1 Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof.

Also he made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits the height thereof; and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.

And under it was the similitude of oxen, which did compass it round about: ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about. Two rows of oxen were cast, when it was cast.

It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.

And the thickness of it was an handbreadth, and the brim of it like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies; and it received and held three thousand baths.

He made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them: such things as they offered for the burnt offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to wash in.

And he made ten candlesticks of gold according to their form, and set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left.

He made also ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right side, and five on the left. And he made an hundred basons of gold.

Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass.

10 And he set the sea on the right side of the east end, over against the south.

11 And Huram made the pots, and the shovels, and the basons. And Huram finished the work that he was to make for king Solomon for the house of God;

12 To wit, the two pillars, and the pommels, and the chapiters which were on the top of the two pillars, and the two wreaths to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were on the top of the pillars;

13 And four hundred pomegranates on the two wreaths; two rows of pomegranates on each wreath, to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were upon the pillars.

14 He made also bases, and lavers made he upon the bases;

15 One sea, and twelve oxen under it.

16 The pots also, and the shovels, and the fleshhooks, and all their instruments, did Huram his father make to king Solomon for the house of the Lord of bright brass.

17 In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredathah.

18 Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance: for the weight of the brass could not be found out.

19 And Solomon made all the vessels that were for the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables whereon the shewbread was set;

20 Moreover the candlesticks with their lamps, that they should burn after the manner before the oracle, of pure gold;

21 And the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, made he of gold, and that perfect gold;

22 And the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and the censers, of pure gold: and the entry of the house, the inner doors thereof for the most holy place, and the doors of the house of the temple, were of gold.

Commentary

Verse 1

McArther Bible Commentary
See 1Ki 7:23-51 for amplification and additional details.
Bible Cross References
Exodus 27:1 Exodus 27:2 1 Kings 8:64 2 Kings 16:14 2 Chronicles 8:12 2 Chronicles 15:8 Ezekiel 43:13

Verse 2

McArther Bible Commentary
the Sea. This large laver was used for ritual cleansing (cf. Exo 30:17-21 as it relates to the tabernacle). In Ezekiel's millennial temple, the laver will apparently be replaced by the waters that flow through the temple (Eze 47:1-12).
Bible Cross References
1 Kings 7:23 2 Kings 25:13 2 Chronicles 4:3

Verse 3

McArther Bible Commentary
oxen. First Kings 1Ki 7:24 reports "buds," which is the more likely translation. These were also around the laver, which was set on top of the twelve oxen.
Bible Cross References
Joshua 6:3 1 Kings 7:24 2 Chronicles 4:2 2 Chronicles 4:4

Verse 4

McArther Bible Commentary
twelve oxen. Very likely, the twelve oxen represent the twelve tribes who were similarly arrayed around the tabernacle as they set out on their journey in the wilderness (cf. Num 2:1-34).
Bible Cross References
1 Kings 7:25 2 Chronicles 4:3 2 Chronicles 4:5

Verse 5

McArther Bible Commentary
three thousand baths. A bath equaled almost six gallons. First Kings 1Ki 7:26 reads 2,000 baths. This discrepancy has been reconciled by accounting, here, not only for the water the basin held, but also the water source that was necessary to keep it flowing as a fountain.
Bible Cross References
Exodus 25:25 1 Kings 7:25 1 Kings 7:26 2 Chronicles 4:4

Verse 6

McArther Bible Commentary
ten lavers. There were no such corresponding lavers in the tabernacle.
Bible Cross References
Exodus 30:17 1 Kings 7:38 1 Kings 7:40 Ezekiel 40:38

Verse 7

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Their form - The old form which God prescribed to Moses.
McArther Bible Commentary
ten lampstands … ten tables. The tabernacle had one of each. Everything was large because of the crowds of thousands that came on a daily basis and for special occasions.
Bible Cross References
Exodus 25:31 1 Kings 7:49

Verse 8

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Ten tables - Whereon the shew - bread was set, (2 Chronicles 4:19) . Perhaps each of these had twelve loaves on it. As the house was enlarged, so was the provision.
Bible Cross References
1 Kings 7:48 2 Chronicles 4:19

Verse 9

Bible Cross References
1 Kings 6:36 2 Kings 21:5 2 Chronicles 33:5

Verse 10

Bible Cross References
Genesis 24:15 1 Kings 7:39

Verse 11

EGW SDA Bible Commentary
. See EGW on 1 Kings 7:13, 14, Vol. 2, p. 1030.
McArther Bible Commentary
See notes on 1Ki 7:40-51. All these details emphasize the great care and concern for worship, and served as a manual for the new temple being built by Zerubbabel after the Jews returned from Babylon.
Bible Cross References
1 Kings 7:13 1 Kings 7:14 1 Kings 7:40 1 Chronicles 18:8 2 Chronicles 4:12

Verse 12

Bible Cross References
1 Kings 7:15 1 Kings 7:41 2 Chronicles 4:11 2 Chronicles 4:13

Verse 13

Bible Cross References
1 Kings 7:20 1 Kings 7:41 2 Chronicles 4:12

Verse 14

Bible Cross References
1 Kings 7:27 1 Kings 7:37 1 Kings 7:38 2 Chronicles 4:15

Verse 15

Bible Cross References
2 Chronicles 4:14 2 Chronicles 4:16

Verse 16

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
His father - He is so called because Solomon usually called him by that name out of that great respect which he bare to him for his excellent art and service which he did for him: it being usual to call great artists and inventors of things by this name.
Bible Cross References
Exodus 27:3 1 Kings 7:14 1 Kings 7:45 2 Kings 25:14 2 Chronicles 2:13 2 Chronicles 4:15 2 Chronicles 4:17

Verse 17

Bible Cross References
1 Kings 7:46 2 Chronicles 4:16 2 Chronicles 4:18

Verse 18

Bible Cross References
1 Kings 7:47 2 Chronicles 4:17

Verse 19

Bible Cross References
Matthew 12:4 2 Chronicles 4:8

Verse 20

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
The manner - According to the prescription of God to Moses.
Bible Cross References
Exodus 25:31 2 Chronicles 4:21 2 Chronicles 5:7

Verse 21

Bible Cross References
2 Chronicles 4:20 2 Chronicles 4:22

Verse 22

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Of gold - In part; they were made of wood, but covered with golden plates.
Bible Cross References
Exodus 25:38 Exodus 27:3 2 Chronicles 4:21 2 Chronicles 5:1