II Chronicles 4 (NIV)

Summary:

The Temple's Furnishings
Verses 1-22

Bronze altar: ~30ft long X 30ft wide X 15ft high (20 cubits X 20 cubits X 10 cubits)

the Sea: made of cast metal, circular in shape
             ~15ft in diameter X 7 1/2ft high (10 cubits X 5 cubits)
             below the rim were figures of bulls, 10 per ~1 1/2 ft (1 cubit); cast in 2 rows in 1 piece with the Sea
             stood on 12 bulls; 3 facing each direction, outwardly
             ~3" (a handbreath) thick
             rim shaped like a cup, similar to a lily blossom
             held ~17,500gal (3,000 baths) [ = about 1 average-sized swimming pool]
             placed in the southeast corner of the temple
             used by the priests for washing

5 for the North side and 5 for the South side of each: basins to rinse the items for the burnt offerings, gold lampstands, and tables

100 gold sprinkling bowls

The courtyard of the priests, the large court, and the doors of the court were overlaid with bronze.

Pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls

Huram-Abi finished the work assigned to him, including the 2 pillars, the 2 capitals, the 2 sets of network, 400 pomegranates for the network; the stands & basins; the Sea & bulls; the pots, shovels, meat forks, etc.  He made all items out of polished bronze.  Solomon had them cast in clay molds in the plain of the Jordan between Succoth and Zarethan.  (Can you imagine having a whole plain as your studio?)

They used more bronze than could be weighed.  Solomon made all of the temple furnishings: the golden altar; the table for the bread of the Presence; the lampstands of pure gold, with their lamps, to burn in front of the inner sanctuary, as prescribed; the gold floral work, lamps, and tongs of solid gold; the pure gold wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes, and censers; the gold doors for the Most Holy Place and for the main hall.

Lori's Thoughts:

I told you the Sea was magnificent!  I wonder if the bulls were cows or elephants?  Originally, I thought cows, but I recently learned that elephants are referred to as bulls (thanks to Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen).  Let's say elephants, because it seems more extravagant.

So, why is it important that we know all of these details for the old temple?  It is a reflection of the splendor of heaven.  If God inspired humans to design this amazing place on earth, imagine what He has prepared for us, in heaven.  Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going." (John 14: 1-4)