions we must keep the eye of faith fixed upon Christ. The furniture of the temple, compared with that of the tabernacle, showed that God's church would be enlarged, and his worshippers multiplied. Blessed be God, there is enough in Christ for all.

Cross References 3

  • 1. 4.1Exodus 27.1, 2.
  • 2. 4.6Exodus 30.17-21.
  • 3. 4.7Exodus 25.31-40.+O+N4.8Exodus 25.23-30.

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. [Probable text] All around . . . tank; [Hebrew unclear.]
  • [b]. [Probable text (see 1 K 7.40-45)] ten; [Hebrew] he made.
  • [c]. [One ancient translation] all these objects; [Hebrew] all their objects.
  • [d]. zeredah [(see Zarethan, 1 K 7.46).]

2 Chronicles 4 Commentaries

Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.