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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 7:13-47

We have here an account of the brass-work about the temple. There was no iron about the temple, though we find David preparing for the temple iron for things of iron, 1 Chron. 29:2. What those things were we are not told, but some of the things of brass are here described and the rest mentioned. I. The brasier whom Solomon employed to preside in this part of the work was Hiram, or Huram (2 Chron. 4:11), who was by his mother's side an Israelite, of the tribe of Naphtali, by his father's side a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 7:26

And it was an hand breadth thick ,.... Or four fingers, as in Jeremiah 52:21 . and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup , with flowers of lilies , embroidered and engraven on it for ornament sake: it contained 2,000 baths ; which is reckoned about five hundred barrels of water; it was filled by the Gibeonites; in 2 Chronicles 4:5 , it is said to receive and hold 3,000 baths, which the Jewish writers F19 Shilte Hagibborim, c. 27. fol. 23. 4. thus... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 7:26

And it was a handbreadth thick [ i.e; three inches], and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup [Heb. and his lip like the work of the lip of a cup, i.e; curved outwards], with flowers of lilies [lit; " a blossom of lily." Keil understands "ornamented with lily flowers," but the strict interpretation the "lily blossom" being in apposition to "cup"—requires us to refer the words to the shape rather than to the ornamentation of the laver. The lip was curved like a... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 7:26

The palm or hand-breadth seems to have a little exceeded three inches.With flowers of lilies - Rather, “in the shape of a lily flower.” The rim was slightly curved outward, like the rim of an ordinary drinking-cup, or the edge of a lily blossom. See 2 Chronicles 4:5 margin. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 7:25-26

1 Kings 7:25-26. It stood upon twelve oxen Of solid brass, which was necessary to bear so great a weight. Probably the water was drawn by cocks out of the mouths of these oxen. It contained two thousand baths That is, five hundred barrels, the bath being a measure of the same bigness with the ephah, each containing about eight gallons. It appears from 2 Chronicles 4:5, that if filled up to the brim, it would receive three thousand baths. But it is probable they were not wont to put so... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 7:13-51

More concerning the temple (7:13-51)Israel seems to have lost the spiritual insight and artistic skill that in the time of Moses enabled its craftsmen to design and make the decoration for God’s dwelling place (cf. Exodus 31:1-6). Solomon therefore hired a craftsman from Tyre to do the bronze work and other decorations for the temple, with no apparent concern for the wrong religious ideas this man may have had. By coincidence this hired craftsman was named Hiram (GNB: Huram), the same as the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Kings 7:26

two thousand. 2 Chronicles 4:5 says three thousand. But 1 Kings 7:26 speaks of what it did (usually) contain; while 2 Chronicles 4:5 speaks of what it could " receive and hold". No bath in use is filled to its full capacity. baths. See App-51 . read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Kings 7:13-47

Furnishings outside the temple 7:13-47The Hiram of 1 Kings 7:13 was obviously a different person from the King of Tyre (1 Kings 5:1). God evidently guided this Hiram as he fashioned the furnishings (cf. Exodus 31:1-11). [Note: See Allen S. Maller, "Hiram from Tyre," Journal of Reform Judaism 29:2 (Spring 1982):41-42.] The two pillars on the temple porch were common features that flanked the main entrances to temples in Syria, Phoenicia, Cyprus, Assyria, and elsewhere in the ancient Near East at... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Kings 7:13-51

4. The temple furnishings 7:13-51The people also saw the glory of Yahweh reflected in the furnishings of the temple. These furnishings came from several sources but all contributed to the proper worship of Yahweh. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 7:1-51

Solomon’s PalaceThis c, besides giving a description of Solomon’s palace, contains an account of the principal utensils belonging to the Temple.1. Thirteen years] The Temple was of small extent compared with the royal palace, so that the time spent on the latter exceeded that required for the former. The various buildings mentioned in 1 Kings 7:2-8 seem together to have constituted the house of 1 Kings 7:1.2. He built also] RV ’for he built.’ The house of the forest of Lebanon] so called from... read more

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