John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 4:1-22
See Introduction to Chapter 4 read more
See Introduction to Chapter 4 read more
Acceptable worship. "He made an altar of brass." This is a simple sentence enough, but it is one which had a great significance to the people of God. For to that brazen altar they came for many generations, and there they either worshipped/ God and gained his Divine favour, or they failed to do the one and to secure the other. It was the place of sanctity or profanation, of victory or defeat. It, with the various regulations that applied to it and provisions that were made for it, taught... read more
The altar, the sea, the light, and the bread. The homiletics of this chapter, viewed in certain general aspects, have been already treated with those of 2 Chronicles 3:1-17 . But it remains to notice other interesting and important aspects of the contents of this chapter. As soon as these are exhibited in such a manner as to make their relative importance apparent, they do indeed become of marked interest. I. First, and no doubt first in importance, we read of the great ALTAR OF ... read more
A molten sea . The Hebrew of this verse and of 1 Kings 7:23 are facsimiles of one author, except that here קָו stands, where the parallel shows קוֹה , probably the fruit merely of some error in transcription. Verses like these point not to the derivation of Chronicles from Kings, but rather of both from some older common source. This sea of brass superseded the laver of the tabernacle ( Exodus 30:18 , Exodus 30:28 ; Exodus 31:9 ; Exodus 35:16 ; Exodus 39:39 ). It was... read more
A.M. 2992. B.C. 1012. The brazen altar, sea, and lavers, 2 Chronicles 4:1-6 . The golden candlesticks and tables, 2Ch 4:7 , 2 Chronicles 4:8 . The doors overlaid with brass, the vessels of the altar, and other brass work, 2 Chronicles 4:9-18 . The golden altar of incense, with its appurtenances, 2 Chronicles 4:19-22 . NOTES ON CHAPTER 4. 2 Chronicles 4:1-2. Ten cubits the height thereof This was too high for the priests to lay the victims on it, without going up some kind of... read more
Construction of the temple (2:1-7:22)With the help of King Hiram of Tyre, Solomon prepared materials and arranged a workforce to build the planned temple (2:1-18; see notes on 1 Kings 5:1-18). Construction went on for seven years, until the temple, its furniture, its courtyard, and all other articles and decorations connected with it were completed according to plan (3:1-5:1; see notes on 1 Kings 6:1-7:51). The temple was then dedicated to God (5:2-7:22; see notes on 1 Kings 8:1-9:9). read more
2. he made a molten sea—(See on :-), as in that passage "knops" occur instead of "oxen." It is generally supposed that the rows of ornamental knops were in the form of ox heads. read more
The Contents of the Temple1. An altar] This was in the Temple court. Though its construction is not described in Kings, it is mentioned in 1 Kings 8:64; 2 Kings 16:143. Oxen] rather, ’knops’ (i.e. gourds): see 1 Kings 7:24. 7. According to their form] RV ’According to the ordinance concerning them.’ In the temple] i.e. in the Holy Place.9. The great court] The word here used differs from that employed for ’the court of the priests.’ It was in the ’great court’ that the scaffold mentioned in 2... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 4:1-10
David often speaks with much affection both of the house of the Lord and of the courts of our God. 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. I. There were those things in the open court, in the view of all the people, which were very significant. 1. There was the brazen altar, 2 Chron. 4:1. The making of this was not mentioned in the Kings. On this all the sacrifices were offered,... read more