Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 7:46
In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan.
46. in the clay ground ] As the margin of A.V. explains, the literal rendering is ‘in the thickness of the ground.’ The Hebrews had a paucity of adjectives and were obliged to express in such wise what we mean by ‘stiff ground’ and which is excellently rendered by the English version.
between Succoth and Zarthan ] The last word should be written Zarethan. See Jos 3:16. That both Succoth and Zarethan were in the circle, or district, of Jordan we can see both from that passage and this, but their precise position is unknown. Succoth was allotted to the tribe of Gad (Jos 13:27) which seems to prove that it was on the east side of the Jordan, so Zarethan from their connexion in this verse was probably on that side too. In 2Ch 4:17 Zaredathah is the name given instead of Zarethan, and that name has been thought by some to be a modified form of Zeredah (1Ki 11:26) the birthplace of Jeroboam son of Nebat. According to the Septuagint additions to the story of Jeroboam (1Ki 12:24-25) Zeredah was a strong place in Mt. Ephraim, but of this we cannot be sure. It would however in that case be on the west of Jordan, and it seems a singular manner of speech to describe the foundries of Hiram as between a place on the east of the Jordan and another on the west.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Succoth and Zarthan – See Jdg 7:22; Jdg 8:5, note.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 46. Cast them, in the clay ground] In this place he found that particular kind of clay that was proper for his purpose. Some suppose that the place where Hiram had his foundry was on the other side, some on this side, of Jordan. Calmet supposes that it was near Bethshan.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
In the clay ground, or, in thick clay; fat, and tough, and tenacious, and therefore fittest to make moulds of all sorts, into which the melted brass was to be poured.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
46. In the plain of Jordan did theking cast themZarthan, or Zaretan (Jos3:16), or Zartanah (1Ki 4:12),or Zeredathah (2Ch 4:17), wason the bank of the Jordan in the territories of western Manasseh.Succoth was situated on the eastern side of Jordan, at the ford ofthe river near the mouth of the Jabbok. One reason assigned bycommentators for the castings being made there is, that at such adistance from Jerusalem that city would not be annoyed by the smokeand noxious vapors necessarily occasioned by the process. [Note inBagster’s Bible.] But the true reason is to be found in thenature of the soil; Margin, “the thickness of theground.” That part of the Jordan valley abounds with marl. Clayand sand are the moulding material still used for bronze. Such largequantities of metal as one of these castings would contain could notbe fused in one furnace, but would require a series of furnaces,especially for such a casting as the brazen seathe whole series offurnaces being filled with metal, and fused at one time, and alltapped together, and the metal let run into the mould. Thus anational foundry was erected in the plain of Jordan [NAPIER].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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, 1Ki 4:12 and Zaretan, Jos 3:16 and Zeredathah, 2Ch 4:17. The first casters of brass are said h to be Theodorus and Rhaecus, both Samians.
h Pausau. Arcadica, sive, l. 8. p. 479. & Boeotica, sive, l. 9. p. 607.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(46) In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them.The casting was done in the Jordan valley. Succoth is on the east side of Jordan, in the territory of Gad (see Gen. 33:17; Jos. 13:27; Jdg. 8:5)the place of the halt of Jacob on his way from Padan-aram, and of the insult offered to Gideon and his revenge. Zarthan, or Zaretan (Jos. 3:16), is on the western side, in the territory of Manasseh, not far from Bethshan, and nearly opposite Succoth.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
46. In the clay ground In the dense, compact soil which is found in the vicinity of the Jordan. This dense soil was peculiarly adapted to foundry work.
Succoth and Zarthan Places in the Jordan valley not yet identified with any modern town or ruin. See on Gen 33:17 and Jos 3:16.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ki 7:46 In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan.
Ver. 46. In the plain of Jordon. ] Where Christ afterwards was baptized; to show, saith an expositor, that by these lavers and vessels there cast, baptism was prefigured.
In the clay ground.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the clay ground: Heb. the thickness of the ground
Succoth: Gen 33:17
Zarthan: Zarthan is supposed to have been situated in the tribe of Manasseh, west of Jordan, near Jezreel and Bethshan or Scythopolis, and not far from the Jordan. Succoth we know was situated east of Jordan, in the tribe of Gad, and according to Jerome, in the district of Scythopolis: hence the “plain of Jordan,” where Hiram cast the brazen vessels, must be the plain in which that river runs, Zarthan and Succoth being probably nearly opposite each other; but whether the precise spot of his operations was on this side or the other side, is uncertain. In this place he found that particular clay that was proper for his purpose; and it being a considerable distance from Jerusalem, that city would not be annoyed by the smoke and noxious vapours necessarily occasioned by the process. 1Ki 4:12, Zartanah, Jos 3:16, Zaretan, 2Ch 4:17, Zeredathah
Reciprocal: Gen 13:10 – the plain Jos 13:27 – Succoth