1 Kings 7:13-47

Holman Christian Standard Bible

¹³ King Solomon had Hiram^[a](A) brought from Tyre. ¹⁴ He was a widow’s son from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a bronze craftsman. Hiram had great skill,^(B) understanding, and knowledge to do every kind of bronze work. So he came to King Solomon and carried out all his work.^(C)

The Bronze Pillars

¹⁵ He cast two hollow bronze pillars:^(D) each 27 feet^[b] high and 18 feet^[c] in circumference.^{[d](E) 16} He also made two capitals^(F) of cast bronze to set on top of the pillars; 7½ feet^[e] was the height of the first capital, and 7½ feet^[f] was also the height of the second capital. ¹⁷ The capitals on top of the pillars had gratings of latticework, wreaths^[g] made of chainwork—seven for the first capital and seven for the second.

¹⁸ He made the pillars with two encircling rows of pomegranates on the one grating to cover the capital on top; he did the same for the second capital. ¹⁹ And the capitals on top of the pillars in the portico were shaped like lilies, six feet^[h] high. ²⁰ The capitals on the two pillars were also immediately above the rounded surface next to the grating, and 200 pomegranates^(G) were in rows encircling each^[i] capital. ²¹ He set up the pillars at the portico^(H) of the sanctuary: he set up the right pillar and named it Jachin;^[j] then he set up the left pillar and named it Boaz.^{[k](I) 22} The tops of the pillars were shaped like lilies. Then the work of the pillars was completed.^(J)

The Reservoir

²³ He made the cast metal reservoir,^[l](K) 15 feet^[m] from brim to brim, perfectly round. It was 7½ feet^[n] high and 45 feet^[o] in circumference. ²⁴ Ornamental gourds^(L) encircled it below the brim, 10 every half yard,^[p] completely encircling the reservoir.^(M) The gourds were cast in two rows when the reservoir was cast. ²⁵ It stood on 12 oxen,^(N) three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The reservoir was on top of them and all their hindquarters were toward the center. ²⁶ The reservoir was three inches^[q] thick, and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup or of a lily blossom. It held 11,000 gallons.^[r]

The Bronze Water Carts

²⁷ Then he made 10 bronze water carts.^[s](O) Each water cart was six feet^[t] long, six feet^[u] wide, and 4½ feet^[v] high. ²⁸ This was the design of the carts: They had frames; the frames were between the cross-pieces, ²⁹ and on the frames between the cross-pieces were lions, oxen, and cherubim.^(P) On the cross-pieces there was a pedestal above, and below the lions and oxen were wreaths of hanging^[w] work. ³⁰ Each cart^(Q) had four bronze wheels with bronze axles. Underneath the four corners of the basin were cast supports, each next to a wreath. ³¹ And the water cart’s opening inside the crown on top was 18 inches^[x] wide. The opening was round, made as a pedestal 27 inches^[y] wide. On it were carvings, but their frames were square, not round. ³² There were four wheels under the frames, and the wheel axles were part of the water cart; each wheel was 27 inches^[z] tall. ³³ The wheels’ design was similar to that of chariot wheels: their axles, rims, spokes, and hubs were all of cast metal. ³⁴ Four supports were at the four corners of each water cart; each support was one piece with the water cart. ³⁵ At the top of the cart was a band nine inches^[aa] high encircling it; also, at the top of the cart, its braces and its frames were one piece with it. ³⁶ He engraved cherubim, lions, and palm trees^(R) on the plates of its braces and on its frames, wherever each had space, with encircling wreaths. ³⁷ In this way he made the 10 water carts using the same casting, dimensions, and shape for all of them.

Bronze Basins and Other Utensils

³⁸ Then he made 10 bronze basins^(S)—each basin holding 220 gallons^[ab] and each was six feet^[ac] wide—one basin for each of the 10 water carts. ³⁹ He set five water carts on the right side of the temple and five on the left side. He put the reservoir near the right side of the temple toward the southeast.^{(T) 40} Then Hiram made^(U) the basins, the shovels, and the sprinkling basins.

Completion of the Bronze Works

So Hiram finished all the work that he was doing for King Solomon on the Lord’s temple: ⁴¹ two pillars;^(V) bowls for the capitals that were on top of the two pillars; the two gratings for covering both bowls of the capitals that were on top of the pillars;^{(W) 42} the 400 pomegranates for the two gratings (two rows of pomegranates for each grating covering both capitals’ bowls on top of the pillars^(X)); ⁴³ the 10 water carts;^(Y) the 10 basins on the water carts;^{(Z) 44} the reservoir;^(AA) the 12 oxen underneath the reservoir;^{(AB) 45} and the pots, shovels, and sprinkling basins.^(AC) All the utensils that Hiram made for King Solomon at the Lord’s temple were made of burnished bronze. ⁴⁶ The king had them cast in clay molds in the Jordan Valley between Succoth^(AD) and Zarethan.^{(AE) 47} Solomon left all the utensils unweighed because there were so many; the weight of the bronze was not determined.^(AF)