The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 138

stand-work, ),:l hE're fixes the meaning of the that they were cast with the base, i.e., f1·om word in ver. 29, i.e., it decides it to be the the same mould, as in the next verse it is ~ubstantive (Keil, after Che.ld.), not the ad- impossible to say.] • ' verb (as Thenius, Bahr, al.) a cubit and a Ver. 85.-And in the top [Heb. /read] of half [so that the first mouth would fit easily the base was there a round compass into the second), and also upon the mouth [Probably "the base above" (ver. 29) or of 1t [Heb. her mouth, that of the capital, stand for the laver. This was apparently which was external. The mouth of the arched to the height of niue inches above laver was partially concealed] were the top of the base] of half a cubit high: gravings [Keil understands this of the and on the top of the base the ledges can'ing of the stand already mentioned, ver. [Heh. hands. These can hardly be either 29. But o. mouth is mentioned, which the "the hands of the wheels" (ver. 32) or the square stand Jacked. Besides the word " shoulders" of ver. 30 or ver. 84, but what "also " points to additional carvings. I they were it is difficult to say. They may understand the chapiter which formed the have been arms or projections supporting mouth of the stand to be meant] with the !aver] thereof and the borders thereof [Heb. and] their borders, foursq=e, not were of the same. [Heh. from it, sc., of one round. [i.e., the capital had panels like the piece or casting. J stand, and the former, like those of the Ver. 36.-For on the plates of the ledgos latter, were square.] [hands] thereof, and on the borders [-~ides, Ver. 32.-.And under the borders [i.e., panel•] thereof, he graved cherubims, lions, panels] were four [Heb. the fow,,, i.e., those and palm trees, according to the propor- mentioned in ver. 30] wheels [" The wheels tion [Heb. nakedness, hence naked space, reached no higher than that portion of the void. The meaning is that he filled all the sides of the base which was ornamented with spaces with carvings] of every one, and garlands" (Rawlinson). It would be more additions [wreaths, festoons] round about. correct to say that the wheels did not cover Ver. 87.-After this manner he made the any portion of the sides; they were under ten bases : all of them had one casting, one them] ; and the a.xl.etrees [Heb. J,,ands, as measure, and one size. holding the wheel to the base or stand. Ver. 88.-Then made he ten lavers of Axletrees is altogether misleading. The bra.as: one laver contained forty baths [i.e., hands were the parts connecting the wheels about 340 gala., if we accept the account and axles] of the wheels were joined to of Josephus, Ant. viii. 2. 9. But see on ver. [Heb. in, as ma.rg.J the base : and the 26]: and every laver was four cubits. [It is height of a wheel was a cubit and ha.If a uncertain whether. the height or the cubit. [i.e., 27 inches.] diameter is meant. Keil deciics for the Ver. 83.-A.nd the work of the wheels latter-and four cubits, the width of the was like the work of a chariot wheel [Heb. siclee of the stand, may well have been also the chariot, i.e., the ordinary chariot]: their the diameter of the basin-on the ground axletrees [Heb. hands], and their naves that as "the basins were set upon (~P) the [Gesenins nnderstands rims. He derives Ji gibbus, from J~~. curvatus est], and stands," it can hardly refer to the height. But it is worthy of remark that •• the height their felloes [or fellies, as the word is now of all the other parts has been mentioned" written. These are the parts which com- (Rawlinson). Seevers. 27, 82, 35, and with- pose the circumference of the wheel ; but out this particular we could not caloulate tho Gesen. translates spol:es, because they are entire height, which, if the laver were four the joinings (i'~':1 conjunxit) of nave and cubits, would be about thirteen feet. This rimJ , and their spokes [C'".lo/1'.1 Gesen. would surprising size is accounted for by remem- render naves, because the spokes collect at bering the height of the altar, to which the that part], were all molten. fat and other sacrificial portions had to be Ver. 84.-And there were !our under- transferred from the !aver]: and u:pon every setters [It seems probablri that this is not one of the ten bases one laver. ['fen Javers a repetition of ver. 30 (Ra'I linsonJ, but that would not be at all too many when we re- the reference is to the upper part (cf. ver. member the prodigious number of victims 35) of the shoulder pieces, which, accord- which were occasionally offered.] ing to Keil'e view, supported the laverJ to Ver. 89.-And he put 11.ve bases on the the !our corners of one base : and the right side [Heh. shoulder] of tho house, undersetters were or the very base itself. and 11.ve on the left side of the house [Heb. from the base, its slwuu1ere. Whether [i.e., on the south and north sides of the these words mean that the shoulders pro- court of the priests] : and he set the sea on jected from the base, that " they rose above the rtght side of the house eastward over '1ie comers with a plight curve" (Keil), or against the south. [This passago is deoi- OH, VII, 1-ol.] THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 13;;