2 Chronicles 4 Study Notes: The Temple Furnishings
Solomon has the bronze altar, the great Sea and the washing basins made for the temple court, with the Sea set apart for the priests to wash. Huram finishes the bronze work in vast quantity, and Solomon makes the gold furnishings, including the lampstands and tables for the holy bread.
General
True or False: Solomon made so many bronze articles for the temple that no one could calculate how much all the bronze weighed (2 Chronicles 4:18).
Answer: True
This is true. The bronze work, including the pillars, the stands and basins, the Sea and all the utensils, was made in such quantity that its total weight could not be worked out (4:18). This matches David’s earlier, generous preparation: he had gathered bronze in amounts too large to weigh (1 Chronicles 22:3; 22:14) and given with all his ability so that every material was available in plenty (1 Chronicles 29:2). God’s house was supplied without stinginess.
- 2 Chronicles 4:18 (BSB)“Solomon made all these articles in such great abundance that the weight of the bronze could not be determined.”So many bronze articles were made that no one could tell how much the bronze weighed.
- 1 Chronicles 22:3 (BSB)“David provided a large quantity of iron to make the nails for the doors of the gateways and for the fittings, together with more bronze than could be weighed”David had stored up more bronze than could be weighed for the temple.
- 1 Chronicles 22:14 (BSB)“Now behold, I have taken great pains to provide for the house of the LORD—100,000 talents of gold, 1,000,000 talents of silver, and bronze and iron too great to be weighed. I have also provided timber and stone, and you may add to them.”David had taken great pains to provide bronze and iron too great to be weighed.
- 1 Chronicles 29:2 (BSB)“Now with all my ability I have made provision for the house of my God—gold for the gold articles, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron, and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, stones of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and slabs of marble—all in abundance.”David gave with all his ability so that every material was provided in abundance.
Theological
True or False: The quantity of bronze used for the temple’s articles was so great that its weight could not be calculated (2 Chronicles 4:18).
Answer: True
This is true. The bronze furnishings were produced in such abundance that their weight was beyond reckoning (4:18). The lavish supply matches David’s wholehearted preparations, in which he stored bronze beyond weighing (1 Chronicles 22:3; 22:14) and provided every material in abundance with all his ability (1 Chronicles 29:2). The scale of the work expresses the honor due to the God for whom the house was built.
- 2 Chronicles 4:18 (BSB)“Solomon made all these articles in such great abundance that the weight of the bronze could not be determined.”So many bronze articles were made that no one could tell how much the bronze weighed.
- 1 Chronicles 22:3 (BSB)“David provided a large quantity of iron to make the nails for the doors of the gateways and for the fittings, together with more bronze than could be weighed”David had stored up more bronze than could be weighed for the temple.
- 1 Chronicles 22:14 (BSB)“Now behold, I have taken great pains to provide for the house of the LORD—100,000 talents of gold, 1,000,000 talents of silver, and bronze and iron too great to be weighed. I have also provided timber and stone, and you may add to them.”David had taken great pains to provide bronze and iron too great to be weighed.
- 1 Chronicles 29:2 (BSB)“Now with all my ability I have made provision for the house of my God—gold for the gold articles, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron, and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, stones of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and slabs of marble—all in abundance.”David gave with all his ability so that every material was provided in abundance.
General
The gold lampstands were to burn “as prescribed” (4:20). What does this show about the temple’s worship?
Answer: It followed what God had already laid down
The lampstands were made to their set design (4:7) and were to shine before the innermost room in the way God had laid down (4:20), together with the tables for the sacred bread and the other gold furnishings (4:19). Temple worship was not invented by Solomon or the priests; it followed what God had already commanded. The Law had ordered the lamps to be kept burning before the LORD (Exodus 27:20-21), and David said the LORD had made the whole plan clear to him in writing (1 Chronicles 28:19). Hebrews explains that the earthly sanctuary was built by God’s pattern as a copy that foreshadows heavenly realities (Hebrews 8:5).
- 2 Chronicles 4:19-20 (BSB)“Solomon also made all the furnishings for the house of God: the golden altar; the tables on which was placed the Bread of the Presence; the lampstands of pure gold and their lamps, to burn in front of the inner sanctuary as prescribed;”The gold furnishings include the tables for the Bread of the Presence and lampstands to burn as prescribed.
- Exodus 27:20-21 (BSB)“And you are to command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually. In the Tent of Meeting, outside the veil that is in front of the Testimony, Aaron and his sons are to tend the lamps before the LORD from evening until morning. This is to be a permanent statute for the Israelites for the generations to come.”God had commanded the lamps to be kept burning before Him as a lasting statute.
- 1 Chronicles 28:19 (BSB)““All this,” said David, “all the details of this plan, the LORD has made clear to me in writing by His hand upon me.””David said the LORD had made the details of the temple plan clear to him in writing.
- Hebrews 8:5 (BSB)“The place where they serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.””The earthly sanctuary was built by God’s pattern as a copy and shadow of heavenly things.
Theological
What does the phrase “as prescribed” in 2 Chronicles 4:20 indicate about the temple’s worship?
Answer: It followed what God had already laid down
The lampstands are made to their set design (4:7) and burn before the innermost room as God had ordained (4:20), alongside the golden altar and the tables for the sacred bread (4:19). The temple’s worship follows what God commanded: the lamps fulfill the Mosaic statute (Exodus 27:20-21), and the plan came to David from the LORD in writing (1 Chronicles 28:19). Hebrews describes the earthly sanctuary as a copy that foreshadows the heavenly, built after the model God showed (Hebrews 8:5).
- 2 Chronicles 4:19-20 (BSB)“Solomon also made all the furnishings for the house of God: the golden altar; the tables on which was placed the Bread of the Presence; the lampstands of pure gold and their lamps, to burn in front of the inner sanctuary as prescribed;”The gold furnishings include the tables for the Bread of the Presence and lampstands to burn as prescribed.
- Exodus 27:20-21 (BSB)“And you are to command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually. In the Tent of Meeting, outside the veil that is in front of the Testimony, Aaron and his sons are to tend the lamps before the LORD from evening until morning. This is to be a permanent statute for the Israelites for the generations to come.”God had commanded the lamps to be kept burning before Him as a lasting statute.
- 1 Chronicles 28:19 (BSB)““All this,” said David, “all the details of this plan, the LORD has made clear to me in writing by His hand upon me.””David said the LORD had made the details of the temple plan clear to him in writing.
- Hebrews 8:5 (BSB)“The place where they serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.””The earthly sanctuary was built by God’s pattern as a copy and shadow of heavenly things.
General
According to 2 Chronicles 4:6, what were the large bronze Sea and the ten basins used for?
Answer: The Sea was for priests to wash; the basins rinsed offerings
The Sea was a huge round tank of cast bronze full of water. The ten smaller basins were used to rinse the pieces of the animals offered as burnt offerings, while the Sea was where the priests washed (4:6). This carried on God’s command at the tabernacle that the priests wash before serving at the altar so that they would not die (Exodus 30:18-21). Those who come near the holy God must be clean (Psalm 24:3-4). The New Testament uses the same picture for believers, who draw near to God with hearts cleansed from guilt and with bodies washed clean (Hebrews 10:22).
- 2 Chronicles 4:6 (BSB)“He also made ten basins for washing and placed five on the south side and five on the north. The parts of the burnt offering were rinsed in them, but the priests used the Sea for washing.”The ten basins are for rinsing the burnt offerings, and the Sea is for the priests’ washing.
- Exodus 30:18-21 (BSB)““You are to make a bronze basin with a bronze stand for washing. Set it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it, with which Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet. Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister by presenting a food offering to the LORD, they must wash with water so that they will not die. Thus they are to wash their hands and feet so that they will not die; this shall be a permanent statute for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.””God commanded the priests to wash before serving at the altar so that they would not die.
- Psalm 24:3-4 (BSB)“Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear deceitfully.”Only those with clean hands and a pure heart may stand in God’s holy place.
- Hebrews 10:22 (BSB)“let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”Believers draw near to God with hearts cleansed and bodies washed with pure water.
Theological
What functions does 2 Chronicles 4:6 assign to the Sea and the ten basins?
Answer: The Sea was for priests to wash; the basins rinsed offerings
The basins served to rinse the portions of the burnt offering, and the Sea served the priests’ own washing (4:6), continuing the tabernacle ordinance that priests wash before ministering at the altar on pain of death (Exodus 30:18-21). Holiness is required of those who approach God (Psalm 24:3-4). Hebrews applies the imagery to the new covenant, in which believers draw near with hearts sprinkled clean and bodies washed (Hebrews 10:22), cleansed through Christ rather than by ritual water.
- 2 Chronicles 4:6 (BSB)“He also made ten basins for washing and placed five on the south side and five on the north. The parts of the burnt offering were rinsed in them, but the priests used the Sea for washing.”The ten basins are for rinsing the burnt offerings, and the Sea is for the priests’ washing.
- Exodus 30:18-21 (BSB)““You are to make a bronze basin with a bronze stand for washing. Set it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it, with which Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet. Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister by presenting a food offering to the LORD, they must wash with water so that they will not die. Thus they are to wash their hands and feet so that they will not die; this shall be a permanent statute for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.””God commanded the priests to wash before serving at the altar so that they would not die.
- Psalm 24:3-4 (BSB)“Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear deceitfully.”Only those with clean hands and a pure heart may stand in God’s holy place.
- Hebrews 10:22 (BSB)“let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”Believers draw near to God with hearts cleansed and bodies washed with pure water.