2 Chronicles 4

King James Version

Full text for 2 Chronicles Chapter 4

1¶ Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof.

2Also 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.

3And 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.

4It 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.

5And 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.

6He 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.

7And he made ten candlesticks of gold according to their form, and set [them] in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left.

8He made also ten tables, and placed [them] in the temple, five on the right side, and five on the left. And he made an hundred basons of gold.

9Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass.

10And he set the sea on the right side of the east end, over against the south.

11¶ And Huram made the pots, and the shovels, and the basons. And Huram finished the work that he was to make for king Solomon for the house of God;

12[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;

13And four hundred pomegranates on the two wreaths; two rows of pomegranates on each wreath, to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which [were] upon the pillars.

14He made also bases, and lavers made he upon the bases;

15One sea, and twelve oxen under it.

16The 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.

17In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredathah.

18Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance: for the weight of the brass could not be found out.

19And Solomon made all the vessels that [were for] the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables whereon the shewbread [was set];

20Moreover the candlesticks with their lamps, that they should burn after the manner before the oracle, of pure gold;

21And the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, [made he of] gold, [and] that perfect gold;

22And 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Solomon oversaw the construction of significant Temple furnishings, including a large brazen altar and a molten sea supported by twelve oxen, primarily for priestly washing. He also commissioned ten lavers for burnt offerings, ten golden candlesticks, and ten tables, along with numerous golden and brass vessels. Huram completed many brass items, cast in the Jordan plain, which were so abundant their weight could not be measured. The chapter concludes by detailing the pure gold items, such as the altar, shewbread tables, and the Temple's golden doors.

Medium Summary

Second Chronicles chapter four meticulously details the construction and furnishing of Solomon's Temple, focusing on the various implements and their materials. It begins with the dimensions of the brazen altar and the elaborate molten sea, a massive circular basin supported by twelve oxen, designed for the priests' purification. Ten lavers were also made for washing components of the burnt offerings, placed five on each side of the Temple. Further golden furnishings included ten candlesticks, ten tables, and one hundred golden basons, alongside the construction of the priests' court and the great court with brass-overlaid doors. Huram, the skilled craftsman, completed numerous brass vessels and instruments, such as pots, shovels, fleshhooks, and the large pillars with their decorative elements, all cast in the plain of Jordan. The sheer quantity of these brass items was so immense that their weight could not be determined. Finally, the text enumerates the items made of pure gold, including the altar, tables for the shewbread, candlesticks with their lamps, and various smaller implements like tongs, snuffers, and censers, concluding with the golden doors of the Temple, including those for the most holy place.

Long Summary

Second Chronicles chapter four provides a detailed inventory and description of the principal furnishings and vessels crafted for Solomon's Temple, emphasizing the materials and quantities involved. The chapter opens with the construction of a large brazen altar, measuring twenty cubits in length and breadth, and ten cubits in height. Following this, the molten sea is described, a massive round basin ten cubits in diameter and five cubits high, with a circumference of thirty cubits. This sea rested upon twelve brass oxen, arranged in groups of three facing the cardinal directions, with their hinder parts inward, and its brim was adorned with lily flowers, capable of holding three thousand baths. Its primary function was for the priests to wash themselves, while ten smaller lavers, five on each side, were fashioned for washing the sacrifices for burnt offerings. The interior of the temple was further furnished with ten golden candlesticks, made according to their prescribed form, and ten tables, each set five on the right and five on the left. Additionally, one hundred golden basons were created, alongside the construction of the priests' court and the great court, whose doors were overlaid with brass. The molten sea's specific placement on the right side of the east end, over against the south, is also noted. Huram, the master craftsman, is credited with completing a multitude of brass items for King Solomon, including pots, shovels, and various basons. His work also encompassed the two large pillars with their pommels and chapiters, adorned with four hundred pomegranates arranged in two rows on each wreath. Furthermore, Huram crafted the bases and the lavers that rested upon them, as well as fleshhooks and other necessary instruments, all made of bright brass. These substantial brass castings were performed in the clay ground of the plain of Jordan, specifically between Succoth and Zeredathah. The sheer volume of these brass vessels was immense, so much so that their collective weight could not be ascertained. Beyond the brass, Solomon also commissioned numerous items of pure gold for the house of God. These included the golden altar for incense, the tables upon which the shewbread was placed, and the candlesticks with their lamps designed to burn before the oracle. Smaller, yet equally significant, golden implements such as flowers, lamps, tongs, snuffers, basons, spoons, and censers were also fashioned. The chapter concludes by highlighting that even the entry doors of the house, including the inner doors leading to the most holy place and the outer doors of the temple, were made of gold.

Core Concepts

  • Brazen AltarA large altar made of brass, twenty cubits square and ten cubits high, constructed for offerings in the Temple. It served as a central fixture for sacrificial worship.
  • Molten SeaA massive, round brass basin, ten cubits in diameter, supported by twelve oxen, holding three thousand baths of water. Its primary purpose was for the ritual washing of the priests.
  • Temple Furnishings (Brass)Various practical implements made of brass, including ten lavers for washing burnt offerings, pots, shovels, fleshhooks, and other instruments, indicating the functional aspects of the Temple service.
  • Temple Furnishings (Gold)Exquisite items crafted from pure gold, such as the golden altar, tables for the shewbread, ten candlesticks with their lamps, and numerous smaller vessels like basons, spoons, and censers, signifying the sacredness and preciousness of divine worship.
  • Huram's CraftsmanshipThe skilled artisan responsible for casting and completing many of the brass elements for the Temple, including the large pillars, the molten sea, and various practical vessels, demonstrating the specialized labor involved in the Temple's construction.
  • Abundance of MaterialsThe immense quantity of brass used for the Temple vessels, so vast that its weight could not be determined, underscoring the scale of Solomon's undertaking and the wealth dedicated to God's house.
  • Ritual PurityThe provision of the molten sea for priests' washing and the lavers for cleansing sacrificial parts, highlighting the emphasis on ritual cleanliness required for worship and service within the Temple.