Jachin

Ja'chin (Heb. Yakin', יָכַין, firm; Sept. Ι᾿αχείν, Ι᾿αχίν), the name of three men and also of a pillar.

1. The fourth named of the sons of Simeon (Ge 46:10; Ex 6:15), called JARIB in 1Ch 4:24. His descendants are called JACHINITES (Heb. Yakini', יָכַינַי, Sept. Ι᾿αχινί, Nu 26:12). B.C. 1856.

2. The head of the twenty-first "course" of priests as arranged by David (1Ch 24:17). B.C. 1014.

3. One of the priests that returned to Jerusalem after the Exile (1Ch 9:10; Ne 11:10). B.C. 536.

4. JACHIN (Sept. in Kings Ι᾿αχούμ, Alex. Ι᾿αχούν; but in Chronicles κατόρθωσις in both MSS.; Josephus Ι᾿αχίν; Vulg. Jachin, Jachimn) AND BOAZ were the names of two columns (the former on the right hand [south], the latter on the left) set up (according to Phoenician style: compare Menander in Josephus, Ant. 8, 5, 3; see Vatke's-Bibl. Theol. p. 324, 326; Movers, Phon. 1, 293) in the porch (לאֻלָם) of Solomon's Temple (1Ki 7:15-22; 2Ch 3:17; comp. Jer 52:21), and doubtless of symbolical import (Simonis, Onomasticon, p. 430, 460). SEE ARCHITECTURE; SEE TEMPLE. Each was eighteen cubits high and twelve in circumference, or four in diameter. They were formed of brass (copper or bronze, perhaps some more precious alloy) four fingers in thickness (Jer 52:21). The capitals (quadrangular, Jer 3:23), also of brass, were five cubits high (1Ki 7:16; Jer 52:22; 2Ch 3:15). The description of the ornaments (of the same metal, Jer 3:22) of the capitals (1Ki 7:17 sq.; compare 2Ki 25:17; 2Ch 2:15; 2Ch 4:12; Jer 52:22) is much confused and obscure (Hitzig, Jerem. p. 423), either on account of the brevity or in consequence of some corruption in the text, and it is therefore no wonder that antiquarians (see Lamy, De Tabern. fod. p. 1043 sq.; Meyer, Blätt. höh. Warh. 1, 13 sq.; 9:31 sq.; Grünersen, in the Stuttgart. Kunstb. 1831, No. 77 sq.; Keil, Tempel Solomo's, p. 95 sq.; Schnaase, Gesch. der bild. Kunste, 1, 245;.280) and architects (Schmidt, Biblic. Mathem. p. 253 sq.) should have varied greatly in their views and reconstructions on this point (compare Lamy, Tab. 18; Scheuchzer, Phys. sacr. 3, tab. 443 sq.; see Meyer, ut sup.). It is clear, however, that the capitals were swelling at the top, and lily shaped (1Ki 7:18,20; comp. Josephus, Ant. 8, 3, 4). (For discussions of various points connected with the subject, see Rosenmüller on Jer 52:22; Meyer's Bibeldeut. p. 257; Jahn, 3:261; Moyers, Chronicles p. 253; Hirt, Gesch. d. Baukunst, tab. 3, fig. 20; Böttcher, Prob. altest. Schriftausl. p. 335; Keil, Comment. on 1Ki 6:15. Monographs on the subject have been written by J. G. Michaelis, Frankf. 1733; Unger, Lugd. 1733; and Kilchberger, Berl. 1783; especially M. Plesken, De columnis cezeis, Viteb. 1719; also in Ugolini Thesaurus, x; compare the treatises of Lightfoot, Keil Hirt, and Bardwell on Solomon's Temple.) — Winer, 1, 520. SEE BOAZ; SEE PILLAR.