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Commentary on 2 Chronicles 4 verses 1–10
David often speaks with much affection both of the house of the Lord and of the courts of our God. Both without doors and within there was that which typified the grace of the gospel and shadowed out good things to come, of which the substance is Christ.
I. There were those things in the open court, in the view of all the people, which were very significant.
1.There was the brazen altar, Ch2 4:1. The making of this was not mentioned in the Kings. On this all the sacrifices were offered, and it sanctified the gift. This altar was much larger than that which Moses made in the tabernacle; that was five cubits square, this was twenty cubits square. Now that Israel had become both numerous and more rich, and it was to be hoped more devout (for every age should aim to be wiser and better than that which went before it), it was expected that there would be a greater abundance of offerings brought to God's altar than had been. It was therefore made such a capacious scaffold that it might hold them all, and none might excuse themselves from bringing those temptations of their devotion by alleging that there was not room to receive them. God had greatly enlarged their borders; it was therefore fit that they should enlarge his altars. Our returns should bear some proportion to our receivings. It was ten cubits high, so that the people who worshipped in the courts might see the sacrifice burnt, and their eye might affect their heart with sorrow for sin: "It is of the Lord's mercies that I am not thus consumed, and that this is accepted as an expiation of my guilt." They might thus be led to consider the great sacrifice which should be offered in the fulness of time to take away sin and abolish death, which the blood of bulls and goats could not possibly do. And with the smoke of the sacrifices their hearts might ascend to heaven in holy desires towards God and his favour. In all our devotions we must keep the eye of faith fixed upon Christ, the great propitiation. How they went up to this altar, and carried the sacrifices up to it, we are not told; some think by a plain ascent like a hill: if by steps, doubtless they were so contrived as that the end of the law (mentioned Exo 20:26) might be answered.
2.There was the molten sea, a very large brass pan, in which they put water for the priests to wash in, Ch2 4:2, Ch2 4:6. It was put just at the entrance into the court of the priests, like the font at the church door. If it were filled to the brim, it would hold 3000 baths (as here, Ch2 4:5), but ordinarily there were only 2000 baths in it, Kg1 7:26. The Holy Ghost by this signified, (1.) Our great gospel privilege, that the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin, Jo1 1:7. To us there is a fountain opened for all believers (who are spiritual priests, Rev 1:5, Rev 1:6), nay, for all the inhabitants of Jerusalem to wash in, from sin, which is uncleanness. There is a fulness of merit in Jesus Christ for all those that by faith apply to him for the purifying of their consciences, that they might serve the living God, Heb 9:14. (2.) Our great gospel duty, which is to cleanse ourselves by true repentance from all the pollutions of the flesh and the corruption that is in the world. Our hearts must be sanctified, or we cannot sanctify the name of God. Those that draw nigh to God must cleanse their hands, and purify their hearts, Jam 4:8. If I was thee not, thou hast no part with me; and he that is washed still needs to wash his feet, to renew his repentance, whenever he goes in to minister, Joh 13:10.
3.There were ten lavers of brass, in which they washed such things as they offered for the burnt-offerings, Ch2 4:6. As the priests must be washed, so must the sacrifices. We must not only purify ourselves in preparation for our religious performances, but carefully put away all those vain thoughts and corrupt aims which cleave to our performances themselves and pollute them.
4.The doors of the court were overlaid with brass (Ch2 4:9), both for strength and beauty, and that they might not be rotted with the weather, to which they were exposed. Gates of brass we read of, Psa 107:16.
II. There were those things in the house of the Lord (into which the priests alone went to minister) that were very significant. All was gold there. The nearer we come to God the purer we must be, the purer we shall be. 1. There were ten golden candlesticks, according to the form of that one which was in the tabernacle, Ch2 4:7. The written word is a lamp and a light, shining in a dark place. In Moses's time they had but one candlestick, the Pentateuch; but the additions which, in process of time, were to be made of other books of scripture might be signified by this increase of the number of the candlesticks. Light was growing. The candlesticks are the churches, Rev 1:20. Moses set up but one, the church of the Jews; but, in the gospel temple, not only believers, but churches, are multiplied. 2. There were ten golden tables (Ch2 4:8), tables whereon the show-bread was set, Ch2 4:19. Perhaps every one of the tables had twelve loaves of show-bread on it. As the house was enlarged, the house-keeping was. In my father's house there is bread enough for the whole family. To those tables belonged 100 golden basins, or dishes; for God's table is well furnished. 3. There was a golden altar (Ch2 4:19), on which they burnt incense. It is probable that this was enlarged in proportion to the brazen altar. Christ, who once for all made atonement for sin, ever lives, making intercession, in virtue of that atonement.
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SUMMARY
2 Chronicles 4:6 meticulously describes the washing facilities within Solomon's Temple, detailing ten bronze lavers for the ritual cleansing of animals designated for burnt offerings, symmetrically placed five on the right and five on the left. In distinct contrast, the immense "molten sea" was reserved exclusively for the ritual purification of the priests. This verse highlights the profound importance of ritual purity and order in ancient Israelite worship, underscoring the distinct roles and stringent requirements for those who ministered before God and for the offerings presented to Him.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
2 Chronicles 4:6 employs several literary devices to convey its message with clarity and emphasis. Merism is evident in the phrase "five on the right hand, and five on the left," which uses two opposing parts to describe a complete, symmetrical arrangement, highlighting the comprehensive and orderly design of the Temple's washing facilities. Contrast is a prominent feature, as the verse explicitly differentiates the purpose of the lavers ("such things as they offered for the burnt offering they washed in them") from that of the sea ("but the sea [was] for the priests to wash in"). This contrast underscores the distinct levels and types of ritual purity required for different aspects of Temple service and for different participants. Furthermore, Symbolism is inherent in the very act of washing and the water itself. Water consistently symbolizes cleansing, purification, and renewal throughout Scripture, and its prominent role in these Temple rituals points to the spiritual necessity of holiness and the removal of defilement when approaching the divine.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The meticulous provision for washing in 2 Chronicles 4:6 speaks profoundly to the biblical emphasis on purity and holiness in approaching God. In the Old Testament, physical and ritual cleanliness served as a tangible, visible representation of the spiritual purity required to stand before a holy God. The clear distinction between the washing of offerings and the washing of priests underscores the graded levels of holiness and the specific requirements for those who mediate worship. This intricate system, while outwardly focused on ceremonial acts, pointed to a deeper spiritual reality: that sin defiles, and access to God necessitates atonement and cleansing. The very existence of these washing implements served as a constant, visual reminder of humanity's inherent impurity and God's absolute holiness, preparing the way for a more perfect and ultimate purification that would transcend mere physical rites.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the physical Temple and its intricate sacrificial system no longer exist, the enduring principles embedded in 2 Chronicles 4:6 remain profoundly relevant for believers today. This verse challenges us to deeply consider our own spiritual readiness and reverence when we approach God. Just as the priests and the offerings required meticulous cleansing, so too are we, as a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9), called to live lives of holiness and purity. Our cleansing, however, does not come from physical water or animal sacrifices, but from the complete and perfect atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who is our ultimate purification and our sole access to God. This passage encourages us to cultivate a heart that genuinely desires purity, acknowledging God's absolute holiness and our ongoing need for His grace and transformative power in our daily lives. It prompts us to ensure that our worship is not merely external or superficial but flows from a heart that has been cleansed, consecrated, and continually submitted to His sanctifying work.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What was the "molten sea" and why was it so large?
Answer: The "molten sea" was a colossal bronze basin, approximately 15 feet in diameter and 7.5 feet high, holding an immense volume of water. While estimates vary, 2 Chronicles 4:5 suggests it could contain 10,000 baths (roughly 200,000 gallons), making it the largest single vessel in the Temple courtyard. Its immense size was primarily practical, serving as the main reservoir for the priests' ritual ablutions. Priests needed to wash their hands and feet frequently before performing their sacred duties, and the sea provided a constant, abundant supply of water for this purpose. Symbolically, its grandeur and capacity also underscored the vastness of God's provision and the boundless need for purification in His holy presence. It was a visual testament to the importance of cleanliness for those who ministered before the Lord, a theme consistent with the tabernacle's bronze laver, though on a far grander scale (Exodus 30:18).
Why were there ten lavers for the burnt offering, and why were they placed symmetrically?
Answer: The provision of ten lavers, strategically placed five on the right and five on the left, speaks to both the volume and the order of worship in Solomon's Temple. Burnt offerings were frequent and numerous, often involving multiple animals simultaneously. Having ten separate lavers allowed for the efficient washing of these animals, preventing bottlenecks and ensuring that the sacrificial process could proceed smoothly and without delay. The symmetrical placement would have facilitated ease of access from various points in the courtyard, reflecting a thoughtful design for a high-traffic, sacred space. This arrangement underscores the importance of order and efficiency in the service of God, ensuring that the elaborate rituals could be performed with reverence and precision, accommodating the scale of worship in the Temple.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The washing rituals described in 2 Chronicles 4:6, with their emphasis on physical purity for both offerings and priests, find their ultimate fulfillment and spiritual transformation in Jesus Christ. The ten lavers, used to cleanse sacrificial animals, powerfully foreshadow the perfect, unblemished Lamb of God, Jesus, who offered Himself as the final and complete sacrifice for sin (John 1:29 and Hebrews 9:26). He was the "thing offered" that was perfectly pure, needing no washing, because He was without sin. Similarly, the "molten sea" for the priests' cleansing points to Christ as our great High Priest, who, unlike the Levitical priests, needed no purification for Himself, being holy, innocent, and undefiled (Hebrews 7:26-27). His sacrifice provides a once-for-all spiritual cleansing, not of hands and feet, but of our consciences from dead works to serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14). Through His shed blood, believers are made perfectly clean and are granted direct access to God, becoming a "royal priesthood" themselves (1 Peter 2:9), able to draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:22). The physical washings of the Old Covenant were but shadows, pointing to the glorious reality of spiritual purification and perfect access found in Christ alone.