THE TEN LAVERS: THEIR USE, AND THAT OF THE SEA

(2Chronicles 4:6). (Comp. 1Kings 7:27-39.)

(6) The chronicler now returns to his abbreviating style, and omits altogether the description of the ten bases, or stands, upon which the lavers were placed, and which are described in full and curious detail in 1Kings 7:27-39. The unusual difficulty of the passage may have determined the omission, but it seems more likely that the sacred writer thought the bases of less importance than the objects described in 2Chronicles 4:7-9, the account of which he has interpolated between the first and second half of 1Kings 7:39.

He made also ten lavers.--And he made ten pans. The word kiyor is used in 1Samuel 2:14 as a pan for cooking, and in Zechariah 12:6 as a pan holding fire. Its meaning here and in the parallel place is a pan for washing. (Comp. Exodus 30:18; Exodus 30:28.) The LXX. renders ????????, "baths;" the Syriac, laqne, "flagons" (lagenae, ???????).

To wash in them.--This statement, and, indeed, the rest of the verse is peculiar to the chronicler. On the other hand, 1Kings 7:38 specifies the size and capacity of the lavers here omitted.

Such things as they offered for the burnt offering they washed in them.--This gives the meaning. Literally, the work (comp. Exodus 29:36, "to do" being equivalent to "to offer") of the burnt offering they used to rinse (strictly, thrust, plunge) in them.

But the sea was for the priests to wash in.--The Hebrew words have been transposed apparently. The same infinitive (l?rohc?h) occurs in Exodus 30:18; Exodus 40:30, in a similar context. Instead of all this, the Syriac and Arabic versions read: "put them five on the right hand and five on the left, that the priests might wash in them their hands and their feet," which appears to be derived from Exodus 30:19; Exodus 40:31.

Verse 6. - This verse, with vers. 14, 15, are all here that represent the lengthy account of bases rather than layers, occupying in the parallel vers. 27-39 of 1 Kings 7, which, however, omits to state the use of either sea or layers.

4:1-22 The furniture of the temple. - Here is a further account of the furniture of God's house. Both without doors and within, there was that which typified the grace of the gospel, and shadowed out good things to come, of which the substance is Christ. There was the brazen altar. The making of this was not mentioned in the book of Kings. On this all the sacrifices were offered, and it sanctified the gift. The people who worshipped in the courts might see the sacrifices burned. They might thus be led to consider the great Sacrifice, to be offered in the fulness of time, to take away sin, and put an end to 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 furniture of the temple, compared with that of the tabernacle, showed that God's church would be enlarged, and his worshippers multiplied. Blessed be God, there is enough in Christ for all.See Introduction to Chapter 4