1 Kings 7:46

46 The king had these things poured into clay molds that were made in the plain of the Jordan River between Succoth and Zarethan.

1 Kings 7:46 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 7:46

In the plain of Jericho did the king cast them in the
clay ground
Which being thick, as the word signifies, and stiff and close, was fit for such a purpose as casting brass; of such clay, furnaces of earth used to be made to melt metals in; but here were large things to be cast, as the two pillars, the sea, the ten lavers, &c. moulds were made in the ground, and so the melted brass was poured into them, which gave it its different forms; this, no doubt, was done by Hiram, though said to be done by the king, because done by his orders: the place where it was done was a part of the plain of Jericho, which lay

between Succoth and Zarthan;
Succoth was in the tribe of Gad, on the other side Jordan; Zarthan was near it on this side, in the tribe of Manasseh, the same that is called Zartanah, ( 1 Kings 4:12 ) and Zaretan, ( Joshua 3:16 ) and Zeredathah, ( 2 Chronicles 4:17 ) . The first casters of brass are said ^F8 to be Theodorus and Rhaecus, both Samians.

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 Pausau. Arcadica, sive, l. 8. p. 479. & Boeotica, sive, l. 9. p. 607.

1 Kings 7:46 In-Context

44 the large bowl with twelve bulls under it;

45 the pots, shovels, small bowls, and all the utensils for the Temple of the Lord. Huram made everything King Solomon wanted from polished bronze.

46 The king had these things poured into clay molds that were made in the plain of the Jordan River between Succoth and Zarethan.

47 Solomon never weighed the bronze used to make these things, because there was too much to weigh. So the total weight of all the bronze was never known.

48 Solomon also made all the items for the Temple of the Lord: the golden altar; the golden table which held the bread that shows God's people are in his presence;