1 Kings 7:38

38 He also made ten bronze washbasins, each six feet in diameter with a capacity of 230 gallons, one basin for each of the ten washstands.

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 Everything and every available surface was engraved with cherubim, lions, and palm trees, bordered by arabesques.

37 The washstands were identical, all cast in the same mold.

38 He also made ten bronze washbasins, each six feet in diameter with a capacity of 230 gallons, one basin for each of the ten washstands.

39 He arranged five stands on the south side of The Temple and five on the north. The Sea was placed at the southeast corner of The Temple.

40 Hiram then fashioned the various utensils: buckets and shovels and bowls. Hiram completed all the work he set out to do for King Solomon on The Temple of God: