“Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof.”
Altar of holocausts, much larger than that of Moses. The one which was built after the captivity, was a square of fifteen cubits. This of Solomon was only ten in height. A sloping ascent was made up to it, according to Josephus; (Jewish Wars vi. 5., or v. 14.) or the steps were closed in, if we believe others. See Exodus xxvii. 1., and xx. 26. It is thought (Calmet) that the inside of the altar was filled with earth, (Menochius) or with rough stones: (Exodus xx. 24.; Du Hamel) but that is not certain, with regard to the brazen altar. See 1 Machabees iv. 44, 47. (Calmet)
“Also he made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits the height thereof; and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about. from: Heb. from his brim to his brim”
Sea, or great brazen vessel, and some other things that were not in the tabernacle of Moses, whose plan was followed, but with greater magnificence. (Worthington)
“And under it was the similitude of oxen, which did compass it round about: ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about. Two rows of oxen were cast, when it was cast.”
Oxen. In 3 Kings vii. 24., we read Hebrew, “knops,” (Haydock) or “apples.” — Of ten. Hebrew, “ten in a cubit.” Hence there must have been 600 heads of oxen, as the sea was thirty cubits in circumference, and there were two rows. (Calmet) — Others suppose that there were only five in each row, or only one in each cubit. See Vatable and 3 Kings. The Septuagint and Syriac omit this verse. (Calmet) — Yet it is found in the best editions of the Septuagint. (Haydock)
“It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.”
Cast. Hebrew adds, “when it (the sea) was cast.” (Haydock) — They were done at the same time, (Tirinus) and were perhaps intended to let out the water. The twelve oxen, which supported the sea, were not cast along with it. (Du Hamel)
“And the thickness of it was an handbreadth, and the brim of it like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies; and it received and held three thousand baths. with flowers: or, like a lilyflower”
Three. 3 Kings two, may specify the usual quantity that was contained, though the vessel would absolutely hold a thousand measures, or baths, more. (Haydock)
“He made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them: such things as they offered for the burnt offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to wash in. such: Heb. the work of burnt offering”
Holocaust, as well as all the necessary utensils. — Priests. They did not bathe in the sea, but drew water into other vessels. The Chaldean supposes that the work of Beseleel was for the high priest alone. (Calmet)
“Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass.”
Hall, (basilicam.) Septuagint use the same term (aule) as just before is rendered court; and the Protestants make no distinction, though the Hebrew terms be different. Septuagint render chatsar, “the court” of the people. There, we know, that Solomon had his tribune, chap. vi. 13. Ezechiel (xliii. 14.) distinguishes two; the great, lower or outward, (Calmet chatsar) or court, and that of the priests, (Haydock) which he styles the less, &c. The principal door lay to the east.
“And he set the sea on the right side of the east end, over against the south.”
Right, though to the left of those who entered the temple.
“To wit, the two pillars, and the pommels, and the chapiters which were on the top of the two pillars, and the two wreaths to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were on the top of the pillars;”
Pommels, (epistylia.) Hebrew, “cordons,” or rows of pomegranates, (3 Kings vii. 18.) each consisting of one hundred; so that as the two pillars were adorned with a double row, both together would have four hundred. (Calmet) — The precise number is fixed at ninety-six for each row, Jeremias lii. 23. (Tirinus)
“The pots also, and the shovels, and the fleshhooks, and all their instruments, did Huram his father make to king Solomon for the house of the LORD of bright brass. bright: Heb. made bright, or, scoured”
His father. Hebrew Abib, which is considered by some as a surname, (Menochius) or the title may be given to Hiram, on account of his skill. (Calmet) — He is so called by the king of Tyre, (chap. ii. 13.) for having instructed him in the true faith. (Worthington)
“In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredathah. clay: Heb. thicknesses of the ground”
Saredatha, or Sarthan, (3 Kings vii. 46.) not far from Bethsan, 3 Kings iv. 12. (Calmet)
“And the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, made he of gold, and that perfect gold; perfect: Heb. perfections of gold”
Flowers. They represented lilies or other flowers (Tirinus) full-blown, when the lamps were burning. All the branches were of pure gold. (Calmet)
“And the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and the censers, of pure gold: and the entry of the house, the inner doors thereof for the most holy place, and the doors of the house of the temple, were of gold. basons: or, bowls”
Mortars,to hold the fine flour. (Menochius) — And thus. Here the fifth chapter commences, in Hebrew and Septuagint.