2 Chronicles 4:8 - Exposition

Ten tables . These tables also (the use of which is given in 2 Chronicles 4:19 ) are not mentioned, so far as their making is concerned, in the parallel, except in its summary, verse 48 (cf. 1 Kings 7:1-51 .), where furthermore only one table, called "the table" ( Exodus 25:23 ), is specified, with which agrees our 2 Chronicles 29:18 . It is hard to explain this variation of statement. It is at least an arbitrary and forced explanation to suppose that ten tables constituted the furniture in question, while only one was used at a time. Keil and Bertheau think that the analogy of the ten candlesticks points to the existence of ten tables. The question, however, is, where is the call for, or where are the indications of any analogy? An hundred basins of gold . The Hebrew word employed here, and translated "basins," is מִזְרְקֵי , as also 2 Chronicles 29:11 , 2 Chronicles 29:22 , infra; and 1 Kings 7:40 , 1 Kings 7:45 , 1 Kings 7:50 ; Exodus 27:3 ; Exodus 38:3 ; Numbers 4:14 ; but it is represented as well by the English translation "bowls" in 1 Chronicles 28:17 ; 2 Kings 25:15 ; Numbers 7:13 , Numbers 7:19 , etc. The "pots," however, of our Numbers 7:11 , Numbers 7:16 has for its Hebrew הַסִּירוֹת . It were well if, in names such as these, at any rate, an absolute uniformity of version were observed in the translation, for the benefit of the English reader, to say nothing of the saving of wasted time for the student and scholar. These basins, or bowls , were to receive and hold the blood of the slain victims, about to be sprinkled for purification (see Exodus 24:6-8 , where the word אַגָּן is used; Exodus 29:12 , Exodus 29:10 , Exodus 29:20 , Exodus 29:21 ; Le Exodus 1:5 , and passim; Hebrews 9:18-20 ; see also Exodus 38:3 ; Numbers 4:14 ,) The Hebrew word מִזְרָק , whether appearing in our version as" basin"' or "bowl," occurs thirty-two times, sixteen in association exactly similar with the present (viz. Exodus 27:3 ; Exodus 38:3 ; Numbers 4:14 ; 1 Kings 7:40 , 1 Kings 7:45 , 1 Kings 7:50 ; 2 Kings 12:13 ; 2 Kings 25:15 ; 1 Chronicles 28:17 ; 2 Chronicles 4:8 , 2 Chronicles 4:11 , 2 Chronicles 4:22 ; Nehemiah 7:70 ; Jeremiah 52:18 , Jeremiah 52:19 ; Zechariah 14:20 ), fourteen as silver bowls in the time of the tabernacle for the meat offering of "fine flour mingled with oil" (viz. Numbers 7:13 , Numbers 7:19 , Numbers 7:25 , Numbers 7:31 , Numbers 7:37 , Numbers 7:43 , Numbers 7:49 , Numbers 7:55 , Numbers 7:61 , Numbers 7:67 , Numbers 7:73 , Numbers 7:79 , Numbers 7:84 , Numbers 7:85 ), and the remaining two in an entirely general application ( Amos 6:6 ; Zechariah 9:15 ). It is evident, therefore, that the מִזְרָק was not the only vessel used for holding the blood of purification, nor was it exclusively reserved to this use.