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Hosea 6:6 For I desired mercy and not sacrifice;
and the knowledge of God more than your burnt offerings.
Bible Chapter Studies
1A0II CHRONICLES CHAPTER 4
The year is roughly 917B.C. or possibly as early as 910B.C.. We know this because, Solomon—the third man-king of Israel—is the king of the Nation of the House of Israel, and he began his reign and rule in the year 920B.C.. Solomon began his building of Father’s Temple during the fourth year of his reign, and completed his building of It during the seventh year of construction, or in the tenth or eleventh year of his reign. The structural construction is complete, however, it is in this Chapter that we’ll read of the fashioning and manufacture of the furnishings for Father’s Temple. Of course, where did Solomon get the blueprints so to speak, of how to construct Father’s Temple and all the furnishings which were to be used in conjunction with the Worship of Father? From his father David who received them from Father YHVH Himself, Who imprinted them onto David’s mind.
With that introduction being said, let’s go to Father and ask Him for His Blessings on our Study of His Word: “Father, we come to you right now to thank you for inviting us to Your table in order that we might be able to partake of and receive Your Spiritual Meat, and Father, as we prepare to dine on the sustenance which sustains our inner man, we ask that You Oh LORD open our ears and eyes, that we might be able to hear and see your Truths, open our hearts and minds and prepare us in order that we may receive Your Truth. We Pray for Your Understanding of Your Word, we seek Your Knowledge in Your Word, and most importantly Father, we Pray for and desire Your Wisdom from Your Word, in Jesus’ Precious name we Pray, thank You Father, Amen.”
I Chronicles 10:1-
II Chronicles 36:21
HISTORY (UP TO
THE CAPTIVITY.)
(Division.)
11:1-II Chronicles
36:21 THE HOUSE
of DAVID.
ESTABLISHED.
(Division.)
II Chronicles 1:1-
9:31 SOLOMON.
(Introversion and
Alternation.)
2:1-7:11 BUILDING
OF TEMPLE
(EVENTS: SACRED.)
(Introversion.)
3:1-5:1 Execution.
3:1-5:1 EXECUTION.
(Introversion and
Alternation.)
4:1-8 Its furniture.
II Chronicles 4:1 Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof. —> …he made…=The “he” being Solomon, the Nation of the House of Israel’s third man-king. Solomon himself didn’t actually do the fashioning of this altar, nor any of the other items which will go into Father’s Temple. The fashioner was Hiram or Huram—same man, the spelling only differs whether you’re reading the Books of the Kings or the Books of the Chronicles—the king of Tyre .
…altar of brass…=This altar, is the Altar of Burnt offering, the Altar where the Priests would offer-up a whole sacrificed animal(s), hence the size we read that it was—remember brethren, a cubit was roughly 18-24 inches in length, thereby making this altar roughly 40 feet long, by 40 feet wide, by 20 feet in height. These animals were already skinned and dressed-out, and after being sacrificed, they would be eaten by the family who Offered them up to Father. The Altar being this large and tall brethren, meant that the Priests could not easily reach the top of it, therefore, it required steps. The steps were at each corner, ascending up to the top, thus enabling access to the fire where the Priests would place the sacrificial animal.
Twenty=From Dr. Bullinger’s Book Number in Scripture, we read: “Twenty is the double of ten, and may in some cases signify its concentrated meaning. But its significance seems rather to be connected with the fact that it is one short of twenty-one, 21 - 1 = 20; that is to say, if 21 is the three-fold 7, and signifies Divine (3) completion as regards spiritual perfection (7), then twenty, being one short of 21, it would signify what Dr. Milo Mahan calls expectancy, and certainly we are not without illustrations in support of it: Twenty years Jacob waited to get possession of his wives and property, Genesis 21:38,41; Twenty years Israel waited for a deliverer from Jabin’s oppression, Judges 4:3; Twenty years Israel waited for deliverance through Samson, Judges 15:20, 16:31. But his work was never much more than “begun,” Judges 13:25; Twenty years the Ark of the Covenant waited at Kirjath-jearim, I Samuel 7:2; Twenty years Solomon was waiting for the completion of the two houses, I Kings 9:10; II Chronicles 8:1; Twenty years Jerusalem waited between its capture and destruction; and Twenty years Jeremiah prophesied concerning it..”
Ten=The number ten is the third of the four perfect numbers, and denotes ordinal perfection. Dr. Bullinger notes: “Ten is one of the perfect numbers, and signifies the perfection of Divine order, commencing, as it does, an altogether new series of numbers. The first decade is the representative of the whole numeral system, and originates the system of calculation called “decimals,” because the whole system of numeration consists of so many tens, of which the first is a type of the whole. Completeness of order, marking the entire round of anything, is, therefore, the ever-present signification of the number ten. It implies that nothing is wanting; that the number and order are perfect; that the whole cycle is complete: NOAH -- completed the antediluvian age—my note here, the antidiluvian age was of or belonging to the time before the biblical Flood, i.e. the flood of Noah’s day—in the tenth generation from God; THE TEN COMMANDMENTS -- contain all that is necessary, and no more than is necessary, both as to their number and their order, while; THE LORD’S PRAYER -- is completed in ten clauses; THE TITHES -- represent the whole of what was due from man to God, as marking and recognisiing God’s claim on the whole; THE REDEMPTION MONEY -- was ten gerahs, and thus was acknowledged both what God claimed, and what man was responsible to give; THE TEN PLAGUES -- were representative of the complete circle of God’s judgments on Egypt. Exodus 9:14, “I will...send all my plagues;” ANTICHRIST’S WORLD-POWER -- is comprised in the ten kingdoms, symbolized by the ten toes on the feet of the image of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Daniel 2:41), and by the ten horns of the fourth beast of Daniel’s vision (Daniel 7:7,20,24, etc.; Revelation 12:3, 13:1, 17:3,7,12); TEN NATIONS -- imply the whole of the nations which are to be the scene of Abraham’s covenant possessions (Genesis 15:19); ABRAHAM’S FAITH -- was proved by a completed cycle of ten trials...” There are many, many other examples found throughout Father’s Word as well.
II Chronicles 4:2 Also he made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits the height thereof; and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about. —>
Listen to the size of this brass sea: it was 10 cubits from brim to brim. Brethren, this makes this sea between 15 to 20 Feet round, think of an 15-20’ round, back yard swimming pool. It was also 5 cubits tall, thus making it between 7 1/2-10’ high, that’s a deep sea. What would this sea be used for? It was used for the Priests to wash themselves in, prior to ministering to Father. We read in I Kings 7:26, that this brazen sea held 2,000 baths.
Several things to note concerning this brazen sea: (1) Father did not have Moses make one while our forefathers were wandering the wilderness, this too was for several reasons: (a) it would have been too large to move while they wandered for those 38 years; and (b) they had trouble finding water to keep themselves and their animals hydrated, yes, Father could have provided enough water for them; but, it wouldn’t have been practical; and (2) how did Hiram make this brazen sea? He cast it, in other words, he first had to make a form, then he had melt the brass down in order to pour it into the form. Hiram didn’t make a wooden form; what he did was—as we’ll read when we come to verse v4:17 below—dig into the earth, which at this location—between Succoth and Zeredathah—the ground, or soil was actually clay. So, what he did was, make a reverse form of it in the clay, poured the brass into the earth, allowed it to set-up by cooling, and then dug the brazen sea out of the clay. Again brethren, think of how much brass had to be melted in order to cast this large a sea.
Five=Dr. Bullinger notes the following concerning the number five: “Five is four plus one (4+1). We have had hitherto the three persons of the Godhead, and their manifestation in creation.” As such “Five denotes Divine grace. It is 4+1. It is God adding His gifts and blessing to the works of His hands. The Hebrew Haיaretz (the earth), by “Gematria” (that is to say, the addition of the numerical value of the letters together) is a multiple of four, while Hashamayim (the heavens) is a multiple of five. The Gematria of The word Grace in Greek. χλπις (charis), the Greek for Grace, is also a multiple of five. It is the leading factor in the Tabernacle measurements. Four plus one (4+1=5) is significant of Divine strength added to and made perfect in that weakness; of omnipotence combined with the impotence of earth; of Divine favour uninfluenced and invincible..”
Thirty=Thirty “being 3 x 10, denotes in a higher degree the perfection of Divine order, as marking the right moment. CHRIST was thirty years of age at the commencement of His ministry, Luke 3:23; JOSEPH, His type, was the same age, Genesis 41:46; DAVID also, when he began to reign, II Samuel 5:4..” Judas was paid 30 pieces of silver—the price of a slave—for betraying Christ.
II Chronicles 4:3 And under it was the similitude of oxen, which did compass it round about: ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about. Two rows of oxen were cast, when it was cast. —> under it…=In other words, under this brazen sea.
…ten in a cubit…= Sticking with our 24 inches to a cubit, that would make 10 of these ornate fixtures in every two foot section. I say ornate fixtures and not oxen because, I don’t actually believe they were sculptured oxen. I say this for several reasons: (1) Dr. Moffett notes in his writings that they were “gourd like rosettes;” and (2) more importantly, we read in I Kings 7:24, that they were called “knops,” and I noted there that, they were semi-globe, or gourd like decorative ornaments. We also read—both here and in I Kings 7:24—that there were two rows of them, thus making 20 of these knops for every 2 feet.
II Chronicles 4:4 It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward. —>
…Twelve oxen=One oxen representing each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Notice also that, they were arranged three to a side—three tribes facing North, three tribes facing South, East and West—much as Father had the House of Israel camp when they wandered the wilderness for those 38 years. Let’s review from the Book of Numbers to see how the tribes were set and how these oxen are arranged: Numbers 2:6-8 tells us that the Tribe of Judah—whose Standard was the Lion—was the lead Tribe of the three tribes—Judah, Issachar, and Zebulon—which faced East, toward the rising of the sun; Numbers 2:9-16 tells us that the Tribe of Reuben—whose Standard was the Man—was the lead tribe of the three tribes—Reuben, Simeon, and Gad—which faced South, Numbers 2:18-24 tells us that the Tribe of Ephraim—whose Standard was the Ox—was the lead tribe of the three tribes—Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin—which faced West; and Numbers 2:25-31 tells us that the Tribe of Dan—whose Standard was the Eagle—was the lead tribe of the three tribes—Dan, Asher, and Naphtali—which faced North. What we see of these twelve oxen beneath the Altar of Burnt Offering symbolically, could be thought of as the People of the Twelve Tribes having to come before the Altar of Father in order to be absolved, or forgiven of their sins.
Twelve=From Dr. Bullinger’s “Number in Scripture” we read: “The number twelve is a perfect number, signifying Perfection of Government, or of Governmental Perfection. It is found as a multiple in all that has to do with rule. The sun which “rules” the day, and the moon and stars which “govern” the night, do so by their passage through the twelve signs of the Zodiac which completes the great circle of the heavens of 360 (12 x 30) degrees or divisions, the number of what is material and organic). While seven is composed of 3 added to 4, twelve is 3 multiplied by 4, and hence denotes that which can scarcely be explained in words, but which the spiritual perception can at once appreciate, viz. , organization, the products denoting production and multiplication and increase of all that is contained in the two numbers separately. The 4 is generally prominently seen in the twelve. As for Solomon’s use within Father’s Temple: The number twelve was the predominating factor, in contrast with the Tabernacle, which had the number five. This agrees with the grace which shines in the Tabernacle, and with the glory of the kingdom which is displayed in the Temple. When we come to the New Testament we find the same great principle pervading the Apostolic government as we see in the Patriarchal and National, for we have: The twelve Apostles; The twelve foundations in the heavenly Jerusalem; The twelve gates; The twelve pearls, and The twelve angels..”
Three=The number three in Biblical Numerics denotes as Dr. Bullinger explains in his book Number in Scripture: “divine perfection. Hence the number three points us to what is real, essential, perfect, substantial, complete, and Divine. There is nothing real in man or of man. Everything “under the sun” and apart from God is “vanity.” “Every man at his best estate is altogether vanity” (Psalms 139:5,11, 62:9, 144:4, Ecclesiastes 1:2,4, 2:11,17,26, 3:19, 4:4, 11:8, 12:8; Romans 8:20). All things that are specially complete are stamped with this number three. God’s attributes are three: omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence. There are three great divisions completing time--past, present, and future. Three persons, in grammar, express and include all the relationships of mankind. Thought, word, and deed, complete the sum of human capability. Three degrees of comparison complete our knowledge of qualities. The simplest proposition requires three things to complete it; viz., the subject, the predicate, and the copula. Three propositions are necessary to complete the simplest form of argument--the major premiss, the minor, and the conclusion. Three kingdoms embrace our ideas of matter--mineral, vegetable, and animal. When we turn to the Scriptures, this completion becomes Divine, and marks Divine completeness or perfection. Three is the first of four perfect numbers: Three denotes divine perfection; Seven denotes spiritual perfection; Ten denotes ordinal perfection; and Twelve denotes governmental perfection..”
II Chronicles 4:5 And the thickness of it was an handbreadth, and the brim of it like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies; and it received and held three thousand baths. —> …an handbreadth…=The walls of this brazen sea were four fingers thick. They had to be so in order to hold all the water that this sea held.
…Three thousand baths…=I noted in verse v4:2 above, that we read in I Kings 7:26 that this Brazen Sea held 2,000 baths. But, here we read that it is 3,000 baths. Why the difference? There is no conflict brethren as, the reason for the difference is “what it usually contained” and what it could actually “receive and hold.”
Baths=A “bath” was equivalent to what we know today as approximately 6 English Gallons, that would make this “bath” approximately 12,000 plus gallons of water, and yes, having owned a 24’ Round X 52” tall Swimming pool which held 13,000 gallons, I can attest that is correct considering the size of the bath.
II Chronicles 4:6 He made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them: such things as they offered for the burnt offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to wash in. —> Each of these lavers were round washbowls or caldrons, they were between 6-8 feet across and held upwards of 240 gallons of water to wash the sacrifices in. Remember, some of the sacrifices were oxen, therefore, each laver needed to be this large. The first five Chapters in the Book of Leviticus identifies which animal was to be used with which sacrifice.
After Huram completed the ten lavers; then, Solomon had the priests move them into the Temple, setting five of them on the north side, and the brazen sea and the other five lavers on the south side of the inner court of the Temple. We’ll read below that, Huram also made bases for each of these lavers.
II Chronicles 4:7 And he made ten candlesticks of gold according to their form, and set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left. —> These candlesticks, or lampstands—menorah in the Hebrew tongue—are in the Most Holy Place. Remember, these candlesticks are not like a candle we would burn or set out as a decoration today, no, these candlesticks—there were seven holders, or bowls on each stand—held oil, then a wick was placed into the oil which was burned. Once lit, they put off light, and of course, light being put forth for “truth,” also Israel at this time was to be the light for all those nations around them, much as we Christians today are to be the light for all the unbelievers around us; and, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the World.
As we’re reading here, Solomon had Hiram make ten of these candlesticks for the permanent Temple, unlike when Father had Moses make them, and there was prescribed by Him, only one of each. Solomon exceeded the prescribed number; however, he did follow the prescribed design in shape.
II Chronicles 4:8 He made also ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right side, and five on the left. And he made an hundred basons of gold. —> Tables=These “tables” were the tables for the “shewbread.” The Shew-bread was literally “bread of the face” or “faces.” Shew-bread was unleavened bread made of the finest flour; it was thin and placed upon a table which stood in the Holy Place together with the seven-branched candlestick(s) and the Altar of Incense, Leviticus 24:5-9 provides a description of the bread, and Exodus 25:23-30 lays out the instructions for the making of the table. Every Sabbath, twelve newly baked loaves, one representing each of the twelve tribes of Israel, and also the entire spiritual Israel, “the true Israel,” were put on it in two rows, six in each, and sprinkled with incense, where they remained till the following Sabbath. The placing of them on the table symbolized the entire consecration of Israel to Father, and their acceptance of Father as their God. Then they were replaced by twelve new loaves, the incense was burned, and they were eaten by the priests in the Holy Place, out of which they might not be removed, The title “bread of the face” seems to indicate that bread through which Father is seen, that is, with the participation of which the seeing of Father is bound up, or through the participation of which man attains the sight of Father whence it follows that we have not to think of bread merely as such as the means of nourishing the bodily life, but as spiritual food as a means of appropriating and retaining that life which consists In seeing the face of Father. The table for the bread was made of acacia wood, 3 feet long, 18 inches broad, and 2 feet 3 inches high. It was plated with pure gold. Two staves, plated with gold, passed through golden rings, were used for carrying it.
Basons=These “basons” were bowls used for sprinkling. The “sprinkling,” most likely being sprinkling of incense upon the shewbread; and as they were mentioned in the same breath as the shewbread tables, we can see that this does indeed correspond.
In the original Mosiac Tabernacle we one had one table, and one candlestick, but here in II Chronicles 4, we’re reading that Solomon had Huram make more of each. Why would that be? Well, in the time of the original making of these items, our forefathers were still wandering the wilderness and had not yet moved into the Promised Land, therefore, it only stood to reason that, since they had to move almost daily, it just made more sense to only make exactly what they needed in order to have to carry and transport each of these items.
4:9 The courts.
II Chronicles 4:9 Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass. —> We can read of the making of these in I Kings 6:31-36. The “Court of the Priests,” and the “Great Court” being the “Outter Court” and “Inner Court” respectively. Both Courts were outside the Temple Itself, the Inner Court was before the Outer Court, and it was the area where you would find the Altar of Burnt Offering, the Laver for washing the Offerings, and the Brazen Sea which the Priests utilized to bathe themselves in preparation for serving Father.
Doors=Let’s turn to I Kings 6:31-36, to read of the making of these doors: I Kings 6:31 And for the entering of the oracle he made doors of olive tree: the lintel and side posts were a fifth part of the wall. —> Olive Tree=Something to note here, is that, in Father’s Temple, three different types of tree were used: the Cedar tree, the Olive tree, and the Fir tree. Each of these trees stand for something: for the Cedar tree it was in its ability to repel insects and give a long life; in the Olive tree we find the Oil of our People produced, which is symbolic of “truth;” the Olive Oil is used in the anointing of our homes, our lives, and our loved ones, for protection from evil. We anoint with Olive Oil in obedience to Father’s instructions, for when we are obedient to Him, His Spirit protects us from evil; the Fir tree represents a long life, standing through all the seasons. A Fifth part of the wall=Remember, each wall was 20 cubits thick, therefore—as is stated here—the Lintel, or Upper Door Post, and the Side Posts for the doors were 4 cubits, thus making them between 6-8 feet long. We’ll see in the next verse that there were two doors, thus making them each a two-leaved, or a double door. Each leaf of each door was also between 6-8 feet, making the total span of the doors between 24-32 feet. This makes for quite a large opening; therefore, this is why the Veil and the gold chains were in place, in order that, when the doors were opened, none of the Priests standing in the Holy Place could look into the Most Holy Place and see the Ark of the Covenant, and be struck dead. Of course, as can be read in Matthew 27:51, immediately upon Jesus giving up His Spirit, the Veil was rent in twain from top to bottom, thereby allowing us today to go boldly before Father and ask for His forgiveness for our sins, no longer requiring a flesh man as our High Priest to confess our sins to, as Jesus is our High Priest and He at the right-hand of Father. [6:32] The two doors also were of olive tree; and he carved upon them carvings of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubims, and upon the palm trees. —> Though three trees are used in the actual construction of Father’s Temple, the Palm tree mentioned in this verse not used in the construction, it was carved into the wood or plaster as decorative ornaments. Trees used throughout Father’s Word are sometimes used symbolically as people; the Palm tree as used here, in the Hebrew language is timmôrâh, pronounced tim-mo-rawי, and is representative of life, and in this part of the world even to this day, still symbolically represents being the giver of life and peace. Father had our forefather’s use these representations as symbols of Him: The True Giver of Life. [6:33] So also made he for the door of the temple posts of olive tree, a fourth part of the wall. —> We change here and are no longer talking about the doors which led to the Most Holy Place, but are now speaking of the doors which led from the exterior of the structure, into Holy Place. These doors made up a fourth part of one of the exterior walls structure, thus making them five cubits, or between 7.5-10 feet long; some very large doors, especially when you consider that most doors today are only 30-36 inches in width. [6:34] And the two doors were of fir tree: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding. —> These doors, like the doors leading into the Holiest of Holies, are each made up of two pieces of wood, and are two-leaved, or double doors, which were able to be folded. Fir trees=At Christmas time, we bring fir trees into our homes and decorate them in a symbolic gesture of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Father told us in Hosea 14:8 that, Hosea 14:8 ...I am like a green fir tree. From Me is thy fruit found. He continues, saying in Hosea 14:9: Hosea 14:9 Who is wise, and he shall understand those things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein. —> No, we don’t worship any tree; but, to the wise person, we take those symbolic things which are precious to Father and He opens our minds to the instructions that He would have us learn from them. We worship our Creator, our Father; not anything that He created. We walk in His ways and Give Him all the honor and praise. Why do we do this? Because of what is stated in the last verse of Revelation 4: Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.”. [6:35] And he carved thereon cherubims and palm trees and open flowers: and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work. —> Also like the doors leading into the Most Holy Place, these doors too had decorative ornaments engraved into them and were overlaid with gold plating, and were fastened with some sort of fastener which most likely also had some decorative ornaments engraved on them. It’s sad when you think about it, such beautiful work and workmenship, and it ends up being all for naught, as, in time, our forefathers turn from following and worshiping Father, to lusting after false gods and idols, and therefore, Father chastises them for their actions by sending enemy after enemy against them until finally, as we read in II Kings 18, when Hezekiah, the king of Judah has been in power for his third year, Father allows Assyria under the hand of king Shalmaneser, and then his son Sargon—Sennnacherib his General—to come against Hezekiah. Hezekiah though, the son of one of the most vile of kings, Ahaz, is unlike his father and is a righteous king; however, the damage by his father had already been done, therefore, Father allowed this siege, and what did Hezekiah do? II Kings 18:15 And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king’s house. [18:16] At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria. —> He completely strips all this gold from the Temple Solomon built.
4:10 Their furniture.
II Chronicles 4:10 And he set the sea on the right side of the east end, over against the south —> After Hiram completed the ten bases and their lavers; then Solomon had the Priests move them into the Temple, setting five of them on the north side, and the brazen sea and the other five bases and their lavers on the south side of the inner court of the Temple.
4:11 Their furniture.
4:11-5:1 Completion.
II Chronicles 4:11 And Huram (whiteness; that is; noble; or, noble) (khoo-rawmי) made the pots, and the shovels, and the basons.
And Huram finished the work that he was to make for king Solomon (peaceful; and, peaceful) (shel-o-moי) for the house of God; —> Remember brethren, there were two men named Huram whom Solomon had working for him in his endeavor to build Father’s Temple. One was the king of Tyre, who was the overseer of all the work which was being completed. The other was a master craftsman who did the fashioning of all the furnishings which were to go into Father’s Temple. The Huram mentioned in this verse is the later of the two men. The lineage of this man is a little confusing as, sadly, our King James 1611 translators didn’t do us any favors nor this verse any justice when they translated it—or the kenites were hard at work when the wrote part of the original manuscripts. How and why can I say this? Actually for several reasons: Firstly, king Huram stated in II Chronicles 2:13 that, he sent King Solomon: “…man…of Huram my father’s,” so, according to the 1611 translators, at first glance, this man would be king Hiram’s brother or step-brother, which is not the case. Dr. Scofield translates the verse this way: “And now I am sending a skilled man, endowed with understanding, Huram-abi,” with “-abi” meaning “father.” The word abi or “father” does not always translate directly to “father,” “stepfather,” “grandfather,” “uncle,” or any of the other words associated with a paternal relationship. As is the case here, it is used to mean or translate to “advisor or counselor,” and may even indicate—since the use is in the second person—the master-craftsman named Huram was also serving as a trusted advisor/counselor/ master craftsman under King Huram’s father—the first King Huram. Secondly, the next verse—II Chronicles 2:14 which I’ll bring in part of it here—reads: “The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre,” thus showing us that this man is not king Huram’s brother or step-brother; However, Dr. Moffet incorrectly translates it this way: “I send you an adept workman, endued with intelligence, a trusty adviser of mine, called Huram.” With all that being said, what is transpiring here is, king Huram is sending a man—whose name also happens to be Huram—as we read here in the Book of The Chronicles and Hiram in The Book of Kings—to Solomon who is not only a skilled workman, but also, an adviser or supervisor\ instructor, a master-craftsman who can instruct others on how to accomplish all the artistic work which Solomon desires be completed and installed into Father’s Temple. In relation to the master-craftsman Huram’s lineage, there may be some confusion as his mother is described as a widow, who was of the Tribe of Dan. From further research, we can find she married a man from the Tribe of Naphtali and together they bare this Huram. That first husband—Huram’s natural birth father, whose name is unknown—died presumably when Huram was still a boy—which can be read of in I Kings 7:14. But, Huram’s biological father was obviously an Israelite, making Huram also an Israelite. Huram’s mother later married a man from Tyre, thus making the Tyrian father a step-father, not a birth-father.
The cauldrons, the shovels and the basons were all made of highly polished bronze. This sort of reminds me of what Ezekiel saw in Ezekiel 1 when he looked up in the sky and saw those vehicles coming toward him: Ezekiel 1:4 And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire. —> I said sort of because, though they are both highly polished and bright, they were not made of the same materials, obviously.
Huram=This Huram lived during the reign of king Solomon. He was an Israelite who was living in the land of Tyre. His unnamed mother was of the Tribe of Dan—I Chronicles 2:13-14 provides—and his unnamed natural birth father—who presumably passed away when Huram was still a young boy—was of the Tribe of Naphtali—see I Kings 7:14. After his mother’s first husband presumably passed away, she must have married a man from the land of Tyre, thus explaining how this Huram was known as being from the land of Tyre—see I Kings 7:13, which reads: I Kings 7:13 And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre. He was “a cunning man, endued with understanding…skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and to find out every device which shall be put to him.” So, as we see, he had been Blessed by Father in order to be the master craftsman who fashioned the furnishing which went into Father’s Temple. † The etymology of the name Huram: We find that this name—Huram\Huram-abi—is rather elaborate. Please see our article on the name Hiram for more details (Hiram and Huram are really the same name and have the same meaning). The abi-part of Huram-abi comes from the common word אבss(יab), meaning father: The abi-part of Huram-abi is the same as the proper name Abi. The letter י (yod) upon which our name ends, may either create an adjective (father-ly), a possessive form (my father or father of), or may be a remnant of יה (YAH) = יהו (YAHU) = יו (YU), which in turn are abbreviated forms of the Tetragrammaton יהוה, YHVH or YAHVEH. None of the consulted sources translates the full name Huram-abi but New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List reads “Highborn” for Huram and the rather obscure “Father Of” for Abi. Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names has “Most Noble” for Huram and “Father” for Abi. Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary reads “Father Of The Lofty” for Huram and “Yah(u) Is (My) Father” for Abi. The ways to understand the name Huram-abi are legion. Perhaps the abi-part was never intended to be seen as part of a personal name, as the older translations of the Bible maintain. Perhaps the name Huram-abi is a transliteration of a name that came from a language other than Hebrew and simply means nothing in Hebrew. But perhaps the abi-part was an honorable or consolatory reference to the status of his mother, the widow (because besides being lonely, widows were proverbially poor). The name Huram-abi may declare that his father’s untimely death was redeemed by his son’s exceptional skills, and mean The Honorable One Of His Father or His Father’s Nobility. See the name Beno for a somewhat similar confusion.. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H2361, - חוּרָם, - chûrâm, pronounced - khoo-rawmי, and means: Probably from H2353; whiteness, (that is), noble; Churam, the name of an Israelite and two Syrians: - Huram. Compare H2438. Total KJV occurrences: 10.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “(noble). Hiram was the name of a man of mixed race, (1 Kings 7:13,40) the principal architect and engineer sent by King Hiram to Solomon.”.
Solomon=Solomon was one of, if not the greatest king to rule Israel. Though his father David was and is the king by which all other kings were compared against, it was Solomon who Father came to in that dream where He asked Solomon “Ask what I shall give thee?” Solomon replied in I Kings 3: I Kings 3:6 And Solomon said “Thou hast shewed unto Thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before Thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with Thee; and Thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that Thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. [3:7] And now, O LORD my God, Thou hast made Thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. [3:8] And Thy servant is in the midst of Thy People which Thou hast chosen, a great People, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. [3:9] Give therefore Thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this Thy so great a People?”. He took over the throne from his father when he was at the tender age of 19—he wasn’t Israel’s youngest king, there were several others who had that distinction—and he reigned for forty years, from 920–880B.C., he was 59 years old when he returned Home to Father in heaven. † Solomon accomplished a lot of things during his reign, and a lot of good things. For the first 20+ years he did very well: He built the Temple; the palatial complex; the House of the Cedar of Lebanon; the house for pharaoh's daughter: the queen; and he brought in much gold and other sundries. It wasn’t until he got the “big head” after he completed all his building and Father appeared to him, Blessing him with all the wisdom he had, and then wanting to show off that Father Given Wisdom. It was then he started succumbing to the lust of the flesh, and he started accumulating his wives and concubines, and then started worshipping and building altars for his foreign wives’ false gods, and causing Israel to worship them too. Remember, all of the things that Solomon and Israel did, bringing in the wealth of the world by ships, and it happened in a short span of only forty years. † The etymology name Solomon comes from the fertile and familiar root שלם (shalem), meaning to be unbroken or whole: The noun שלמה (shilluma) is identical to our name Sholomoh, and is used in Psalm 91:8 in the meaning of reward or recompense (of the wicked). This illustrates the perhaps anti-intuitive notion that a bad result of something that was bad to begin with, is still very good (or rather: just). Although Psalm 91 is anonymous and tradition demands that Solomon is the great peace-king, his name may have stemmed from David’s deep remorse and grief over losing Solomon’s older sibling. When Solomon is born, the prophet Nathan receives word from Father that this child is loved by Him. Hence He names him Jedidiah—The name Jedidiah is a combination of two elements: The second element of the name Jedidiah is יה, which is the commonly accepted abbreviated form of the Tetragrammaton יהוה, which is YHVH, or YAHVEH, the sacred Name of Father. The first element of the name Jedidiah comes from the verb ידד (yadad), meaning to love—as can be read in II Samuel 12:25, although this name is, sadly, never again used.. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, we find that it is Hebrew word number: H8010, - ש למה, - shelômôh, pronounced - shel-o-moי, and means: From H7965; peaceful; Shelomoh, David’s successor: - Solomon. Total KJV occurrences: 293.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: The description of Solomon in the Smith’s Bible Dictionary is extensive and too long to post here; so, I’ll instead just post the link to it: Solomon.
God=As used in this verse, this is אלהים, ELOHIM—from Dr. Bullinger’s Companion Bible Appendices,: ELOHIM—the genus God, in other words, Father in His role of Creator of all things. From Dr. Bullinger’s Companion Bible, Appendix 4: “ELOHIM occurs 2,700 times. Its first occurrence connects it with creation, and gives it its essential meaning as the Creator. It indicates His relation to mankind as His creatures (see note on II Chronicles 18:31, where it stands in contrast with YEHOVAH as indicating covenant relationship). ELOHIM is God the Son, the living “WORD” with creature form to create (John 1:1; Colossians 1:15-17; Revelation 3:14); and later, with human form to redeem (John 1:14). “Begotten of His Father before all worlds; born of His mother, in the world.” In this creature form He appeared to the Patriarchs, a form not temporarily assumed.”. Dr. Bullinger further notes in his Companion notes to this verse, that “(with Art.) = the [true] God.”.
II Chronicles 4:12 To wit, the two pillars, and the pommels, and the chapiters which were on the top of the two pillars, and the two wreaths to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were on the top of the pillars; —> the two pillars=The name of these two pillars are Jachin and Boaz of which we just read of in our last Chapter II Chronicles 3 and also I Kings 7. Let’s review from II Chronicles 3: II Chronicles 3:15 Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty and five cubits high, and the chapiter that was on the top of each of them was five cubits. —> thirty and five cubits high=This 35 cubits high is the combining of the height of the two pillars, we know this because, we read in I Kings 7:15 and Jeremiah 52:21 that they were each 18 cubits in height. …chapiter…five cubits=Again, these chapiters were the “crowns” which sat atop each of the pillars. We read in I Kings 7:16 that, they were made of brass and were decorated with lily work, chains, and pomegranates. Why pomegranates? Because a pomegranate is like many fruits, it is a multi seeded fruit, and seeds are symbolic of life and they also produce more fruit. This is our commission brethren, planting seeds to our brothers and sisters here in this Flesh Age, or as Father tells us in Genesis 2, to “till the soil,” the “soil” being the “minds” of our brothers and sisters. The height of these chapiters being five cubits, added to the height of the pillar, thus making each pillar 18 + 5 = 23 cubits, or roughly 46 feet in height. With the porch being 20 cubits or 40 feet, this would be very proportional. Inside of each of these two chapiters was set a large bowl or pommel. There are some who believe—myself included—that they poured oil into the pommels which were set in the chapiters and then lit the oil on fire so that, as people were approaching Jerusalem and the Temple, Father’s Temple area was easily identified and recognized. With each of these two pillars being 46 feet tall, how they got up there to pour the oil into them, Father’s Word doesn’t say, but they must have made steps to do so. II Chronicles 3:16 And he made chains, as in the oracle, and put them on the heads of the pillars; and made an hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains. —> Chains=These chains are the same nets of checker work and chains of wreath work we read of in I Kings 7:15. Oracle= The oracle was and is the inner most part of the sanctuary, in other words, the Most Holy Place or the Holiest of Holies. But, let’s check this word out in our Strong’s Concordance, we find that it is Hebrew word number: H1687, - דְּבִיר or דְּבִר, - debı̂yr or debir, pronounced - deb-eerי or deb-eerי, and means: From H1696 (apparently in the sense of oracle); the shrine or innermost part of the sanctuary: - oracle. Total KJV occurrences: 16.. Now let’s check out H1696 in our Strong’s Concordance, and we’ll find that it is דָּבַר, - dâbar, pronounced - daw-barי, and means: A Primitive root; perhaps properly to arrange; but used figuratively (of words) to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue: - answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use [entreaties], utter, X well, X work. Total KJV occurrences: 1142.. So, as we see, the word “oracle” has the dual meaning of both the Holiest of Holies and also words or speaking because, it was There that the Word of Father YHVH was Spoken and Heard. II Chronicles 3:17 And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin (He [YHVH] will establish; and, He [YHVH] shall establish) (yaw-keenי), and the name of that on the left Boaz (fleetness; and, in Him [YHVH] is strength) (boי-az). —> Again, as we learned above, if we translate these two names rather than transliterate them—to change letters, words, etc. into corresponding characters of another alphabet or language—we find they they mean He—Father YHVH—will establish and In Him—Father—is strength. If we were to combine or bring the two names together, we can see the reference to Father’s People Israel, whom He will establish and give strength unto.
two=The number two “denotes difference. If two different persons agree in testimony it is conclusive. Otherwise two implies opposition, enmity, and division, as was the work of the Second day. Compare the use of the word “double” applied to “heart”, “tongue”, “mind”, etc..”
II Chronicles 4:13 And four hundred pomegranates on the two wreaths; two rows of pomegranates on each wreath, to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were upon the pillars. —> Two hundred decorative pomegranates on each pillar. Each pillar had two rows of one hundred pomegranates.
All this work which went into the Building of Father’s Temple had to have been beautiful. What all the symbology which went into Father’s Temple means, the many different scholars debate, but, in reality, it makes no difference as, I look forward to the True Temple which John tells us of in Revelation 21:22, which reads: Revelation 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. —> The “therein” being heaven.
four=In the number four “We have seen that three signifies Divine perfection, with special reference to the Trinity: The Father, one in sovereignty; the Son, the second person, in incarnation and salvation, delivering from every enemy; the Holy Spirit, the third person, realising in us and to us Divine things. Now the number four is made up of three and one (3+1=4), and it denotes, therefore, and marks that which follows the revelation of God in the Trinity, namely, His creative works. He is known by the things that are seen. Hence the written revelation commences with the words, “In-the-beginning God CREATED.” Creation is therefore the next thing—the fourth thing, and the number four always has reference to all that is created. It is emphatically the number of Creation; of man in his relation to the world as created; while six is the number of man in his opposition to and independence of God. It is the number of things that have a beginning, of things that are made, of material things, and matter itself. It is the number of material completeness. Hence it is the world number, and especially the “city” number. The fourth day saw the material creation finished (for on the fifth and sixth days it was only the furnishing and peopling of the earth with living creatures). The sun, moon, and stars completed the work, and they were to give light upon the earth which had been created, and to rule over the day and over the night (Gen 1:14-19). Four is the number of the great elements—earth, air, fire, and water. Four are the regions of the earth—north, south, east, and west. Four are the divisions of the day—morning, noon, evening, and midnight. Or in our Lord’s words, when He speaks of His coming at evening, midnight, cock-crowing, or in the morning (Mark 13:35). We are never to put off His coming in our minds beyond tomorrow morning. Four are the seasons of the year—spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Four are the great variations of the lunar phases.”.
II Chronicles 4:14 He made also bases, and lavers made he upon the bases; —> These lavers and bases are the same which we read of and discussed in verse v4:6 above. We read in I Kings 7:27-37, that each of these laver bases had wheels on them in order for the Priests to be able to move them from where they were stored against the wall of the innercourt, out into an open area so they could wash the sacrifices which were being offered, then move them back against the wall after they were through.
II Chronicles 4:15 One sea, and twelve oxen under it. —> Sea=Again, this sea is the brazen sea—also called the molten sea—which we discussed in verses v4:2-6 above.
II Chronicles 4:16 The pots also, and the shovels, and the fleshhooks, and all their instruments, did Huram his father make to king Solomon for the house of the LORD of bright brass. —> Pots and shovels=Some might ask why the Priests would need pots and shovels; but, we have to remember brethren, the Altar of Burnt Offering was burning almost 24 hours a day, every day, that produces quite a bit of ash. As such, that ash needs to be removed and discarded every once and a while. This ash coming out of the Altar of Burn Offering wasn’t discarded just anywhere; no, it had to be discarded as prescribed in Leviticus 4:12; 6:10,6:11. It had to be discarded “in a Clean Place without the camp.” In order for this to be accomplshed, the Priests needed these pots and shovels to carry the ash to this Clean Place outside the camp.
Fleshhooks=Those of you familiar with Father’s Word, at the mention of the word “fleshhooks,” your mind probably went back—like mine did—to Father’s High Priest, Prophet, and Judge: Eli, and his sons of belial who were committing abominations when the People came to Shiloh to offer sacrifice to Father. Their “custom” was, well, let’s turn to I Samuel 2 and read it for ourselves: I Samuel 2:12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD. —> Eli is the descendant of Aaron’s son Ithamar. He is the first in the line to hold the position of High Priest, and sadly, he allows sons—Hophni and Phinehas—to become worthless scoundrels who knew not Father YHVH. Even more sadly, their father allowed them to be wicked before Father. Personally, I cannot understand how the High Priest of Father and Judge of Israel at this time, could have allowed this to take place. Just how wicked were Eli’s two idiot sons? [2:13] And the priests’ custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand; —> The Priest being Eli, and his servants were his sons and the nethinims—who had come to Joshua and the elders—Joshua 9 provides—asking to join unto Israel because they too wanted to serve Father, but had lied to them, and when Joshua found them out as to their true identity, he made them the drawers of water and the hewers of wood for Father’s Altar, in other words, they were now Temple Servants—who had their hand in, and played their role in this, I’m sure. So, what was happening? They had made a custom—a “tradition of man”—in other words, a custom that was not according to Father’s Direction and Law as we’ll see as we read these next few verses. We would also read in I Samuel 2:22-24, if I were to take this that far, that these two idiots were laying with the women who came to the Tabernacle to offer sacrifices. [2:14] And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither. —> …the Priest took for himself=Thus robbing the offerers of their own portion which was completely against what Father directed in Leviticus 7:31-35. [2:15] Also before they burnt the fat, the priest’s servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, “Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.” —> …they…=Not the offerer, but the Priest for him, this too was contrary to Father’s directions of Leviticus 3:16, 7:23,25,30, and 31. [2:16] And if any man said unto him, “Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth;” then he would answer him, “Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.” —> The priest took for himself=Were the priests supposed to take anything? No, as we already read above, they were authorized by Father’s Law to receive a portion for themselves. But here, these sons of Eli—these sons of belial—were ripping the people off and making Father and His Laws an abomination to the people. They were taking—by force—in other words, they were stealing from the people, and sadly, it gets worse. If there was a good side to this, it was that they at least weren’t claiming it to be “for Father YHVH.” …fat…=The fat was not to be consumed by man because it contains all the poisons; therefore, it was to be burnt and offered to Father. But, here in this verse, we are seeing—again the breaking of Father’s Law—because Eli’s sons—and probably the nethinims too—were demanding of the people to not put the offering in the seething pot, but instead give them the raw flesh so that they could cook it over an open flame, or for that matter, they may have been selling it to make a profit for themselves. Either way, the Priests were breaking the Law, and again making Father and His Laws an abomination to the people. It is because of these things, and others by those in charge, that the people in the future will demand a man king. In reality, it should have drove the people away from man—more toward Father—and they should have demanded the Priests and those in charge, to leave them alone and asked Father to intervene on their behalf. [2:17] Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD. —> These two sons of Eli made the sacrifice so abominable to the people that, the people absolutely despised to come to Shiloh—to the House of God—and to offer up their prayers and offerings to Father, it became contemptible to them.
Bright brass=Let’s check out this word “Bright” in our Strong’s Concordance brethren, when we do, we find that it is Hebrew word number: H4838, - מָרַק, - mâraq, pronounced - maw-rakי, and means: A primitive root; to polish; by implication sharpen; also to rinse: - bright, furbish, to scour. Total KJV occurrences: 3. As a Retired Sailor, this is a term I’m familiar with as, we used this term during our cleaning for inspections and such, when we wanted our spaces and fixtures to not only be clean, but to look especially clean and polished as well.
The LORD=This Title of Father as used here in this verse, is Father in His Role of יְהֹוָה, YHVH—from Dr. Bullinger’s Companion Bible Appendices: YHVH, YAHVEH, or YEHOVAH—the sacred and personal name of Father. While Elohim is God as the Creator of all things, YEHOVAH is the same God in covenant relation to those whom He has created (compare II Chronicles 18:31). YEHOVAH means the Eternal, the Immutable One, He Who WAS, and IS, and IS TO COME. The Divine definition is given in Genesis 21:33. He is especially, therefore, the God of Israel; and the God of those who are redeemed, and are thus now “in Christ”. We can say “My God,” but not “My YEHOVAH,” for YEHOVAH is “MY God.”.
II Chronicles 4:17 In the plain (a circle, that is, (by implication) a circumjacent tract or region, especially the Ghor or valley of the Jordan, (kik-kawrי) of Jordan (a descender; and, the descender (yar-daneי) did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth (booths; and, booths (sook-kohthי) and Zeredathah (to pierce; and, place of stones (tser-ay-dawי-thaw). —> Cast=Each of the items described in verses v4:11-16 above, did Huram cast. This casting was accomplished by using the method I described in verse v4:2 above, i.e., he would make a form in the ground, then pour whichever ore, whether it was brass, gold, silver etc. into the ground, once that ore solidified, then he would dig up the ground with whichever furnishing he was casting, and then remove the surrounding clay.
Plain of Jordan=The “Plain of Jordan” has been a cause of consternation for this author as, researching the “Plain of Jordan” I have found that, there is no clear description, either in Father’s Word or provided by any of the Biblical scholars, nor is there a map designating the specific area or location. The phrase “Plain of Jordan” is only stated four times in Father’s Word—Genesis 13:10-11, I Kings 7:46 and II Chronicles 4:17—with the word “plain” in this phrase being Strong’s Hebrew word number H3603, - כִּכָר, - kikâr, pronounced - kik-kawrי, and means: From H3769, a circle, that is, (by implication) a circumjacent tract or region, especially the Ghor or valley of the Jordan; also a (round) loaf; also a talent (or large (round) coin): - loaf, morsel, piece, plain, talent. Total KJV occurrences: 68.. The first we read of the “Plain of Jordan”—Genesis 13:10-11—is when we read of Abram, his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot returning from Egypt and coming to where Abram and company had been prior to going to Egypt because of a famine in the land, the place where Abram had built an Altar to Father. Upon their return, because Abram and Lot’s cattle and herds were so abundant that “Genesis 13:6 …the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together:…” and their herdsmen having strife between them, then Abram said to his nephew, Genesis 13:8 …Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Genesis 13:9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. Genesis 13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Genesis 13:11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. —> Now, to fully understand the “Plain of Jordan” we must understand that, both Beth-El and Ai, and Soddom and Gomorrah are confined with the boundaries of the “Plain of Jordan;” however, they are in two separate regions within the plain. Beth-El and Ai are much further north of Soddom and Gomorrah. Soddom and Gomorrah are on a peninsula of the Dead Sea to the south, whereas, Beth-El and Ai are north and west of the Dead Sea. Even more north and east of Beth-El and Ai are the cities of Zeredathah and Succoth where Huram cast the furnishings which went into Father’s House. † The etymology of Zeredathah: The name Zeredah occurs really only once in the Bible, and although many translations read of a Zeredah in 2 Chronicles 4:17, the Hebrew reads צרדתה (Zaredathah). These two names are clearly related but it’s not clear whether we’re dealing with two separate towns or one. The author of Kings reports that Zeredah was the birth place or home town of the Ephraimite Nebat, who was a servant of king Solomon and the father of Jeroboam, who would instigate the insurrection that would ultimately result in the breach of the united kingdom of Israel (1 Kings 11:26). It’s not unthinkable that an Ephraimite would live in a town that wasn’t situated in Ephraim, but a little to the east, in the part of the Jordan valley that belonged to Manasseh. Otherwise, a second town named Zaredathah existed there and provided the site at which Huram-abi manufactured the bronze utensils for Solomon’s temple of YHVH (2 Chronicles 4:17). Note that although folklore has Huram-abi lonely in a shaggy cabin filing piously at a chunk of bronze, archeologists have unearthed the remnants of an enormous industrial operation, featuring high-volume kilns to process ore and produce vast amounts of bronze and slag. Since Jeroboam initially was Solomon's minister of labor of the tribe of Joseph (which would be Ephraim and Manasseh combined; 1 Kings 11:28), it’s quite reasonable to assume that they lived close to the industrial complex in nearby Zeredah/Zaredathah. Why the authors of Kings and Chronicles differ isn’t obvious, but it is possible that the Chronicler (who wrote much later than the author of Kings) engaged in word play, or perhaps even reflected a tradition that had arisen from the events surrounding Jeroboam’s revolt. Read our article on the name Millo for more thoughts on this revolt. There’s nothing in the Hebrew language of the Bible that looks like the name Zeredah, but it may be drawn from an Arabic verb צרד (srd), meaning to cool: For a meaning of the name Zeredah, Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names reads Cooling. As we noted in our article on Zarethan, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) appears to accidentally have swapped the meanings of Zarethan and Zeredah, reads The Fortress for Zeredah and Cooling for Zarethan. Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary does not offer an interpretation of either name and lists them alphabetically under (or below) the last of the roots צרר.. † XX .
II Chronicles 4:18 Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance: for the weight of the brass could not be found out. —> We read in I Kings 7:47 that, there were so many instruments, vessels, and utensils made, and so much brass used in the making of them; that, Solomon never even sought to try and figure out how many, nor how much brass went into making them.
II Chronicles 4:19 And Solomon made all the vessels that were for the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables whereon the shewbread was set; —> We’re back inside Father’s Temple and reading of the instruments, vessels and utensils which Solomon put in Father’s House.
Golden Altar=This was the Altar where the priests offered up and burnt the incense. Probably the most noted is in Luke 1:5-23, when Zacharias—the husband of Elisabeth and father to John the Baptist—was fulfilling his Priestly duty and offering up the Incense Offering during the Course of Abiah—abia in the Greek language.
Tables=Notice the “s” on the end of the word “tables”? That’s because, as we know, Solomon had Huram make ten tables for the Shewbread, five to go on the right-hand side and five to go on the left-hand side of the Holy Place.
II Chronicles 4:20 Moreover the candlesticks with their lamps, that they should burn after the manner before the oracle, of pure gold; —> Oracle=The Oracle was and is the inner most part of the sanctuary, in other words, the Most Holy Place or the Holiest of Holies. But, let’s check this word out in our Strong’s Concordance, we find that it is Hebrew word number: H1687, - דְּבִיר or דְּבִר, - debı̂yr or debir, pronounced - deb-eerי or deb-eerי, and means: From H1696 (apparently in the sense of oracle); the shrine or innermost part of the sanctuary: - oracle. Total KJV occurrences: 16.. Now let’s check out H1696 in our Strong’s Concordance, and we’ll find that it is דָּבַר, - dâbar, pronounced - daw-barי, and means: A Primitive root; perhaps properly to arrange; but used figuratively (of words) to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue: - answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use [entreaties], utter, X well, X work. Total KJV occurrences: 1142.. So, as we see, the word “Oracle” has the dual meaning of both the Holiest of Holies and also words or speaking, because it was There that the Word of Father YHVH was Spoken and Heard.
II Chronicles 4:21 And the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, made he of gold, and that perfect gold; —> Flowers= These were blossoming or budding decorative ornaments.
Tongs=The tongs were also known as snuffers and were used to extinguish the flame of the wick in the candlestick.
Perfect Gold=In other words, the finest pure gold.
II Chronicles 4:22 And the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and the censers, of pure gold: and the entry of the house, the inner doors thereof for the most holy place, and the doors of the house of the temple, were of gold. —> The oil bowls for the candles; the snuffers used to extinguish the flame of the candles; the basons which collected the blood, which was then “sprinkled,” the censers to fan the flames of the altar; the washbasins; all the spoons; and even the hinges on the doors were made with the finest pure gold. This “Most Holy Place” of course is the “Holiest of Holies,” the place where the High Priest would go in once a year to commune with Father.
Jul 2020
This Bible Study was written by Scott Reis and is provided in order to be used as a private Bible Study Tool. Therefore, it may be copied in whole or in part and shared for private Bible Study; however, it may not be reproduced and published as an original work.
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