1 Kings 7:13-20

The Temple’s Furnishings

13 King Solomon sent to Tyre and brought Huram,^[a]

14 whose mother was a widow from the tribe of Naphtali and whose father was from Tyre and a skilled craftsman in bronze. Huram was filled with wisdom, with understanding and with knowledge to do all kinds of bronze work. He came to King Solomon and did all the work assigned to him.

15 He cast two bronze pillars, each eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference.^[b]

16 He also made two capitals of cast bronze to set on the tops of the pillars; each capital was five cubits^[c] high.

17 A network of interwoven chains adorned the capitals on top of the pillars, seven for each capital.

18 He made pomegranates in two rows^[d] encircling each network to decorate the capitals on top of the pillars.^[e] He did the same for each capital.

19 The capitals on top of the pillars in the portico were in the shape of lilies, four cubits^[f] high.

20 On the capitals of both pillars, above the bowl-shaped part next to the network, were the two hundred pomegranates in rows all around.

1 Kings 7:13-20 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.

Cross References

• 1. ver 45; 2 Chronicles 2:13; 2 Chronicles 4:16
• 2. Exodus 31:2-5; S Exodus 35:31; Exodus 36:1; 2 Chronicles 2:14
• 3. 2 Chronicles 4:11,16
• 4. 2 Kings 11:14; 2 Kings 23:3; 2 Kings 25:17; 2 Chronicles 3:15; 2 Chronicles 4:12; 2 Chronicles 23:13; 2 Chronicles 34:31; Jeremiah 27:19; Jeremiah 52:17,21; Ezekiel 40:49
• 5. ver 20,42; 2 Kings 25:17; Jeremiah 52:22
• 6. ver 18; 2 Chronicles 3:16; 2 Chronicles 4:13; Jeremiah 52:23

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew "Hiram," a variant of "Huram" ; also in verses 40 and 45
• [b]. That is, about 27 feet high and 18 feet in circumference or about 8.1 meters high and 5.4 meters in circumference
• [c]. That is, about 7 1/2 feet or about 2.3 meters; also in verse 23
• [d]. Two Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts "made the pillars, and there were two rows"
• [e]. Many Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts "pomegranates"
• [f]. That is, about 6 feet or about 1.8 meters; also in verse 38