23 And he maketh the molten sea, ten by the cubit from its edge unto its edge; 'it is' round all about, and five by the cubit 'is' its height, and a line of thirty by the cubit doth compass it round about; 24 and knops beneath its brim round about are compassing it, ten by the cubit, going round the sea round about; in two rows 'are' the knops, cast in its being cast. 25 It is standing on twelve oxen, three facing the north, and three facing the west, and three facing the south, and three facing the east, and the sea 'is' upon them above, and all their hinder parts 'are' inward. 26 And its thickness 'is' an handbreadth, and its edge as the work of the edge of a cup, flowers of lilies; two thousand baths it containeth. 27 And he maketh the ten bases of brass; four by the cubit 'is' the length of the one base, and four by the cubit its breadth, and three by the cubit its height. 28 And this 'is' the work of the base: they have borders, and the borders 'are' between the joinings; 29 and on the borders that 'are' between the joinings 'are' lions, oxen, and cherubs, and on the joinings a base above, and beneath the lions and the oxen 'are' additions—sloping work. 30 And four wheels of brass 'are' to the one base, and axles of brass; and its four corners have shoulders—under the laver 'are' the molten shoulders, beside each addition. 31 And its mouth within the chapiter and above 'is' by the cubit, and its mouth 'is' round, the work of the base, a cubit and half a cubit; and also on its mouth 'are' carvings and their borders, square, not round. 32 And the four wheels 'are' under the borders, and the spokes of the wheels 'are' in the base, and the height of the one wheel 'is' a cubit and half a cubit. 33 And the work of the wheels 'is' as the work of the wheel of a chariot, their spokes, and their axles, and their felloes, and their naves; the whole 'is' molten. 34 And four shoulders 'are' unto the four corners of the one base; out of the base 'are' its shoulders. 35 And in the top of the base 'is' the half of a cubit in the height all round about; and on the top of the base its spokes and its borders 'are' of the same. 36 And he openeth on the tablets of its spokes, and on its borders, cherubs, lions, and palm-trees, according to the void space of each, and additions round about. 37 Thus he hath made the ten bases; one casting, one measure, one form, have they all. 38 And he maketh ten lavers of brass; forty baths doth the one laver contain, four by the cubit 'is' the one laver, one laver on the one base 'is' to the ten bases; 39 and he putteth the five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house, and the sea he hath put on the right side of the house, eastward—over-against the south.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Kings 7:23-39
Commentary on 1 Kings 7:13-47
(Read 1 Kings 7:13-47)
The two brazen pillars in the porch of the temple, some think, were to teach those that came to worship, to depend upon God only, for strength and establishment in all their religious exercises. "Jachin," God will fix this roving mind. It is good that the heart be established with grace. "Boaz," In him is our strength, who works in us both to will and to do. Spiritual strength and stability are found at the door of God's temple, where we must wait for the gifts of grace, in use of the means of grace. Spiritual priests and spiritual sacrifices must be washed in the laver of Christ's blood, and of regeneration. We must wash often, for we daily contract pollution. There are full means provided for our cleansing; so that if we have our lot for ever among the unclean it will be our own fault. Let us bless God for the fountain opened by the sacrifice of Christ for sin and for uncleanness.