In this chapter, Solomon constructs a palace for himself, and then he asked a craftsman from Tyre to help furnish the Temple. The chapter begins, “Solomon also built a palace for himself, and it took him thirteen years to complete the construction.” (1 Kings 7:1)
After Solomon built this magnificent palace with multiple buildings made of huge, 15ft stones...he asked a skilled bronze craftsman from Tyre, named Huram, to come work on the Temple. “Huram cast two bronze pillars, each 27 feet tall and 18 feet in circumference. For the tops of the pillars he made capitals of molded bronze, each 7 1/2 feet tall. Each capital was decorated with seven sets of latticework and interwoven chains. He also made two rows of pomegranates that encircled the latticework to decorate the capitals over the pillars. The capitals on the columns inside the foyer were shaped like lilies, and they were 6 feet tall. Each capital on the two pillars had two hundred pomegranates in two rows around them, beside the rounded surface next to the latticework.
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. The capitals on the pillars were shaped like lilies. And so the work on the pillars was finished.
Then Huram cast a large round tank, 15 feet across from rim to rim; it was called the Sea. It was 7 1/2 feet deep and about 45 feet in circumference. The Sea 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 had been cast as part of the tank.
The Sea rested on a base of twelve bronze oxen, all facing outward. Three faced north, three faced west, three faced south, and three faced east. The walls of the Sea were about three inches thick, and its rim flared out like a cup and resembled a lily blossom. It would hold about 11,000 gallons of water.
Huram also made ten bronze water carts, each 6 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 4 1/2 feet tall. They were constructed with side panels braced with crossbars. Both the panels and the crossbars were decorated with carved lions, oxen, and cherubim. Above and below the lions and oxen were wreath decorations. Each of these carts had four bronze wheels and bronze axles. At each corner of the carts were supporting posts for the bronze basins; these supports were decorated with carvings of wreaths on each side. The top of each cart had a circular frame for the basin. It projected 1 1/2 feet above the cart’s top like a round pedestal, and its opening was 2 1/2 feet across; it was decorated on the outside with carvings of wreaths. The panels of the carts were square, not round. Under the panels were four wheels that were connected to axles that had been cast as one unit with the cart. The wheels were 2 1/4 feet in diameter and were similar to chariot wheels. The axles, spokes, rims, and hubs were all cast from molten bronze.
There were supports at each of the four corners of the carts, and these, too, were cast as one unit with the cart. Around the top of each cart there was a rim 9 inches wide. The supports and side panels were cast as one unit with the cart. Carvings of cherubim, lions, and palm trees decorated the panels and supports wherever there was room, and there were wreaths all around. All ten water carts were the same size and were made alike, for each was cast from the same mold.
Huram also made ten bronze basins, one for each cart. Each basin was 6 feet across and could hold 220 gallons of water. He arranged five water carts on the south side of the Temple and five on the north side. The Sea was placed at the south-east corner of the Temple. He also made the necessary pots, shovels, and basins.
So at last Huram completed everything King Solomon had assigned him to make for the Temple of the Lord.” (1 Kings 7:15-40) Huram made so many utensils for the Temple that Solomon could not weigh the bronze.
“Solomon made all the furnishings of the Temple of the Lord: the gold altar, the gold table for the Bread of the Presence, the gold lampstands, five on the south and five on the north, in front of the Most Holy Place, the flower decorations, lamps, and tongs, all the gold, the cups, lamp snuffers, basins, dishes, and firepans, all of pure gold; the doors for the entrances to the Most Holy Place and the main room of the Temple, with their fronts overlaid with gold.
So King Solomon finished all his work on the Temple of the Lord. Then Solomon brought all the gifts his father, David, had dedicated -- the silver, the gold, and the other utensils -- and he stored them in the treasuries of the Lord’s Temple.” (1 Kings 7:48-51)
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Help us dedicate our time and individual skills to honor you. We love you!
May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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