MCHEYNE
5. SEA or WATERS OF MEROM. See MEROM.The BRAZEN or MOLTEN SEA, made by Solomon for the temple, wasa circular vessel at least fifteen feet in diameter, which stood inthe court of the temple, and contained three thousand baths,according to 2Co 4:5, or two thousand baths according to 1Ki7:26. Calmet supposes this may be reconciled by saying that the cupor bowl contained two thousand baths, and the foot or basin athousand more. It was supported by twelve oxen of brass, and wasprobably the largest brazen vessel ever made-an evidence of the skillof the workers in metal at that period. It contained from 16,000 to24,000 gallons, and was supplied with water either by the labor ofthe Gibeonites, or as Jewish writers affirm, by a pipe from the wellof Etam, so that a constant flow was maintained. This water was usedfor the various ablutions of the priests, 1Ch 4:6 ; a perpetualand impressive testimony from God of the necessity of moralpurification in the inexhaustible foundation of Christ’s grace. Thepreceding engraving must be chiefly imaginary.