The Altar and Basins

He made a bronze altar(A) 30 feet[a] long, 30 feet wide, and 15 feet[b] high.

Then he made the cast metal basin,[c](B) 15 feet from brim to brim, perfectly round. It was 7½ feet[d] high and 45 feet[e] in circumference. The likeness of oxen[f] was below it, completely encircling it, ten every half yard,[g] completely surrounding the basin. The oxen were cast in two rows when the basin was cast. It stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The basin was on top of them and all their hindquarters were toward the center. The basin was three inches[h] thick, and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup or a lily blossom. It could hold eleven thousand gallons.[i]

He made ten basins for washing and he put five on the right and five on the left.(C) The parts of the burnt offering were rinsed in them,(D) but the basin was used by the priests for washing.

The Lampstands, Tables, and Courts

He made the ten gold lampstands according to their specifications and put them in the sanctuary, five on the right and five on the left.(E) He made ten tables and placed them in the sanctuary, five on the right and five on the left.(F) He also made a hundred gold bowls.

He made the courtyard(G) of the priests and the large court, and doors for the court. He overlaid the doors with bronze. 10 He put the basin on the right side, toward the southeast.(H) 11 Then Huram[j](I) made(J) the pots, the shovels, and the bowls.

Completion of the Bronze Furnishings

So Huram finished doing the work that he was doing for King Solomon in God’s temple: 12 two pillars; the bowls and the capitals on top of the two pillars; the two gratings for covering both bowls of the capitals that were on top of the pillars; 13 the four hundred pomegranates for the two gratings (two rows of pomegranates for each grating covering both capitals’ bowls on top of the pillars(K)). 14 He also made the water carts[k](L) and the basins on the water carts. 15 The one basin and the twelve oxen underneath it, 16 the pots, the shovels, the forks, and all their utensils—Huram-abi[l](M) made them for King Solomon for the Lord’s temple. All these were made of polished bronze. 17 The king had them cast in clay molds in the Jordan Valley between Succoth and Zeredah. 18 Solomon made all these utensils in such great abundance that the weight of the bronze was not determined.

Completion of the Gold Furnishings

19 Solomon also made all the equipment in God’s temple: the gold altar; the tables on which to put the Bread of the Presence;(N) 20 the lampstands and their lamps of pure gold to burn in front of the inner sanctuary according to specifications;(O) 21 the flowers, lamps, and gold tongs—of purest gold; 22 the wick trimmers, sprinkling basins, ladles,[m] and firepans—of purest gold; and the entryway to the temple, its inner doors to the most holy place, and the doors of the temple sanctuary—of gold.

Footnotes

  1. 4:1 Lit 20 cubits
  2. 4:1 Lit 10 cubits, also in v. 2
  3. 4:2 Lit sea
  4. 4:2 Lit five cubits
  5. 4:2 Lit 30 cubits
  6. 4:3 = gourds in 1Kg 7:24
  7. 4:3 Lit 10 per cubit
  8. 4:5 Lit a handbreadth
  9. 4:5 Text emended; MT reads 3,000 baths in 1Kg 7:26
  10. 4:11 = Hiram in 1Kg 7:13,40,45
  11. 4:14 Lit the stands
  12. 4:16 Lit Huram my father
  13. 4:22 Or dishes, or spoons; lit palms

Things for the Temple

Solomon made a bronze altar. It was 30 feet long, 30 feet wide and 15 feet tall. Then Solomon used melted bronze to make a large bowl, which was called the Sea. It was round and measured 15 feet across from edge to edge. It was over 7 feet tall, and it measured 45 feet around. There were carvings of bulls under the rim of the bowl. There were 10 bulls in every 1½ feet. They were put in two rows around the bowl when it was made.

The bowl rested on 12 statues of bulls. Three bulls faced north, 3 faced west, 3 faced south and 3 faced east. The bowl was on top of them. They faced outward from the center of the bowl. The bowl was 3 inches thick. Its rim was like the rim of a cup. It looked like a lily blossom. It could hold about 17,500 gallons.

Solomon made 10 smaller bowls. He put 5 of them on the south side. And he put 5 of them on the north. They were to be used to wash the animals for the burnt offerings. But the large bowl was to be used by the priests for washing.

Solomon made 10 lampstands of gold, following the plans for them. He put them in the Temple. He put 5 on the south side and 5 on the north.

Solomon made 10 tables and put them in the Temple. He put 5 on the south side and 5 on the north. And he used gold to make 100 other bowls.

Solomon also made the priests’ courtyard and the large courtyard. He made the doors that opened to the courtyard and covered them with bronze. 10 Then he put the large bowl on the south side. He put it in the Temple’s southeast corner.

11 He made the pots, shovels and bowls. So Huram finished his work for King Solomon on the Temple of God. He had made these things:

12 two pillars;

two large bowls for the capitals on top of the pillars;

two nets to cover the two large bowls for the capitals on top of the pillars;

13 400 pomegranates for the two nets (there were two rows of pomegranates for each net covering the bowls for the capitals on top of the pillars);

14 the stands with a bowl on each stand;

15 the large bowl with 12 bulls under it;

16 the pots, shovels, forks and all the things to go with them.

All the things Huram-Abi made King Solomon for the Temple of the Lord were made of polished bronze. 17 King Solomon first had these things poured into clay molds. The molds were made in the plain of the Jordan between Succoth and Zarethan. 18 Solomon had so many things made no one even tried to weigh all the bronze used.

19 Solomon also made all the things for God’s Temple. He made the gold altar. He made tables to hold the bread that shows we are in God’s presence. 20 He made the lampstands and their lamps of pure gold. They were to burn in front of the Most Holy Place as planned. 21 Solomon used pure gold to make the flowers, lamps and tongs. 22 He used pure gold to make the wick trimmers. He used pure gold for the bowls, pans and dishes used to carry coals. He used pure gold to make the doors for the Temple. And he used pure gold for the inside doors for the Most Holy Place and the doors for the main room.