Furnishings For The Temple
October 5, 2019
Commentary
Building the temple was a construction project that lasted 7 years (I Kings 6:38). Along with completing the main structure Solomon arranged for the manufacturing of the furnishing and interior decorating of the temple. There were alters and basins, lampstands, and tables. The “molten sea” held 3,000 baths (v. 5) which is about 17,500 gallons of water. One thing that stands out is the sheer quality of the materials that have gone into it. The whole interior of the sanctuary, and practically everything in it were covered with gold and the walls were sprinkled with gems (3:6). Also, we see here Solomon’s deep involvement with every aspect of the project. According to I Kings 7:50 even the door sockets were made of gold.
When reading this passage the impression is given that this house of God was done 1st class. The best materials … the best skilled craftsmen … the best care over how it was done. Solomon did not do all this himself. He had men like Huram that were skilled to put together skilled crews of men who did this great work for God as a team. How exciting to see this 7-year project completed.
Application
What is the last project I did for God and did it FIRST CLASS? Perhaps I could put together a “share package” for a missionary or persecuted Christian and do it FIRST CLASS as unto the Lord.
2 Chronicles 4:1– 22 (NET)
1 He made a bronze altar, 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 15 feet high. 2 He also made the big bronze basin called “The Sea.” It measured 15 feet from rim to rim, was circular in shape, and stood 7½ high. Its circumference was 45 feet. 3 Images of bulls were under it all the way around, ten every 18 inches all the way around. The bulls were in two rows and had been cast with “The Sea.” 4 “The Sea” stood on top of twelve bulls. Three faced northward, three westward, three southward, and three eastward. “The Sea” was placed on top of them, and they all faced outward. 5 It was four fingers thick, and its rim was like that of a cup shaped like a lily blossom. It could hold 18,000 gallons. 6 He made ten washing basins; he put five on the south side and five on the north side. In them they rinsed the items used for burnt sacrifices; the priests washed in “The Sea.”
7 He made ten gold lampstands according to specifications and put them in the temple, five on the right and five on the left. 8 He made ten tables and set them in the temple, five on the right and five on the left. He also made 100 gold bowls. 9 He made the courtyard of the priests and the large enclosure and its doors; he plated their doors with bronze. 10 He put “The Sea” on the south side, in the southeast corner.
11 Huram Abi made the pots, shovels, and bowls. He finished all the work on God’s temple he had been assigned by King Solomon. 12 He made the two pillars, the two bowl-shaped tops of the pillars, the latticework for the bowl-shaped tops of the two pillars, 13 the 400 pomegranate-shaped ornaments for the latticework of the two pillars (each latticework had two rows of these ornaments at the bowl-shaped top of the pillar), 14 the ten movable stands with their ten basins, 15 the big bronze basin called “The Sea” with its twelve bulls underneath, 16 and the pots, shovels, and meat forks. All the items King Solomon assigned Huram Abi to make for the Lord’s temple were made from polished bronze. 17 The king had them cast in earth foundries in the region of the Jordan between Sukkoth and Zarethan. 18 Solomon made so many of these items they did not weigh the bronze.