1 Kings 7:15–45

The Two Bronze Columns

¹⁵Huram cast two bronze columns, each one 8 metres tall and 5.3 metres in circumference,^s and placed them at the entrance of the Temple. ¹⁶He also made two bronze capitals, each one 2.2 metres tall, to be placed on top of the columns. ¹⁷The top of each column was decorated with a design of interwoven chains,^{t 18}and two rows of bronze pomegranates.

¹⁹The capitals were shaped like lilies, 1.8 metres tall, ²⁰and were placed on a rounded section which was above the chain design. There were 200 pomegranates in two rows round each^u capital.

²¹Huram placed these two bronze columns in front of the entrance of the Temple: the one on the south side was named Jachin,^v and the one on the north was named Boaz.^{w 22}The lily-shaped bronze capitals were on top of the columns.

And so the work on the columns was completed.

The Bronze Tank

²³Huram made a round tank of bronze, 2.2 metres deep, 4.4 metres in diameter, and 13.2 metres in circumference. ²⁴All round the outer edge of the rim of the tank^x were two rows of bronze gourds, which had been cast all in one piece with the rest of the tank. ²⁵The tank rested on the backs of twelve bronze bulls that faced outwards, three facing in each direction. ²⁶The sides of the tank were 75 millimetres thick. Its rim was like the rim of a cup, curving outwards like the petals of a lily. The tank held about 40,000 litres.

The Bronze Carts

²⁷Huram also made ten bronze carts; each was 1.8 metres long, 1.8 metres wide, and 1.3 metres high. ²⁸They were made of square panels which were set in frames, ²⁹with the figures of lions, bulls, and winged creatures on the panels; and on the frames, above and underneath the lions and bulls, there were spiral figures in relief. ³⁰Each cart had four bronze wheels with bronze axles. At the four corners were bronze supports for a basin; the supports were decorated with spiral figures in relief. ³¹There was a circular frame on top for the basin. It projected upwards 45 centimetres from the top of the cart and 18 centimetres down into it. It had carvings round it. ³²The wheels were 66 centimetres high; they were under the panels, and the axles were of one piece with the carts. ³³The wheels were like chariot wheels; their axles, rims, spokes, and hubs were all of bronze. ³⁴There were four supports at the bottom corners of each cart, which were of one piece with the cart. ³⁵There was a 22 centimetre band round the top of each cart; its supports and the panels were of one piece with the cart. ³⁶The supports and panels were decorated with figures of winged creatures, lions, and palm trees, wherever there was space for them, with spiral figures all round. ³⁷This, then, is how the carts were made; they were all alike, having the same size and shape.

^38*Huram also made ten basins, one for each cart. Each basin was 1.8 metres in diameter, and held about 800 litres. ³⁹He placed five of the carts on the south side of the Temple, and the other five on the north side; the tank he placed at the south-east corner.

Summary List of Temple Furnishings

⁴⁰Huram also made pots, shovels, and bowls. He completed all his work for King Solomon for the Lord’s Temple. This is what he made:

⁴¹The two columns;

The two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the columns;

The design of interwoven chains on each capital;

⁴²The 400 bronze pomegranates, in two rows of a hundred each round the design on each capital;

⁴³The ten carts;

The ten basins;

⁴⁴The tank;

The twelve bulls supporting the tank;

⁴⁵The pots, shovels, and bowls.

All this equipment for the Temple, which Huram made for King Solomon, was of polished bronze.