Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 7:39
And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward over against the south.
39. And he put ] The verb is the same which later on in the verse is translated set. It is better to adhere to the same rendering in the same verse. It would also be more in accordance with the Hebrew to translate ‘And he set the bases, five on the right side ( Heb. shoulder) of the house &c.’
eastward over against ( better, towards) the south ] The building looked north and south, so the sides would be east and west. The sea then stood at the south corner of the east side.
There is much uncertainty about the meaning of parts of the language in this description of the bases. They appear however to have been large box-shaped structures, set on four wheels. The wheels did not come up higher than the bottom of the box, and so needed shoulders and stays in which the axles might run and by which they might be kept in position. Above the box, which had a large hole in the top, rose a sort of capital on which was fixed the laver. The sides of the box and the capital as well as the stays were covered with figures. The purpose of these lavers as we are told 2Ch 4:6, was for washing such things as were offered for the burnt offering. This was most likely the reason why they were needed of some considerable height and so were supported on the box-shaped bases. The laver would be of necessity as high as the altar of burnt offering, to the side of which it must have been brought at the time of any offering. That the altar stood higher than the level of the court seems evident from 1Ki 8:22, where Solomon is described as standing before it in the sight of all the people.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
On the right side, i.e. in the south side, as is expressed in the end of the verse, and as the right side is used above, 1Ki 6:8; Psa 89:12.
On the right side of the house; not within the house, but in the priests court, where they washed either their hands or feet, or the parts of the sacrifices. On the left side of the house, i.e. on the north side; for this is here opposed to the right or south side.
Over against the south, i.e. in the south-east part, where the offerings were prepared.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And he put five bases on the right side of the house,…. On the south side, which is commonly understood; that is, of the courts of the priests, where they were placed for their use: and five on the left side of the house; on the north, as it must be, if the south is on the right; though as the entrance into the temple was at the east, when a man went in, the north must be on the right, and the south on the left; and this seems to be the position by what follows:
and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward, over against the south; and therefore the right side must be the north, which is opposite to the south; the sea seems to have stood northeast, which was for the priests to wash in before they entered on divine service, [See comments on Ex 30:20] hence it became customary with the Heathens to wash before they performed any religious worship e, particularly the hands and feet f.
e Vid. Virgil. Bucolic. Eclog. 8. “affer aquam”, &c. Aeneid. 2. “attrectare nefas”, &c. Macrob. Saturnal. l. 3. c. l. f Vid. Sperling de Bapt. Ethnic. p. 88, 89, 101.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(39) The sea.This was placed on the south-eastern side of the Temple, on one side of the great altar; the ten smaller lavers were ranged five on each side.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
39. The right side of the house Hebrew, the right shoulder of the house; that is, the south side, near the front part of the building, or at the south side of the porch.
Left side The corresponding north side of the building.
The sea eastward, over against the south That is, southeast from the front of the temple.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ki 7:39 And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward over against the south.
Ver. 39. On the right side of the house. ] That is, Of the priests’ court, who had hereby plenty of water, wherein they might wash so soon as they entered to minister in the holy place. “Holiness becometh God’s house for ever.”
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
side: Heb. shoulder
he set: 2Ch 4:6, 2Ch 4:10
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7:39 And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the {t} house eastward over against the south.
(t) That is, of the temple or sanctuary.