200 lines
15 KiB
XML
200 lines
15 KiB
XML
<div2 id="iiCh.v" n="v" next="iiCh.vi" prev="iiCh.iv" progress="80.21%" title="Chapter IV">
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<h2 id="iiCh.v-p0.1">S E C O N D C H R O N I C L E
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S</h2>
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<h3 id="iiCh.v-p0.2">CHAP. IV.</h3>
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<p class="intro" id="iiCh.v-p1">We have here a further account of the furniture of
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God's house. I. Those things that were of brass. The altar for
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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>),
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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
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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.
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9</scripRef>), the vessels of the altar, and other things,
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<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
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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23</scripRef>, &c.</p>
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<scripCom id="iiCh.v-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.4" parsed="|2Chr|4|0|0|0" passage="2Ch 4" type="Commentary"/>
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<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">
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<h4 id="iiCh.v-p1.12">The Furniture of the Temple. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.v-p1.13">b. c.</span> 1012.)</h4>
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<p class="passage" id="iiCh.v-p2">1 Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty
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cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof,
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and ten cubits the height thereof. 2 Also he made a molten
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sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and five
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cubits the height thereof; and a line of thirty cubits did compass
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it round about. 3 And under it <i>was</i> the similitude of
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oxen, which did compass it round about: ten in a cubit, compassing
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the sea round about. Two rows of oxen <i>were</i> cast, when it was
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cast. 4 It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the
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north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward
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the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea <i>was
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set</i> above upon them, and all their hinder parts <i>were</i>
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inward. 5 And the thickness of it <i>was</i> a handbreadth,
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and the brim of it like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers
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of lilies; <i>and</i> it received and held three thousand baths.
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6 He made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand,
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and five on the left, to wash in them: such things as they offered
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for the burnt offering they washed in them; but the sea <i>was</i>
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for the priests to wash in. 7 And he made ten candlesticks
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of gold according to their form, and set <i>them</i> in the temple,
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five on the right hand, and five on the left. 8 He made also
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ten tables, and placed <i>them</i> in the temple, five on the right
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side, and five on the left. And he made an hundred basons of gold.
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9 Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the
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great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of
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them with brass. 10 And he set the sea on the right side of
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the east end, over against the south.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iiCh.v-p3">David often speaks with much affection both
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of the <i>house of the Lord</i> and of the <i>courts of our
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God.</i> Both without doors and within there was that which
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typified the grace of the gospel and <i>shadowed</i> out <i>good
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things to come,</i> of which the substance is Christ.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iiCh.v-p4">I. There were those things in the open
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court, in the view of all the people, which were very
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significant.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iiCh.v-p5">1. There was the <i>brazen altar,</i>
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<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
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this was not mentioned in the Kings. On this all the sacrifices
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were offered, and it sanctified the gift. This altar was much
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larger than that which Moses made in the tabernacle; that was five
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cubits square, this was twenty cubits square. Now that Israel had
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become both numerous and more rich, and it was to be hoped more
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devout (for every age should aim to be wiser and better than that
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which went before it), it was expected that there would be a
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greater abundance of offerings brought to God's altar than had
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been. It was therefore made such a capacious scaffold that it might
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hold them all, and none might excuse themselves from bringing those
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temptations of their devotion by alleging that there was not room
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to receive them. God had greatly enlarged their borders; it was
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therefore fit that they should enlarge his altars. Our returns
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should bear some proportion to our receivings. It was ten cubits
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high, so that the people who worshipped in the courts might see the
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sacrifice burnt, and their eye might affect their heart with sorrow
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for sin: "It is of the Lord's mercies that I am not thus consumed,
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and that this is accepted as an expiation of my guilt." They might
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thus be led to consider the great sacrifice which should be offered
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in the fulness of time to take away sin and abolish death, which
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the blood of bulls and goats could not possibly do. And with the
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smoke of the sacrifices their hearts might ascend to heaven in holy
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desires towards God and his favour. In all our devotions we must
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keep the eye of faith fixed upon Christ, the great propitiation.
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How they went up to this altar, and carried the sacrifices up to
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it, we are not told; some think by a plain ascent like a hill: if
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by steps, doubtless they were so contrived as that the end of the
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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.
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26</scripRef>) might be answered.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iiCh.v-p6">2. There was the molten sea, a very large
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brass pan, in which they put water for the priests to wash in,
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<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
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just at the entrance into the court of the priests, like the font
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at the church door. If it were filled to the brim, it would hold
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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>
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5</scripRef>), but ordinarily there were only 2000 baths in it,
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<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
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Ghost by this signified, (1.) Our great gospel privilege, that
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<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
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<i>fountain opened</i> for all believers (who are spiritual
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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>),
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nay, for <i>all the inhabitants of Jerusalem to wash in,</i> from
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sin, which is uncleanness. There is a fulness of merit in Jesus
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Christ for all those that by faith apply to him for the purifying
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of their consciences, that they might serve the <i>living God,</i>
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<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
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gospel duty, which is to cleanse ourselves by true repentance from
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all the pollutions of the flesh and the corruption that is in the
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world. Our hearts must be sanctified, or we cannot sanctify the
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name of God. Those that draw nigh to God must <i>cleanse their
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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
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part with me;</i> and he that <i>is washed</i> still needs <i>to
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wash his feet,</i> to renew his repentance, whenever he <i>goes in
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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.
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10</scripRef>.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iiCh.v-p7">3. There were <i>ten lavers</i> of brass,
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in which <i>they washed such things as they offered for the
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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>
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6</scripRef>. As the priests must be washed, so must the
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sacrifices. We must not only purify ourselves in preparation for
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our religious performances, but carefully put away all those vain
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thoughts and corrupt aims which cleave to our performances
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themselves and pollute them.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iiCh.v-p8">4. The doors of the court were overlaid
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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>),
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both for strength and beauty, and that they might not be rotted
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with the weather, to which they were exposed. <i>Gates of brass</i>
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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.
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16</scripRef>.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iiCh.v-p9">II. There were those things in <i>the house
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of the Lord</i> (into which the priests alone went to minister)
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that were very significant. All was gold there. The nearer we come
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to God the purer we must be, the purer we shall be. 1. There were
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ten <i>golden candlesticks,</i> according to the form of that one
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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>
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7</scripRef>. The written word is a lamp and a light, shining in a
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dark place. In Moses's time they had but one candlestick, the
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Pentateuch; but the additions which, in process of time, were to be
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made of other books of scripture might be signified by this
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increase of the number of the candlesticks. Light was growing. The
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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.
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20</scripRef>. Moses set up but one, the church of the Jews; but,
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in the gospel temple, not only believers, but churches, are
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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
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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>
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19</scripRef>. Perhaps every one of the tables had twelve loaves of
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show-bread on it. As the house was enlarged, the house-keeping was.
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<i>In my father's house there is bread enough for the whole
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family.</i> To those tables belonged 100 golden basins, or dishes;
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for God's table is well furnished. 3. There was a <i>golden
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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>),
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on which they burnt incense. It is probable that this was enlarged
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in proportion to the brazen altar. Christ, who once for all made
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atonement for sin, ever lives, making intercession, in virtue of
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that atonement.</p>
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</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">
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<p class="passage" id="iiCh.v-p10">11 And Huram made the pots, and the shovels, and
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the basons. And Huram finished the work that he was to make for
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king Solomon for the house of God; 12 <i>To wit,</i> the two
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pillars, and the pommels, and the chapiters <i>which were</i> on
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the top of the two pillars, and the two wreaths to cover the two
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pommels of the chapiters which <i>were</i> on the top of the
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pillars; 13 And four hundred pomegranates on the two
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wreaths; two rows of pomegranates on each wreath, to cover the two
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pommels of the chapiters which <i>were</i> upon the pillars.
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14 He made also bases, and lavers made he upon the bases; 15
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One sea, and twelve oxen under it. 16 The pots also, and the
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shovels, and the fleshhooks, and all their instruments, did Huram
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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
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Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth
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and Zeredathah. 18 Thus Solomon made all these vessels in
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great abundance: for the weight of the brass could not be found
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out. 19 And Solomon made all the vessels that <i>were
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for</i> the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables
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whereon the showbread <i>was set;</i> 20 Moreover the
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candlesticks with their lamps, that they should burn after the
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manner before the oracle, of pure gold; 21 And the flowers,
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and the lamps, and the tongs, <i>made he of</i> gold, <i>and</i>
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that perfect gold; 22 And the snuffers, and the basons, and
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the spoons, and the censers, <i>of</i> pure gold: and the entry of
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the house, the inner doors thereof for the most holy <i>place,</i>
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and the doors of the house of the temple, <i>were of</i> gold.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iiCh.v-p11">We have here such a summary both of the
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brass-work and the gold-work of the temple as we had before
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(<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>,
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&c.), in which we have nothing more to observe than, 1. That
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Huram the workman was very punctual: <i>He finished all that he was
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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>),
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and left no part of his work undone. <i>Huram, his father,</i> he
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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>.
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Probably it was a sort of nickname by which he was commonly known,
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<i>Father Huram;</i> for the king of Tyre called him <i>Huram Abi,
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my father,</i> in compliance with whom Solomon called him his, he
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being a great artist and <i>father of the artificers</i> in brass
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and iron. He acquitted himself well both for ingenuity and
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industry. 2. Solomon was very generous. He made <i>all the vessels
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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>
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18</scripRef>), many of a sort, that many hands might be employed,
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and so the work might go on with expedition, or that some might be
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laid up for use when others were worn out. Freely he has received,
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and he will freely give. When he had made vessels enough for the
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present he could not convert the remainder of the brass to his own
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use; it is devoted to God, and it shall be used for him.</p>
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</div></div2> |