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<div2 id="iiCh.v" n="v" next="iiCh.vi" prev="iiCh.iv" progress="80.21%" title="Chapter IV">
<h2 id="iiCh.v-p0.1">S E C O N D   C H R O N I C L E
S</h2>
<h3 id="iiCh.v-p0.2">CHAP. IV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iiCh.v-p1">We have here a further account of the furniture of
God's house. I. Those things that were of brass. The altar for
burnt-offerings (<scripRef id="iiCh.v-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.4.1" parsed="|2Chr|4|1|0|0" passage="2Ch 4:1">ver. 1</scripRef>),
the sea and lavers to hold water (<scripRef id="iiCh.v-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.4.2-2Chr.4.6" parsed="|2Chr|4|2|4|6" passage="2Ch 4:2-6">ver. 2-6</scripRef>), the plates with which the doors
of the court were overlaid (<scripRef id="iiCh.v-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.4.9" parsed="|2Chr|4|9|0|0" passage="2Ch 4:9">ver.
9</scripRef>), the vessels of the altar, and other things,
<scripRef id="iiCh.v-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.4.10-2Chr.4.18" parsed="|2Chr|4|10|4|18" passage="2Ch 4:10-18">ver. 10-18</scripRef>. II. Those
that were of gold. The candlesticks and tables (<scripRef id="iiCh.v-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.4.7-2Chr.4.8" parsed="|2Chr|4|7|4|8" passage="2Ch 4:7,8">ver. 7, 8</scripRef>), the altar of incense (<scripRef id="iiCh.v-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.4.19" parsed="|2Chr|4|19|0|0" passage="2Ch 4:19">ver. 19</scripRef>), and the appurtenances of
each of these, <scripRef id="iiCh.v-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.4.20-2Chr.4.22" parsed="|2Chr|4|20|4|22" passage="2Ch 4:20-22">ver.
20-22</scripRef>. All these, except the brazen altar (<scripRef id="iiCh.v-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.4.1" parsed="|2Chr|4|1|0|0" passage="2Ch 4:1">ver. 1</scripRef>), were accounted for more
largely, <scripRef id="iiCh.v-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.7.23-1Kgs.7.50" parsed="|1Kgs|7|23|7|50" passage="1Ki 7:23-50">1 Kings vii.
23</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<scripCom id="iiCh.v-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.4" parsed="|2Chr|4|0|0|0" passage="2Ch 4" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iiCh.v-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.4.1-2Chr.4.10" parsed="|2Chr|4|1|4|10" passage="2Ch 4:1-10" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Chr.4.1-2Chr.4.10">
<h4 id="iiCh.v-p1.12">The Furniture of the Temple. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.v-p1.13">b. c.</span> 1012.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiCh.v-p2">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.   2 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.   3 And under it <i>was</i> the similitude of
oxen, which did compass it round about: ten in a cubit, compassing
the sea round about. Two rows of oxen <i>were</i> cast, when it was
cast.   4 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 <i>was
set</i> above upon them, and all their hinder parts <i>were</i>
inward.   5 And the thickness of it <i>was</i> a handbreadth,
and the brim of it like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers
of lilies; <i>and</i> it received and held three thousand baths.
  6 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 <i>was</i>
for the priests to wash in.   7 And he made ten candlesticks
of gold according to their form, and set <i>them</i> in the temple,
five on the right hand, and five on the left.   8 He made also
ten tables, and placed <i>them</i> in the temple, five on the right
side, and five on the left. And he made an hundred basons of gold.
  9 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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.v-p3">David often speaks with much affection both
of the <i>house of the Lord</i> and of the <i>courts of our
God.</i> Both without doors and within there was that which
typified the grace of the gospel and <i>shadowed</i> out <i>good
things to come,</i> of which the substance is Christ.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.v-p4">I. There were those things in the open
court, in the view of all the people, which were very
significant.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.v-p5">1. There was the <i>brazen altar,</i>
<scripRef id="iiCh.v-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.4.1" parsed="|2Chr|4|1|0|0" passage="2Ch 4:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. The making of
this was not mentioned in the Kings. On this all the sacrifices
were offered, and it sanctified the gift. This altar was much
larger than that which Moses made in the tabernacle; that was five
cubits square, this was twenty cubits square. Now that Israel had
become both numerous and more rich, and it was to be hoped more
devout (for every age should aim to be wiser and better than that
which went before it), it was expected that there would be a
greater abundance of offerings brought to God's altar than had
been. It was therefore made such a capacious scaffold that it might
hold them all, and none might excuse themselves from bringing those
temptations of their devotion by alleging that there was not room
to receive them. God had greatly enlarged their borders; it was
therefore fit that they should enlarge his altars. Our returns
should bear some proportion to our receivings. It was ten cubits
high, so that the people who worshipped in the courts might see the
sacrifice burnt, and their eye might affect their heart with sorrow
for sin: "It is of the Lord's mercies that I am not thus consumed,
and that this is accepted as an expiation of my guilt." They might
thus be led to consider the great sacrifice which should be offered
in the fulness of time to take away sin and abolish death, which
the blood of bulls and goats could not possibly do. And with the
smoke of the sacrifices their hearts might ascend to heaven in holy
desires towards God and his favour. In all our devotions we must
keep the eye of faith fixed upon Christ, the great propitiation.
How they went up to this altar, and carried the sacrifices up to
it, we are not told; some think by a plain ascent like a hill: if
by steps, doubtless they were so contrived as that the end of the
law (mentioned <scripRef id="iiCh.v-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.20.26" parsed="|Exod|20|26|0|0" passage="Ex 20:26">Exod. xx.
26</scripRef>) might be answered.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.v-p6">2. There was the molten sea, a very large
brass pan, in which they put water for the priests to wash in,
<scripRef id="iiCh.v-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.4.2 Bible:2Chr.4.6" parsed="|2Chr|4|2|0|0;|2Chr|4|6|0|0" passage="2Ch 4:2,6"><i>v.</i> 2, 6</scripRef>. It was put
just at the entrance into the court of the priests, like the font
at the church door. If it were filled to the brim, it would hold
3000 baths (as here, <scripRef id="iiCh.v-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.4.5" parsed="|2Chr|4|5|0|0" passage="2Ch 4:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>), but ordinarily there were only 2000 baths in it,
<scripRef id="iiCh.v-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.7.26" parsed="|1Kgs|7|26|0|0" passage="1Ki 7:26">1 Kings vii. 26</scripRef>. The Holy
Ghost by this signified, (1.) Our great gospel privilege, that
<i>the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.v-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:1John.1.7" parsed="|1John|1|7|0|0" passage="1Jo 1:7">1 John i. 7</scripRef>. To us there is a
<i>fountain opened</i> for all believers (who are spiritual
priests, <scripRef id="iiCh.v-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:Rev.1.5-Rev.1.6" parsed="|Rev|1|5|1|6" passage="Re 1:5,6">Rev. i. 5, 6</scripRef>),
nay, for <i>all the inhabitants of Jerusalem to wash in,</i> from
sin, which is uncleanness. There is a fulness of merit in Jesus
Christ for all those that by faith apply to him for the purifying
of their consciences, that they might serve the <i>living God,</i>
<scripRef id="iiCh.v-p6.6" osisRef="Bible:Heb.9.14" parsed="|Heb|9|14|0|0" passage="Heb 9:14">Heb. ix. 14</scripRef>. (2.) Our great
gospel duty, which is to cleanse ourselves by true repentance from
all the pollutions of the flesh and the corruption that is in the
world. Our hearts must be sanctified, or we cannot sanctify the
name of God. Those that draw nigh to God must <i>cleanse their
hands, and purify their hearts,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.v-p6.7" osisRef="Bible:Jas.4.8" parsed="|Jas|4|8|0|0" passage="Jam 4:8">Jam. iv. 8</scripRef>. <i>If I was thee not, thou hast no
part with me;</i> and he that <i>is washed</i> still needs <i>to
wash his feet,</i> to renew his repentance, whenever he <i>goes in
to minister,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.v-p6.8" osisRef="Bible:John.13.10" parsed="|John|13|10|0|0" passage="Joh 13:10">John xiii.
10</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.v-p7">3. There were <i>ten lavers</i> of brass,
in which <i>they washed such things as they offered for the
burnt-offerings,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.v-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.4.6" parsed="|2Chr|4|6|0|0" passage="2Ch 4:6"><i>v.</i>
6</scripRef>. As the priests must be washed, so must the
sacrifices. We must not only purify ourselves in preparation for
our religious performances, but carefully put away all those vain
thoughts and corrupt aims which cleave to our performances
themselves and pollute them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.v-p8">4. The doors of the court were overlaid
with brass (<scripRef id="iiCh.v-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.4.9" parsed="|2Chr|4|9|0|0" passage="2Ch 4:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>),
both for strength and beauty, and that they might not be rotted
with the weather, to which they were exposed. <i>Gates of brass</i>
we read of, <scripRef id="iiCh.v-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.16" parsed="|Ps|107|16|0|0" passage="Ps 107:16">Ps. cvii.
16</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.v-p9">II. There were those things in <i>the house
of the Lord</i> (into which the priests alone went to minister)
that were very significant. All was gold there. The nearer we come
to God the purer we must be, the purer we shall be. 1. There were
ten <i>golden candlesticks,</i> according to the form of that one
which was in the tabernacle, <scripRef id="iiCh.v-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.4.7" parsed="|2Chr|4|7|0|0" passage="2Ch 4:7"><i>v.</i>
7</scripRef>. The written word is a lamp and a light, shining in a
dark place. In Moses's time they had but one candlestick, the
Pentateuch; but the additions which, in process of time, were to be
made of other books of scripture might be signified by this
increase of the number of the candlesticks. Light was growing. The
candlesticks are the churches, <scripRef id="iiCh.v-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.1.20" parsed="|Rev|1|20|0|0" passage="Re 1:20">Rev. i.
20</scripRef>. Moses set up but one, the church of the Jews; but,
in the gospel temple, not only believers, but churches, are
multiplied. 2. There were ten <i>golden tables</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.v-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.4.8" parsed="|2Chr|4|8|0|0" passage="2Ch 4:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>), <i>tables whereon the
show-bread was set,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.v-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.4.19" parsed="|2Chr|4|19|0|0" passage="2Ch 4:19"><i>v.</i>
19</scripRef>. Perhaps every one of the tables had twelve loaves of
show-bread on it. As the house was enlarged, the house-keeping was.
<i>In my father's house there is bread enough for the whole
family.</i> To those tables belonged 100 golden basins, or dishes;
for God's table is well furnished. 3. There was a <i>golden
altar</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.v-p9.5" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.4.19" parsed="|2Chr|4|19|0|0" passage="2Ch 4:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>),
on which they burnt incense. It is probable that this was enlarged
in proportion to the brazen altar. Christ, who once for all made
atonement for sin, ever lives, making intercession, in virtue of
that atonement.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiCh.v-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.4.11-2Chr.4.22" parsed="|2Chr|4|11|4|22" passage="2Ch 4:11-22" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Chr.4.11-2Chr.4.22">
<p class="passage" id="iiCh.v-p10">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 <i>To wit,</i> the two
pillars, and the pommels, and the chapiters <i>which were</i> on
the top of the two pillars, and the two wreaths to cover the two
pommels of the chapiters which <i>were</i> 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 <i>were</i> 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 <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.v-p10.1">Lord</span> 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 <i>were
for</i> the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables
whereon the showbread <i>was set;</i>   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, <i>made he of</i> gold, <i>and</i>
that perfect gold;   22 And the snuffers, and the basons, and
the spoons, and the censers, <i>of</i> pure gold: and the entry of
the house, the inner doors thereof for the most holy <i>place,</i>
and the doors of the house of the temple, <i>were of</i> gold.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.v-p11">We have here such a summary both of the
brass-work and the gold-work of the temple as we had before
(<scripRef id="iiCh.v-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.7.13-1Kgs.7.51" parsed="|1Kgs|7|13|7|51" passage="1Ki 7:13-51">1 Kings vii. 13</scripRef>,
&amp;c.), in which we have nothing more to observe than, 1. That
Huram the workman was very punctual: <i>He finished all that he was
to make</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.v-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.4.11" parsed="|2Chr|4|11|0|0" passage="2Ch 4:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>),
and left no part of his work undone. <i>Huram, his father,</i> he
is called, <scripRef id="iiCh.v-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.4.16" parsed="|2Chr|4|16|0|0" passage="2Ch 4:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>.
Probably it was a sort of nickname by which he was commonly known,
<i>Father Huram;</i> for the king of Tyre called him <i>Huram Abi,
my father,</i> in compliance with whom Solomon called him his, he
being a great artist and <i>father of the artificers</i> in brass
and iron. He acquitted himself well both for ingenuity and
industry. 2. Solomon was very generous. He made <i>all the vessels
in great abundance</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.v-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.4.18" parsed="|2Chr|4|18|0|0" passage="2Ch 4:18"><i>v.</i>
18</scripRef>), many of a sort, that many hands might be employed,
and so the work might go on with expedition, or that some might be
laid up for use when others were worn out. Freely he has received,
and he will freely give. When he had made vessels enough for the
present he could not convert the remainder of the brass to his own
use; it is devoted to God, and it shall be used for him.</p>
</div></div2>