Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 4:9

Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass.

9, 10. The Two Courts

9. the court of the priests, and the great court ] There is a difficulty in this mention of two Temple courts by the Chronicler, for it may be doubted whether Solomon’s Temple, strictly speaking, had more than one court, for in “the other court” stood Solomon’s house (1Ki 7:8). This “other court” seems to be called the “middle court” (2Ki 20:4), and the “higher court” (Jer 36:10). The “great court” (1Ki 7:12) was perhaps a third court containing not only the king’s house, but all the royal buildings as well. The Heb. word for “court” in all the above passages is er, but here the “court ( r) of the priests” is distinguished from a court called the “great court” (Heb. “great Azrh ”). Perhaps the Chronicler wishes to make the same distinction when he says that Solomon’s great prayer was offered (2Ch 6:13) in “the court” (Heb. Azrh).

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 9. He made the court of the priests] This was the inner court.

And the great court] This was the outer court, or place for the assembling of the people.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

[See comments on 2Ch 3:1].

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

The two courts are not further described. For the court of the priests, see on 1Ki 6:36 and 1Ki 7:12. As to the great or outer court, the only remark made is that it had doors, and its doors, i.e., the folds or leaves of the doors, were overlaid with copper. In 2Ch 4:10 we have a supplementary statement as to the position of the brazen sea, which coincides with 1Ki 7:39; see on the passage. In 2Ch 4:11 the heavier brazen (copper) utensils, belonging to the altar of burnt-offering, are mentioned: , pots for the removal of the ashes; , shovels, to take the ashes out from the altar; and , basins to catch and sprinkle the sacrificial blood. This half verse belongs to the preceding, notwithstanding that Huram is mentioned as the maker. This is clear beyond doubt, from the fact that the same utensils are again introduced in the summary catalogue which follows (2Ch 4:16).

Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament

See note on 1Ki 6:31

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

(9) The court of the priests.See 1Ki. 6:36; 1Ki. 7:12, the inner court; Jer. 36:10, the higher court.

And the great court.Azrh, court, a late word, common in the Targums for the classical hqr, which has just occurred. The azrh was the outer court of the temple. It is not mentioned at all in the parallel narrative. The LXX. calls it the great court; the Vulg., the great basilica. The Syriac renders the whole verse: And he made one great court for the priests and Levites, and covered the doors and bolts with bronze. (Comp. Note on 2Ch. 4:3 for this plating of the doors with bronze.) The bronze plated doors of Shalmanesers palace at Balawat were twenty-two feet high, and each leaf was six feet wide.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

The Vessels of Brass and of Gold

v. 9. Furthermore he made the court of the priests, the inner court, in which the altar of burnt offering was situated, and the Great Court, the Court of Israel, where the worshiping people assembled, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass.

v. 10. And he set the sea on the right side of the east end, over against the south, southeast of the altar of burnt offering.

v. 11. And Huram made the pots and the shovels and the basins, the pots for carrying away the ashes, the shovels for removing the ashes from the great altar, the bowls for receiving and sprinkling the blood of the sacrifices. And Huram finished the work that he was to make for King Solomon for the house of God, a catalog now following like 1Ki 7:40-47;

v. 12. to wit, the two pillars, and the pommels, the rounded part of the capitals or just beneath them, and the chapiters which were on the top of the two pillars, and the two wreaths, the network of garlands, to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were on the top of the pillars;

v. 13. and four hundred pomegranates on the two wreaths; two rows of pomegranates on each wreath to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were upon the pillars.

v. 14. He made also bases, movable holders, and lavers, in the form of large caldrons, or kettles, made he upon the bases;

v. 15. one sea, and twelve oxen under it.

v. 16. The pots also, and the shovels, and the flesh-hooks, the large forks used in preparing the sacrificial meat, and all their instruments did Huram, his father, rather, the master, the chief artisan, make to King Solomon for the house of the Lord of bright brass.

v. 17. In the Plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground, which was particularly adapted for the molds used in casting, between Succoth and Zeredathah (or Zarthan), 1Ki 7:46.

v. 18. Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance, for the weight of the brass could not be found out.

v. 19. And Solomon made all the vessels that were for the house of God, the golden altar also, the altar of incense which stood next to the veil of the Most Holy Place, and the tables whereon the showbread was set only one being in use at one time, however, 1Ki 7:48;

v. 20. moreover, the candlesticks with their lamps, that they should burn after the manner, as prescribed by the Law, Exo 27:20-21, before the Oracle, the Most Holy Place, of pure gold;

v. 21. and the flowers, the ornaments on the candlesticks in the shape of almond-blossoms, and the lamps, and the tongs, the snuffers used for these lamps, made he of gold, and that perfect gold;

v. 22. and the snuffers, the knives for cleaning the wicks, and the basins, probably those used on the Great Day of Atonement, and the spoons, trays or holders for the incense, and the censers, the pans for holding coals when offering incense, of pure gold; and the entry of the house, the inner doors thereof for the Most Holy Place, and the doors of the house of the Temple, those leading into the Holy Place, were of gold. All this outward magnificence, however, cannot compare with the inward beauty of the Church of Christ, decorated, as she is, with the righteousness of her Savior.

Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann

2Ch 4:9 Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass.

Ver. 9. Furthermore he made the court. ] See 1Ki 6:30 .

And the great court, ] i.e., The people’s court, called here gnazarah: a haply because here God helped the people, when he heard their prayers, or when here they took sanctuary.

a Forte ex azar fit azirum, et inde asilum.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)