Furnishings for the Temple (continued)

Furnishings for the Temple (continued)

Introduction:

 Review:

In our previous lesson we learned about Huram (HOO-ram) constructing:

Two bronze pillars, the capitals for the tops of the pillars, a great round basin, and twelve bronze oxen, all permanent structures made out of bronze.

In this lesson we will learn about Huram making:

Ten bronze water carts, ten bronze basins, washbasins, shovels, bowls, and a bronze altar.  All of these items were made of bronze and were made to be mobile.

We’ll also learn about Solomon making: 

a gold altar, gold table(s) for the Bread of the Presence, lampstands of solid gold, flower decorations, lamps, tongs, lamp snuffers, bowls, ladles, incense burners, and doors for the entrances to the Most Holy Place and the main room of the Temple, with their fronts overlaid with gold.

1 Kings 7:27-51 NLT
Furnishings for the Temple (continued)
27 Huram also made ten bronze water carts, each 6 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 4 1⁄2 feet tall. 28 They were constructed with side panels braced with crossbars. 29 Both the panels and the crossbars were decorated with carved lions, oxen, and cherubim. Above and below the lions and oxen were wreath decorations. 30 Each of these carts had four bronze wheels and bronze axles. There were supporting posts for the bronze basins at the corners of the carts; these supports were decorated on each side with carvings of wreaths. 31 The top of each cart had a rounded frame for the basin. It projected 1 1⁄2 feet above the cart’s top like a round pedestal, and its opening was 2 1⁄4 feet across; it was decorated on the outside with carvings of wreaths. The panels of the carts were square, not round. 32 Under the panels were four wheels that were connected to axles that had been cast as one unit with the cart. The wheels were 2 1⁄4 feet in diameter 33 and were similar to chariot wheels. The axles, spokes, rims, and hubs were all cast from molten bronze.
34 There were handles at each of the four corners of the carts, and these, too, were cast as one unit with the cart. 35 Around the top of each cart was a rim nine inches wide. The corner supports and side panels were cast as one unit with the cart. 36 Carvings of cherubim, lions, and palm trees decorated the panels and corner supports wherever there was room, and there were wreaths all around. 37 All ten water carts were the same size and were made alike, for each was cast from the same mold.
38 Huram also made ten smaller bronze basins, one for each cart. Each basin was six feet across and could hold 220 gallons of water. 39 He set five water carts on the south side of the Temple and five on the north side. The great bronze basin called the Sea was placed near the southeast corner of the Temple. 40 He also made the necessary washbasins, shovels, and bowls.
So at last Huram completed everything King Solomon had assigned him to make for the Temple of the Lord:
41 the two pillars;
the two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars;
the two networks of interwoven chains that decorated the capitals;
42 the 400 pomegranates that hung from the chains on the capitals (two rows of pomegranates for each of the chain networks that decorated the capitals on top of the pillars);
43 the ten water carts holding the ten basins;
44 the Sea and the twelve oxen under it;
45 the ash buckets, the shovels, and the bowls.
Huram made all these things of burnished bronze for the Temple of the Lord, just as King Solomon had directed. 46 The king had them cast in clay molds in the Jordan Valley between Succoth and Zarethan. 47 Solomon did not weigh all these things because there were so many; the weight of the bronze could not be measured.
48 Solomon also made all the furnishings of the Temple of the Lord:
the gold altar;
the gold table for the Bread of the Presence;
49 the lampstands of solid gold, five on the south and five on the north, in front of the Most Holy Place;
the flower decorations, lamps, and tongs—all of gold;
50 the small bowls, lamp snuffers, bowls, ladles, and incense burners—all of solid gold;
the doors for the entrances to the Most Holy Place and the main room of the Temple, with their fronts overlaid with gold.
51 So King Solomon finished all his work on the Temple of the Lord. Then he brought all the gifts his father, David, had dedicated—the silver, the gold, and the various articles—and he stored them in the treasuries of the Lord’s Temple.

Examine the Scriptures
1 Kings 7:27-51 NLT
Furnishings for the Temple (continued)

First we’ll look at the water carts. 

27 Huram also made ten bronze water carts, each 6 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 4 1⁄2 feet tall.

Note:
Where did this bronze come from?

1 Chronicles 18:3, 7-8 NLT
3 David also destroyed the forces of Hadadezer, (Ha dad a zer) king of Zobah, …

7 David brought the gold shields of Hadadezer’s officers to Jerusalem, 8 along with a large amount of bronze from Hadadezer’s towns of Tebah and Cun. Later Solomon melted the bronze and molded it into the great bronze basin called the Sea, the pillars, and the various bronze articles used at the Temple.

28 They were constructed with side panels braced with crossbars. 29 Both the panels and the crossbars were decorated with carved lions, oxen, and cherubim. Above and below the lions and oxen were wreath decorations. 30 Each of these carts had four bronze wheels and bronze axles. There were supporting posts for the bronze basins at the corners of the carts; these supports were decorated on each side with carvings of wreaths. 

  • Huram made ten bronze water carts, each 6 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 4 1⁄2 feet tall. Each of these carts had four bronze wheels and bronze axles. 

2 Chronicles 4:6 NLT
6 He also made ten smaller basins for washing the utensils for the burnt offerings. He set five on the south side and five on the north. But the priests washed themselves in the Sea. 

31 The top of each cart had a rounded frame for the basin. It projected 1 1⁄2 feet above the cart’s top like a round pedestal, and its opening was 2 1⁄4 feet across; it was decorated on the outside with carvings of wreaths. The panels of the carts were square, not round. 32 Under the panels were four wheels that were connected to axles that had been cast as one unit with the cart. The wheels were 2 1⁄4 feet in diameter 33 and were similar to chariot wheels. The axles, spokes, rims, and hubs were all cast from molten bronze.

  • The carts were carefully engineered.
  • The carts were elaborately decorated.
  • The movable stands made it possible to position the water where it was needed. 

34 There were handles at each of the four corners of the carts, and these, too, were cast as one unit with the cart. 35 Around the top of each cart was a rim nine inches wide. The corner supports and side panels were cast as one unit with the cart. 36 Carvings of cherubim, lions, and palm trees decorated the panels and corner supports wherever there was room, and there were wreaths all around. 37 All ten water carts were the same size and were made alike, for each was cast from the same mold.

  • All 10 carts were identical, being cast from the same mold. 

38 Huram also made ten smaller bronze basins, one for each cart. Each basin was six feet across and could hold 220 gallons of water.

  • Huram made ten bronze basins, one for each cart. Each basin was six feet across and could hold 220 gallons of water.
  • The water carts made by Huram were not simply ornamental pieces of furniture. They were used to wash certain prescribed parts of the animals that were slaughtered for burnt offerings. 

Leviticus 1:13 NLT
13 But the internal organs and the legs must first be washed with water. Then the priest will burn the entire sacrifice on the altar as a burnt offering. It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

  • The temple worship involved an enormous amount of activity. Thousands of animals could be sacrificed, and there were numerous utensils and objects that needed washing.

39 He set five water carts on the south side of the Temple and five on the north side. The great bronze basin called the Sea was placed near the southeast corner of the Temple. 

40 He also made the necessary washbasins, shovels, and bowls.

  • Shovels were used to scoop up the ashes that were emptied into the bowls for disposal.

Note:
Exodus 27:3 NLT
3 Make ash buckets, shovels, basins, meat forks, and firepans, all of bronze. 

The same tools served the same purpose in the Tabernacle. 

Review all that Huram had completed up to this point:

So at last Huram completed everything King Solomon had assigned him to make for the Temple of the Lord:
41 the two pillars;
the two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars;
the two networks of interwoven chains that decorated the capitals;
42 the 400 pomegranates that hung from the chains on the capitals (two rows of pomegranates for each of the chain networks that decorated the capitals on top of the pillars);
43 the ten water carts holding the ten basins;
44 the Sea and the twelve oxen under it;
45 the ash buckets, the shovels, and the bowls. 

Plus:

2 Chronicles 4:1 NLT
Furnishings for the Temple
4:1 Solomon (Huram) also made a bronze altar 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 15 feet high. 

Huram made all these things of burnished bronze for the Temple of the Lord,

Burnished bronze is bronze polished to a high shine.

just as King Solomon had directed. 46 The king had them cast in clay molds in the Jordan Valley between Succoth and Zarethan.

About 35 miles north of the Dead Sea.

  • This location between Succoth and Zarethan abounded in clay suitable for molds and lay close to a source of charcoal for heat, namely, the forests across the Jordan River. 

47 Solomon did not weigh all these things because there were so many; the weight of the bronze could not be measured.

  • The amount of bronze used was simply enormous.
  • Recording the crafting of these furnishings in so much detail emphasizes the magnificent beauty, symmetry, and glory of the temple. 

48 Solomon also made all the furnishings of the Temple of the Lord:

  • Huram was responsible for all of the work in bronze. Solomon was in charge of the work in gold.
  • Bronze was used for the furnishings outside the temple but the furniture inside the temple was made of gold.

As we already know, Solomon was very wealthy.

1 Kings 10:14 (a later date)
1 Kings 10:14 NLT
Solomon’s Wealth and Splendor
14 Each year Solomon received about 25 tons of gold.

the gold altar;

Used for:

Exodus 30:1 NLT
Plans for the Incense Altar for the Tabernacle
30:1 “Then make another altar … for burning incense.

This was placed in front of The Most Holy Place. 

  • The gold alter was used for burning incense. 

the gold table for the Bread of the Presence; 

There may have been 10 tables.

2 Chronicles 4:8, 19 NLT
8 He also built ten tables and placed them in the Temple, five along the south wall and five along the north wall. Then he molded 100 gold basins. 

19 Solomon also made all the furnishings for the Temple of God:
the gold altar;
the tables for the Bread of the Presence;

Exodus 25:30 NLT
30 Place the Bread of the Presence on the table to remain before me at all times.

What was the Bread of the Presence?

Leviticus 24:5-9 NLT
5 “You must bake twelve flat loaves of bread from choice flour, using four quarts of flour for each loaf. 6 Place the bread before the Lord on the pure gold table, and arrange the loaves in two stacks, with six loaves in each stack. 7 Put some pure frankincense near each stack to serve as a representative offering, a special gift presented to the Lord. 8 Every Sabbath day this bread must be laid out before the Lord as a gift from the Israelites; it is an ongoing expression of the eternal covenant. 9 The loaves of bread will belong to Aaron and his descendants, who must eat them in a sacred place, for they are most holy. It is the permanent right of the priests to claim this portion of the special gifts presented to the Lord.” 

49 the lampstands of solid gold, five on the south and five on the north, in front of the Most Holy Place;

Five on either side of the doors, providing a corridor of light.

Only one lampstand with seven arms had stood in the Tabernacle. 

the flower decorations, lamps, and tongs—all of gold;
50 the small bowls, lamp snuffers, bowls, ladles, and incense burners—all of solid gold;
the doors for the entrances to the Most Holy Place and the main room of the Temple, with their fronts overlaid with gold.

“all of solid gold”  Awesome!

  • King Solomon also made a gold altar, gold table(s) for the Bread of the Presence, lampstands of solid gold, flower decorations, lamps, tongs, lamp snuffers, bowls, ladles, incense burners, and doors for the entrances to the Most Holy Place and the main room of the Temple, with their fronts overlaid with gold.

51 So King Solomon finished all his work on the Temple of the Lord. Then he brought all the gifts his father, David, had dedicated—the silver, the gold, and the various articles—and he stored them in the treasuries of the Lord’s Temple.

These items may have been “spoils of war” or items received as tribute from kings seeking David’s favor.

2 Samuel 8:9-12 NLT
9 When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had destroyed the entire army of Hadadezer, 10 he sent his son Joram to congratulate King David for his successful campaign. Hadadezer and Toi had been enemies and were often at war. Joram presented David with many gifts of silver, gold, and bronze.
11 King David dedicated all these gifts to the Lord, as he did with the silver and gold from the other nations he had defeated— 12 from Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek—and from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

1 Kings 7:27–51 shows that the temple was not simply a building. Every object had a purpose, the craftsmen used God-given abilities, and the furnishings continually reminded Israel of God’s holiness, presence, and relationship with His people.

 

Follow up to later events

2 Kings 12:17-18 NLT
The End of Joash’s Reign
17 About this time King Hazael of Aram went to war against Gath and captured it. Then he turned to attack Jerusalem. 18 King Joash collected all the sacred objects that Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, the previous kings of Judah, had dedicated, along with what he himself had dedicated. He sent them all to Hazael, along with all the gold in the treasuries of the Lord’s Temple and the royal palace. So Hazael called off his attack on Jerusalem. 

2 Kings 25:8-15 NLT
The Temple Destroyed
8 On August 14 of that year which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard and an official of the Babylonian king, arrived in Jerusalem. 9 He burned down the Temple of the Lord, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem. He destroyed all the important buildings in the city. 10 Then he supervised the entire Babylonian army as they tore down the walls of Jerusalem on every side. 11 Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took as exiles the rest of the people who remained in the city, the defectors who had declared their allegiance to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the population. 12 But the captain of the guard allowed some of the poorest people to stay behind to care for the vineyards and fields.
13 The Babylonians broke up the bronze pillars in front of the Lord’s Temple, the bronze water carts, and the great bronze basin called the Sea, and they carried all the bronze away to Babylon. 14 They also took all the ash buckets, shovels, lamp snuffers, ladles, and all the other bronze articles used for making sacrifices at the Temple. 15 The captain of the guard also took the incense burners and basins, and all the other articles made of pure gold or silver.