Catholic Commentary on 2 Chronicles 4

"He placed the Sea on the south side, at the southeast corner." (2 Chronicles 4:10)

The Temple Furnishings

Solomon makes the bronze altar, the molten Sea, ten basins on movable stands, the lampstands, the tables, the bowls, the wick trimmers, the sprinkling bowls, the dishes, and the fire pans, all of bronze or gold. The Sea is a vast circular basin fifteen feet in diameter, seven and a half feet high, containing 17,500 gallons of water, supported by twelve bronze bulls facing the four compass directions. He placed the Sea on the south side, at the southeast corner. The ten basins are used by the priests to rinse the materials for the burnt offerings; the Sea is for the priests to wash in. The Chronicler notes that Solomon made all these things in such large quantities that the weight of the bronze was not determined.

The Catechism identifies the bronze Sea and the ritual washings as types of Baptism: the vast basin of water through which the priests pass in order to minister before God anticipates the font through which the baptised pass in order to become a priestly people (CCC 1217).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, the bronze Sea held 17,500 gallons. The ritual washing before entering God's presence was not a token gesture but a thorough immersion. The Baptism that makes us a priestly people is equally comprehensive: not a sprinkling of the conscience but a washing of the whole person. Let that thoroughness shape how you approach worship.

Prayer

Lord God, the bronze Sea held enough water to wash every priest thoroughly. Wash us thoroughly in the waters of Baptism and keep us clean for your service. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

4
The Bronze Altar and Molten Sea
(1 Kings 7:23-26)
1 He made a bronze altar twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and ten cubits high.* 4:1 The altar was approximately 30 feet in length and width and 15 feet high (9.1 meters in length and width and 4.6 meters high).
 
2 He also made the Sea of cast metal. It was circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim, five cubits in height, and thirty cubits in circumference.† 4:2 The Sea was approximately 15 feet from rim to rim, 7.5 feet in height, and 45 feet in circumference (4.6 meters from rim to rim, 2.3 meters in height, and 13.7 meters in circumference). 3 Below the rim, figures of oxen encircled it, ten per cubit all the way around the Sea, cast in two rows as a part of the Sea.
 
4 The Sea stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The Sea rested on them, with all their hindquarters toward the center. 5 It was a handbreadth thick,‡ 4:5 A handbreadth is approximately 2.9 inches or 7.4 centimeters. and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It could hold three thousand baths.§ 4:5 3,000 baths is approximately 17,400 gallons or 66,000 liters.
The Ten Basins, Lampstands, and Tables
(1 Kings 7:38-39)
 
6 He also made ten basins for washing and placed five on the south side and five on the north. The parts of the burnt offering were rinsed in them, but the priests used the Sea for washing.
 
7 He made ten gold lampstands according to their specifications and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north.
 
8 Additionally, he made ten tables and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north. He also made a hundred gold bowls.
The Courts
 
9 He made the courtyard of the priests and the large court with its doors, and he overlaid the doors with bronze.
 
10 He put the Sea on the south side, at the southeast corner.
Completion of the Bronze Works
(1 Kings 7:40-47)
 
11 Additionally, Huram made the pots, shovels, and sprinkling bowls.
 
So Huram finished the work that he had undertaken for King Solomon in the house of God:
 
12 the two pillars;
 
the two bowl-shaped capitals atop the pillars;
 
the two sets of network covering both bowls of the capitals atop the pillars;
 
13 the four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of network (two rows of pomegranates for each network covering both the bowl-shaped capitals atop the pillars);
 
14 the stands;
 
the basins on the stands;
 
15 the Sea;
 
the twelve oxen underneath the Sea;
 
16 and the pots, shovels, meat forks, and all the other articles.
 
All these objects that Huram-abi made for King Solomon for the house of the LORD were of polished bronze. 17 The king had them cast in clay molds in the plain of the Jordan between Succoth and Zeredah.* 4:17 Zeredah is a variant of Zarethan; see 1 Kings 7:46. 18 Solomon made all these articles in such great abundance that the weight of the bronze could not be determined.
Completion of the Gold Furnishings
(1 Kings 7:48-51)
 
19 Solomon also made all the furnishings for the house of God:
 
the golden altar;
 
the tables on which was placed the Bread of the Presence;
 
20 the lampstands of pure gold and their lamps, to burn in front of the inner sanctuary as prescribed;
 
21 the flowers, lamps, and tongs of gold-of purest gold;
 
22 the wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, ladles, and censers of purest gold;
 
and the gold doors of the temple: the inner doors to the Most Holy Place † 4:22 Or the Holy of Holies as well as the doors of the main hall.

*4:1 4:1 The altar was approximately 30 feet in length and width and 15 feet high (9.1 meters in length and width and 4.6 meters high).

†4:2 4:2 The Sea was approximately 15 feet from rim to rim, 7.5 feet in height, and 45 feet in circumference (4.6 meters from rim to rim, 2.3 meters in height, and 13.7 meters in circumference).

‡4:5 4:5 A handbreadth is approximately 2.9 inches or 7.4 centimeters.

§4:5 4:5 3,000 baths is approximately 17,400 gallons or 66,000 liters.

*4:17 4:17 Zeredah is a variant of Zarethan; see 1 Kings 7:46.

†4:22 4:22 Or the Holy of Holies

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