2 Chronicles 4:1–22 (September 18, 2025)

The Temple's Furnishings

4:1 He made an altar of bronze, twenty cubits[a] long and twenty cubits wide and ten cubits high. 2 Then he made the sea of cast metal. It was round, ten cubits from brim to brim, and five cubits high, and a line of thirty cubits measured its circumference. 3 Under it were figures of gourds,[b] for ten cubits, compassing the sea all around. The gourds were in two rows, cast with it when it was cast. 4 It stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The sea was set on them, and all their rear parts were inward. 5 Its thickness was a handbreadth.[c] And its brim was made like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily. It held 3,000 baths.[d] 6 He also made ten basins in which to wash, and set five on the south side, and five on the north side. In these they were to rinse off what was used for the burnt offering, and the sea was for the priests to wash in.

7 And he made ten golden lampstands as prescribed, and set them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north. 8 He also made ten tables and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north. And he made a hundred basins of gold. 9 He made the court of the priests and the great court and doors for the court and overlaid their doors with bronze. 10 And he set the sea at the southeast corner of the house.

11 Hiram also made the pots, the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram finished the work that he did for King Solomon on the house of God: 12 the two pillars, the bowls, and the two capitals on the top of the pillars; and the two latticeworks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars; 13 and the 400 pomegranates for the two latticeworks, two rows of pomegranates for each latticework, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the pillars. 14 He made the stands also, and the basins on the stands, 15 and the one sea, and the twelve oxen underneath it. 16 The pots, the shovels, the forks, and all the equipment for these Huram-abi made of burnished bronze for King Solomon for the house of the Lord. 17 In the plain of the Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah.[e] 18 Solomon made all these things in great quantities, for the weight of the bronze was not sought.

19 So Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of God: the golden altar, the tables for the bread of the Presence, 20 the lampstands and their lamps of pure gold to burn before the inner sanctuary, as prescribed; 21 the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs, of purest gold; 22 the snuffers, basins, dishes for incense, and fire pans, of pure gold, and the sockets[f] of the temple, for the inner doors to the Most Holy Place and for the doors of the nave of the temple were of gold.

Footnotes

2 Chronicles 4:1 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters

2 Chronicles 4:3 Hebrew oxen; twice in this verse; compare 1 Kings 7:24

2 Chronicles 4:5 A handbreadth was about 3 inches or 7.5 centimeters

2 Chronicles 4:5 A bath was about 6 gallons or 22 liters

2 Chronicles 4:17 Spelled Zarethan in 1 Kings 7:46

2 Chronicles 4:22 Compare 1 Kings 7:50; Hebrew the entrance of the house

Summary

This chapter details the furnishings Solomon made for the temple:

• The bronze altar, thirty feet long, thirty feet wide, and fifteen feet high (v. 1).

• The great “Sea” of cast metal, held up by twelve oxen, used for priestly washing (vv. 2–5).

• Ten basins for rinsing sacrifices, placed on stands (vv. 6–7).

• Ten golden lampstands and ten golden tables for the bread of the Presence (vv. 7–8).

• The golden altar of incense, the temple doors, and various utensils, all of pure gold (vv. 19–22).

The cumulative picture is one of overwhelming beauty, abundance, and holiness. Every detail meant to point Israel to God’s glory and the seriousness of approaching Him in worship.

Who is God?

God is holy, majestic, and worthy of the finest offerings. The size of the altar, the massive Sea, and the abundance of gold declare His greatness. Every detail of the temple furniture reflects His order, beauty, and holiness. God is not indifferent to how He is worshiped. He designs and provides the way. For us, this reminds us that worship is not casual or self-invented but must align with the God who is holy. Our hearts are called to reverence and awe before Him who is greater than gold and more glorious than any earthly sanctuary.

What is our guilt?

Our guilt is that we often reduce worship to something ordinary, forgetting the weight and glory of approaching the living God. Golden lampstands and tables surrounded Israel, yet Solomon’s later heart drifted into idolatry. We, too, can be surrounded by outward forms of worship while our hearts are distracted or divided. The massive altar and the great Sea testified to the need for sacrifice and cleansing, but we often act as though we can come to God on our own terms, without repentance. This passage confronts us with the danger of external religion without inward reverence.

How does grace shine?

The bronze altar foreshadows the cross where the ultimate sacrifice was made. The Sea and basins point to the cleansing Christ gives by His blood (1 John 1:7) and Spirit (Titus 3:5). The golden lampstands anticipate Christ as the light of the world (John 8:12). The bread of the Presence points to Christ as the bread of life (John 6:35). The altar of incense points to His intercession (Heb. 7:25). In Christ, every shadow finds its substance.

We no longer need golden vessels and massive basins, because in Christ, we have perfect sacrifice, cleansing, light, sustenance, and intercession. The temple’s glory was temporary, but Christ’s glory is eternal.

Prayer

O Lord, you are holy and worthy of all glory. The temple Solomon built displayed your majesty with gold, beauty, and order. We confess that we often take your worship lightly and approach you without reverence or repentance. Forgive us for hearts that drift into distraction and pride.

Thank you for Jesus Christ, who is the true altar, the true cleansing, the true light, and the true bread of life. Fix our hearts on Him, so that our worship may be in Spirit and in truth. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.