1 Kings 7:15

15 He it was who made the two brass pillars; the first pillar was eighteen cubits high, and a line of twelve cubits went round it; and the second was the same.

1 Kings 7:15 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 7:15

For he cast two pillars of brass, eighteen cubits high
apiece
In ( 2 Chronicles 3:15 ) they are said to be thirty five cubits high, which must be understood of the length or height of them both; and whereas that would allow but seventeen cubits and a half to a pillar, either the round number of eighteen is used, or half a cubit in each may be allowed, either for the base or pedestal into which they were put; or the chapiter at the top of them, into which they might go such a length, and so only what was seen is described:

and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about;
that was the circumference of them, and therefore their diameter must be four cubits. Eupolemus, an Heathen writer ^F14 speaks of these pillars, but he makes the circuit of them to be but ten cubits; and says they were equal in height with the temple, and stood on the right and left, and were made of brass, and covered with gold, the thickness of a finger.

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 Apud Euseb, Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 34. p. 450.

1 Kings 7:15 In-Context

13 Then King Solomon sent and got Hiram from Tyre.

14 He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass; he was full of wisdom and knowledge and an expert worker in brass. He came to King Solomon and did all his work for him.

15 He it was who made the two brass pillars; the first pillar was eighteen cubits high, and a line of twelve cubits went round it; and the second was the same.

16 And he made the two crowns to be put on the tops of the pillars, of brass made soft in the fire; the crowns were five cubits high.

17 There were nets of open-work for the crowns on the tops of the pillars, a net of open-work for one and a net of open-work for the other.