124
SEA
SEA, BRAZEN
mytholo<;ical, and apocalyptic references to the sea, which in several passages give to tlie word a theological signiticance. In tliis use the word 'sea' is closely allied with the word 'deep' (ciin LXX and NT ^ S/iicrtros), whicli means (1) the primeval sea, from which all arose (Gn 1^, Ps 24") ; (2) tlie ocem stream and subterranean waters (Cn 7'- 8^ 49'», Dt 33" 8') ; (3) any mass of waters (Ex 15', Ps 42' lO?-") ; (4) the depths, the deep plares ot che underworld (Ps 7P'; see Chej'ne on Ps 88'' and 148'), as the abode of the dead generally (Ro 10'), and s^jecially of demons (Lk 8^', Itev 9'- " 11' 17*20'). ^^' Idle generally used only in the third sense, the word ' sea ' seems in some passages to hon'ow the fourth sense also (Rev 13', Dn 7*). Either by poetical personihcation or as a mj-tho- logical survival, the sea is spoken of as a monster over which God sets a watt-li, and with which He wages war (Job 7'^, see Davidson, Job, p. 54 ; Is 27', see Cheyne, Uainh, i. p. 158 ; Is 51'"). The image of the sea is used regarding man and his ways : the wicked are as the sea casting up mire and dirt (Is 57'*"), man's grief U af the unquiet sea
SEA, BRAZEN (nrnjn o; 2K 25", 1 Ch 188, Jei 52" ; called in 1 K 7*'' = 2 Ch 4= Molten Sea [o pjpo] ; also called in 1 K 7" e< al. absolutely 'The Sea ' [o;.n]). — The large basin * of copper or bronza (see Brass) which stood S.E.S. of the house, and, as in the case of the corresponding laver (li'j) of the tabernacle, was situated between the altar anl the porch.t The metal of which it was made is said to have been taken by David from the cities Tibhath and Cun.J The basin was itself 5 cubits high, with a diameter of 10 cubits and a circum- ference of 30.§ It was a handbreadth in thickness. Its rim was bent outward as in that of many cups, being of the shape of a lily. That is all we are told of its shape, but from these data Josephus concluded that it was a hemisphere : others have thourfit of it as cylinder-shaped. Winer,l| Riehm,1I and Thenius** hold it to liave been a kind of cylinder, in which the lower part bulged out. "Thenius, Keil, and others object to Josephus view that, if the basin were a hemisphere, it could not hold 2000, much less 3000 baths of water. The same might be said of the cylinder form which
-V Cubits.
J lletrea.
TRB BRAZEN 8RA (aFTBR 8TAI>BX
(Jer 49"), the doubtful man is as a wave toss^ed by the wind (Ja 1"), wicked men are raging waves of the sea foaming out their own sliarae (Jude '"), invading hosts are compared to overflowing streams (Is 8', Jer 47'') and the noisy sea (Is 17**). In Rev 13' the beast rises out of the sea (as in Dn 7^ the four beasts rise), because (1) the sea as a wild, terrible power (Ps 107^^ ; see G. A. Smith, HGHL bk. ii. ch. vii.) represents heathenism (Reuss on Dn 7') ; or (2) the Roman power actually carae from the sea, or the west (Holtzmann, Handcom. on Rev 13') ; or (3) the sea is but a synonym for the abyss (of. Rev 11' 17*); or (4) the sea represents humanity, as in the passages noted above (so in Rev 17" the many waters of v.' are explained as ' peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues ' ; see Carpenter on Rev 13' and 17" in Ellicott's NT Commentary, xii. pp. 167, 207). The words in Rev 21' 'the sea is no more' (RV) will mean accordingly that powers hostile to God, whether men or demons, shall be brought to nought.
See also art. Sea of Glass, and for ' brazen sea' and ' molten sea ' next article.
A. E. Gabvie.
some give it. Benzingertt points out that 2000 baths are equivalent to 72,800 litres, and that a hemisphere of the dimensions of the brazen sea could contain but 32,707 litres, while a cylinder of these dimensions would contain, at the utmost, 49,062 litres. It is possible that the diameter and circumference are taken at the narrowest part, say immediately beneath the rim ; but it is more probable that the measurements apply to the rim, and that lower down the vessel bulged ont very much.
Aocordin^ to 2 Ob 4^ and Josephus, ^n<. vni. iii. 5, the sea held not 20uO, but SOOO baths. Keil and Thenius trace the error to a tran8cril>er, and accordingly alter 3000 to 2000. There is. however, no external support (or the change, and it is ex- ceedingly likelv that we owe the larger number to the fondness of the Ciironicler for exaggeration — a fondness equalled at least by the Jewish historian.
Below the rim, somewhere near the middle of * The Romans called large vessels lakes (Zocim). t Ex 3018.
t 1 Ch 188, of. 28 SB. The name* of places differ In theu parallel versea. J LXX 33. ||/!irB»U.6». IfllTB'LSSe.
•• Com. tt Com. on 1 K 7«.
SEA, BR.VZEX
SEA OF GLASS