2 Chronicles 4:1 - Exposition

An altar of brass . This in worthier material superseded the temporary altar of the tabernacle ( Exodus 27:1 , Exodus 27:2 ), made of shittim wood, and its dimensions five cubits long and broad and three cubits high. Large as was the present altar of brass as compared with the altar that preceded, it fell far short of the requirements of the grand day of dedication ( 1 Kings 8:64 ). No statement of the making of this altar occurs in the parallel. The place of it would be between 2 Chronicles 4:22 and 23 of 1 Kings 7:1-51 . But that Solomon made it is stated in 1 Kings 9:25 , and other references to its presence are found in 1 Kings 8:22 , 1 Kings 8:54 , 1 Kings 8:64 , etc. The position given to the altar is referred to alike in 1 Kings 8:22 and 2 Chronicles 6:12 , 2 Chronicles 6:13 , as in the court of the temple. It may be well to note that the altar, sacrifice, comes first, and is first spoken of.