HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 677
1 KING S 7
page 307
71⁄2 feet* tall. 17 Each capital was decorated with
seven sets of latticework and interwoven chains.
18 He also encircled the latticework with two
rows of pomegranates to decorate the capitals
over the pillars. 19 The capitals on the columns
inside the entry room were shaped like water
lilies, and they were six feet* tall. 20 The capitals
on the two pillars had 200 pomegranates in two
rows around them, beside the rounded surface
next to the latticework. 21 Huram set the pillars
at the entrance of the Temple, one toward the
south and one toward the north. He named the
one on the south Jakin, and the one on the north
Boaz.* 22 The capitals on the pillars were shaped
like water lilies. And so the work on the pillars
was finished.
23 Then Huram cast a great round basin,
15 feet across from rim to rim, called the Sea. It
was 71⁄2 feet deep and about 45 feet in circumference.* 24 It was encircled just below its rim
by two rows of decorative gourds. There were
about six gourds per foot* all the way around,
and they were cast as part of the basin.
25 The Sea was placed on a base of twelve
bronze oxen,* all facing outward. Three faced
north, three faced west, three faced south, and
three faced east, and the Sea rested on them.
26 The walls of the Sea were about three inches*
thick, and its rim flared out like a cup and
resembled a water lily blossom. It could hold
about 11,000 gallons* of water.
27 Huram also made ten bronze water carts,
each 6 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 41⁄2 feet
tall.* 28 They were constructed with side panels braced with crossbars. 29 Both the panels
and the crossbars were decorated with carved
lions, oxen, and cherubim. Above and below
the lions and oxen were wreath decorations.
30 Each of these carts had four bronze wheels
and bronze axles. There were supporting posts
for the bronze basins at the corners of the carts;
these supports were decorated on each side
with carvings of wreaths. 31 The top of each cart
had a rounded frame for the basin. It projected
11⁄2 feet* above the cart’s top like a round pedestal, and its opening was 21⁄4 feet* across; it
was decorated on the outside with carvings of
wreaths. The panels of the carts were square,
not round. 32 Under the panels were four wheels
that were connected to axles that had been
cast as one unit with the cart. The wheels were
7:16 Hebrew 5 cubits [2.3 meters]. 7:19 Hebrew 4 cubits
[1.8 meters]; also in 7:38. 7:21 Jakin probably means “he
establishes”; Boaz probably means “in him is strength.”
7:23 Hebrew 10 cubits [4.6 meters] across. . . . 5 cubits
[2.3 meters] deep and 30 cubits [13.8 meters] in circumference.
7:24 Or 20 gourds per meter; Hebrew reads 10 per cubit.
7:25 Hebrew 12 oxen; compare 2 Kgs 16:17, which specifies
bronze oxen. 7:26a Hebrew a handbreadth [8 centimeters].
7:26b Hebrew 2,000 baths [42 kiloliters]. 7:27 Hebrew
4 cubits [1.8 meters] long, 4 cubits wide, and 3 cubits [1.4 meters]
high. 7:31a Hebrew a cubit [46 centimeters]. 7:31b Hebrew
11 ⁄2 cubits [69 centimeters]; also in 7:32. 7:35 Hebrew half a
cubit wide [23 centimeters]. 7:38 Hebrew 40 baths [840 liters].
21⁄4 feet in diameter 33 and were similar to chariot
wheels. The axles, spokes, rims, and hubs were
all cast from molten bronze.
34 There were handles at each of the four corners of the carts, and these, too, were cast as
one unit with the cart. 35 Around the top of each
cart was a rim nine inches wide.* The corner
supports and side panels were cast as one unit
with the cart. 36 Carvings of cherubim, lions, and
palm trees decorated the panels and corner supports wherever there was room, and there were
wreaths all around. 37 All ten water carts were
the same size and were made alike, for each was
cast from the same mold.
38 Huram also made ten smaller bronze basins, one for each cart. Each basin was six feet
across and could hold 220 gallons* of water.
39 He set five water carts on the south side of the
Temple and five on the north side. The great
bronze basin called the Sea was placed near the
southeast corner of the Temple. 40 He also made
the necessary washbasins, shovels, and bowls.
So at last Huram completed everything King
Solomon had assigned him to make for the
Temple of the Lord:
41
42
the two pillars;
the two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the
pillars;
the two networks of interwoven chains that
decorated the capitals;
the 400 pomegranates that hung from
the chains on the capitals (two rows
of pomegranates for each of the chain
networks that decorated the capitals on
top of the pillars);
• Abilities
1 K I N G S 7:13-14, 40
Can God use my talents even if they
aren’t “spiritual”? Huram’s skill was in
metalworking. It was a gift from God that
Huram used to honor him and help the
people recognize the majesty of the Lord.
This was true also of Bezalel, who was
a master craftsman for the Tabernacle
(Exodus 31:1-5). God distributes a
great variety of gifts to his people (read
1 Corinthians 12:28 and Romans 12:6-8
for partial, suggestive lists). We must not
deem some gifts as more spiritual than
others. All our talents and abilities, even
those that seem ordinary, become spiritual
in purpose when used to honor God.
Spend time to discern your God-given
abilities and then use them energetically
to help others (1 Corinthians 12:7).