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Hiram’s Work in the House of Yahweh

13 Then (A)King Solomon sent and brought Hiram from Tyre. 14 (B)He was a widow’s son from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze; and (C)he was filled with wisdom and discernment and knowledge to do any work in bronze. So he came to King Solomon and (D)did all his work.

15 And he fashioned (E)the two pillars of bronze; (F)eighteen cubits was the height of one pillar, and a line of twelve cubits [a]measured the circumference of both. 16 He also made two capitals of molten bronze to set on the tops of the pillars; the height of the one capital was five [b]cubits and the height of the other capital was five cubits. 17 There were nets of network and twisted threads of chainwork for the capitals which were on the top of the pillars; seven for the one capital and seven for the other capital. 18 So he made the pillars, and two rows around on the one network to cover the capitals which were on the top of the pomegranates; and so he did for the other capital. 19 Now the capitals which were on the top of the pillars in the porch were of lily design, four cubits. 20 And there were capitals on the two pillars, even right above the [c]rounded projection which was on the one side of the network; and (G)the pomegranates numbered two hundred in rows around [d]both capitals. 21 (H)Thus he set up the pillars at the (I)porch of the nave; and he set up the right pillar and named it [e]Jachin, and he set up the left pillar and named it [f]Boaz. 22 And on the top of the pillars was lily design. So the work of the pillars was finished.

23 (J)And he made the sea of (K)cast metal ten cubits from brim to brim, circular in form, and its height was five cubits, and [g]thirty cubits in its circumference. 24 Now under its brim (L)gourds went around encircling it ten to a cubit, (M)entirely encircling the sea; the gourds were in two rows, cast with the Sea when it was cast. 25 (N)It stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east; and the sea was set on top of them, and all their rear parts turned inward. 26 And it was a [h]handbreadth thick, and its brim was made like the brim of a cup, as a lily blossom; it could hold [i]two thousand baths.

27 Then (O)he made the ten stands of bronze; the length of each stand was four cubits and its width four cubits and its height three cubits. 28 Now this was the workmanship of the stands: they had borders, even borders between the [j]frames, 29 and on the borders which were between the [k]frames were lions, oxen, and cherubim; and on the [l]frames there was a pedestal above, and beneath the lions and oxen were wreaths of hanging work. 30 Now each stand had four bronze wheels with bronze axles, and its four feet had supports; beneath the laver were cast supports with wreaths at each side. 31 And its opening inside the capital at the top was a cubit, and its opening was round like the workmanship of a pedestal, a cubit and a half; and also on its opening there were engravings, and their borders were square, not round. 32 And the four wheels were underneath the borders, and the axles of the wheels were on the stand. And the height of a wheel was a cubit and a half. 33 Now the workmanship of the wheels was like the workmanship of a chariot wheel. Their axles, their rims, their spokes, and their hubs were all cast. 34 Now there were four supports at the four corners of each stand; its supports were part of the stand itself. 35 And on the top of the stand there was a circular form half a [m]cubit high, and on the top of the stand its [n]stays and its borders were part of it. 36 And he engraved on the plates of its stays and on its borders, cherubim, lions, and palm trees, according to the clear space on each, with wreaths all around. 37 (P)He made the ten stands like this: all of them had one casting, one measure and one form.

38 (Q)He also made ten lavers of bronze, one laver held forty baths; each laver was four cubits, and on each of the ten stands was one laver. 39 Then he set the stands, five on the right side of the house and five on the left side of the house; and he set the sea of cast metal on the right side of the house eastward toward the south.

40 And Hiram made the lavers and the shovels and the bowls. So Hiram completed doing all the work that he did for King Solomon in the house of Yahweh: 41 the two pillars and the two bowls of the capitals which were on the top of the (R)two pillars, and the two networks to cover the two bowls of the capitals which were on the top of the pillars, 42 and the (S)four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, two rows of pomegranates for each network to cover the two bowls of the capitals which were on the tops of the pillars; 43 and the ten stands with the ten lavers on the stands; 44 and (T)the one sea and the twelve oxen under the sea; 45 and (U)the pots and the shovels and the bowls; and all these utensils which Hiram made for King Solomon in the house of Yahweh were of polished bronze. 46 (V)On the plain of the Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground between (W)Succoth and (X)Zarethan. 47 And Solomon left all the utensils unweighed, because they were too many; (Y)the weight of the bronze could not be found out.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 7:15 Lit went around the other pillar
  2. 1 Kings 7:16 A cubit was approx. 18 in. or 45 cm
  3. 1 Kings 7:20 Lit belly
  4. 1 Kings 7:20 Lit on the other capital
  5. 1 Kings 7:21 Lit he shall establish
  6. 1 Kings 7:21 Lit in it is strength
  7. 1 Kings 7:23 Lit a line of thirty cubits went around it
  8. 1 Kings 7:26 A handbreadth was approx. 3 in. or 7.6 cm
  9. 1 Kings 7:26 Approx. 12,000 gal. or 45,424 l, a bath was approx. 6 gal. or 23 l
  10. 1 Kings 7:28 Or crossbars
  11. 1 Kings 7:29 Or crossbars
  12. 1 Kings 7:29 Or crossbars
  13. 1 Kings 7:35 A cubit was approx. 18 in. or 45 cm
  14. 1 Kings 7:35 Lit hands

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 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 was also the height of the second capital. 17 The capitals on top of the pillars had gratings of latticework, wreaths[f] 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[g] high. 20 The capitals on the two pillars were also immediately above the rounded surface next to the grating, and two hundred pomegranates(G) were in rows encircling each[h] capital. 21 He set up the pillars at the portico(H) of the sanctuary: he set up the right pillar and named it Jachin;[i] then he set up the left pillar and named it Boaz.[j](I) 22 The tops of the pillars were shaped like lilies. Then the work of the pillars was completed.(J)

The Basin

23 He made the cast metal basin,[k](K) 15 feet[l] from brim to brim, perfectly round. It was 7½ feet high and 45 feet in circumference. 24 Ornamental gourds(L) encircled it below the brim, ten every half yard,[m] completely encircling the basin.(M) The gourds were cast in two rows when the basin was cast. 25 It stood on twelve oxen,(N) 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. 26 The basin was three inches[n] thick, and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup or of a lily blossom. It held eleven thousand gallons.[o]

The Bronze Water Carts

27 Then he made ten bronze water carts.[p](O) Each water cart was 6 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 4½ feet[q] 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[r] 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 eighteen inches[s] wide. The opening was round, made as a pedestal twenty-seven inches[t] 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 twenty-seven inches[u] 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[v] 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 ten water carts using the same casting, dimensions, and shape for all of them.

Bronze Basins and Other Utensils

38 Then he made ten bronze basins(S)—each basin held 220 gallons[w] and each was six feet wide—one basin for each of the ten water carts. 39 He set five water carts on the right side of the temple and five on the left side. He put the basin 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 four hundred pomegranates for the two gratings (two rows of pomegranates for each grating covering both capitals’ bowls on top of the pillars(X)); 43 the ten water carts;(Y) the ten basins on the water carts;(Z) 44 the basin;(AA) the twelve oxen underneath the basin;(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)

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Footnotes

  1. 7:13 = Huram in 2Ch 4:11
  2. 7:15 Lit 18 cubits
  3. 7:15 Lit 12 cubits
  4. 7:15 LXX adds and the thickness of the pillar was four fingers hollowed and similarly the second pillar
  5. 7:16 Lit five cubits, also in v. 23
  6. 7:17 Lit tassels
  7. 7:19 Lit four cubits, also in vv. 27,38
  8. 7:20 Lit encircling the second
  9. 7:21 = He Will Establish
  10. 7:21 = In Him Is Strength
  11. 7:23 Lit sea
  12. 7:23 Lit 10 cubits
  13. 7:24 Lit 10 per cubit
  14. 7:26 Lit a handbreadth
  15. 7:26 Lit 2,000 baths
  16. 7:27 Lit bronze stands
  17. 7:27 Lit three cubits
  18. 7:29 Or hammered-down
  19. 7:31 Lit a cubit
  20. 7:31 Lit one and a half cubits
  21. 7:32 Lit was one and a half cubits
  22. 7:35 Lit half a cubit
  23. 7:38 Lit 40 baths