1 Kings 7:38

38 fecit quoque decem luteres aereos quadraginta batos capiebat luter unus eratque quattuor cubitorum singulosque luteres per singulas id est decem bases posuit

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.


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 scalpsit quoque in tabulatis illis quae erant ex aere et in angulis cherubin et leones et palmas quasi in similitudinem stantis hominis ut non celata sed adposita per circuitum viderentur
37 in hunc modum fecit decem bases fusura una et mensura scalpturaque consimili
38 fecit quoque decem luteres aereos quadraginta batos capiebat luter unus eratque quattuor cubitorum singulosque luteres per singulas id est decem bases posuit
39 et constituit decem bases quinque ad dexteram partem templi et quinque ad sinistram mare autem posuit ad dexteram partem templi contra orientem ad meridiem
40 fecit ergo Hiram lebetas et scutras et amulas et perfecit omne opus regis Salomonis in templo Domini
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.