SEV Biblia, Chapter 7:23
Hizo asimismo un mar de fundición, de diez codos de un lado al otro, perfectamente redondo; su altura era de cinco codos, y lo ceñía alrededor un cordón de treinta codos.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 23. And he made a molten sea , etc.] A large vessel made of molten brass, which, because of the great quantity of water it held, is called a sea; as it was usual with the Jews to call a large collection of waters a sea, as the sea of Tiberius and Galilee. This was made by the man of Tyre, as the pillars, by the order of Solomon, and answered to the brasen laver in the tabernacle, only larger than that; and was not only for the priests to wash their hands and feet in, but to dip upon occasion, and by the Jews is expressly said to be a dipping place for the priests, (see 2 Chronicles 4:6), ten cubits from the one brim to the other : which was the diameter of it: it was round all about; spherical or circular; not as an hemisphere, as Josephus f116 , and Procopius Gazaeus, but rather cylindrical: and his height was five cubits ; from the bottom of it, not including the pedestal of oxen on which it stood: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about ; this was the circumference of it; which answers to the diameter of ten cubits, or near it, a round number being given not strictly mathematical. (Sceptics have ridiculed the Bible for saying that the mathematical constant p is 3 instead of the more precise 3.14159. (This number is an “irrational number” and needs an infinite number digits to specify it exactly.) Two explanations for the apparent lack of precision in the measurement are given. 1) The circumference given may be for the inside circumference and the diameter may be the diameter including the thickness of the rim. This would yield a very accurate mathematical result for the inside circumference of thirty cubits. The outside circumference would be about 31.4 cubits giving a rim thickness of four inches or an hand breadth agreeing with ( 1 Kings 7:26). 2) In ( 1 Kings 7:26) we read the vessel “was wrought like the brim of a cup.” That is the brim on the top of the vessel was wider than the main part of the vessel. The diameter would be given for the brim. If the brim or lip extended about four inches past the main body of the vessel then the outside circumference of the main part of the vessel would be exactly thirty cubits. In each case the mathematical ratio for circumference of the circle is p d, where “d” is the diameter and p is the number 3.14159 ..... For a more complete discussion on this see the article by Russel Grigg. f117 . Editor.) Ver. 24 . And under the brim of it round about there were knops compassing it , etc.] Of an oval form, and therefore the Targum calls them figures of eggs; in ( 2 Chronicles 4:3) they are said to have the similitude of oxen, being like the heads of oxen, and the other parts oval; or these were in the form of gourds, as sometimes the word is rendered, ( Kings 4:39) which had on them the figures of the heads of oxen, and might serve as cocks to let out the water: ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about it ; and as the circumference was thirty cubits, there must be three hundred of these in the circuit: the knops were cast in two rows when it was cast ; for these were cast together with the sea, and being in two rows, there must be in all six hundred of them.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 13-47 - The two brazen pillars in the porch of the temple, some think, were to teach those that came to worship, to depend upon God only, for strengt and establishment in all their religious exercises. "Jachin," God wil fix this roving mind. It is good that the heart be established with grace. "Boaz," In him is our strength, who works in us both to will an to do. Spiritual strength and stability are found at the door of God' temple, where we must wait for the gifts of grace, in use of the mean of grace. Spiritual priests and spiritual sacrifices must be washed in the laver of Christ's blood, and of regeneration. We must wash often for we daily contract pollution. There are full means provided for ou cleansing; so that if we have our lot for ever among the unclean it will be our own fault. Let us bless God for the fountain opened by the sacrifice of Christ for sin and for uncleanness.
Original Hebrew
ויעשׂ 6213 את 853 הים 3220 מוצק 4165 עשׂר 6235 באמה 520 משׂפתו 8193 עד 5704 שׂפתו 8145 עגל 5696 סביב 5439 וחמשׁ 2568 באמה 520 קומתו 6967 וקוה 6961 שׁלשׁים 7970 באמה 520 יסב 5437 אתו 853 סביב׃ 5439
