1 Kings 7:39
And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward over against the south.
And he put {H5414} five {H2568} bases {H4350} on the right {H3225} side {H3802} of the house {H1004}, and five {H2568} on the left {H8040} side {H3802} of the house {H1004}: and he set {H5414} the sea {H3220} on the right {H3233} side {H3802} of the house {H1004} eastward {H6924} over against {H4136} the south {H5045}.
He arranged five of the trolleys on the right side of the house and five on the left side. The Sea he placed on the right side of the house, toward the southeast.
He set five stands on the south side of the temple and five on the north, and he put the Sea on the south side, at the southeast corner of the temple.
And he set the bases, five on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward, toward the south.
Cross-References
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2 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. -
2 Chronicles 4:10
And he set the sea on the right side of the east end, over against the south.
Commentary
1 Kings 7:39 continues the detailed account of the construction and arrangement of the magnificent furnishings within Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. This particular verse focuses on the precise placement of the ten bronze bases, which held the lavers, and the immense molten sea.
Context
Chapter 7 of 1 Kings is dedicated to describing the intricate work of Hiram, the skilled craftsman from Tyre, and the various bronze fixtures he fashioned for the Temple. Prior to this verse, the text describes the construction of the two great pillars, Jachin and Boaz (1 Kings 7:21), the molten sea (1 Kings 7:23-26), and the ten elaborate wheeled bases and their accompanying lavers (1 Kings 7:27-38). Verse 39 then details the final positioning of these crucial elements within the temple courtyard, indicating the meticulous planning and order involved in sacred worship.
Key Elements and Symbolism
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "right side of the house" (ืึถืึถื ืึทืึผึทืึดืช, yemen habbayit) and "left side of the house" (ืฉืึฐืึนืืื ืึทืึผึทืึดืช, s'mol habbayit) are significant for understanding the Temple's orientation. In Hebrew culture, directions were often given relative to facing east. Therefore, the "right side" would be the south, and the "left side" would be the north. This detail helps visualize the layout of the Temple courtyard as described in the text.
Significance and Application
The meticulous detail given to the placement of these items in 1 Kings 7:39 speaks to the divine order and the profound respect required for God's presence. Every element of the Temple, from its grand architecture to the smallest basin, served a specific purpose in facilitating worship and teaching spiritual truths. While the physical Temple and its elaborate rituals are no longer central to Christian worship, having been fulfilled in Christ, the principles of purification and holiness remain timeless.
Believers today are called to approach God with clean hands and a pure heart, not through ritual washing, but through faith in Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice provides the ultimate sanctification and cleansing from sin. The emphasis on purity in the Old Testament temple foreshadows the spiritual purity that Christ makes possible for His followers, inviting us to live lives that reflect His holiness (see 1 Peter 1:16).
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