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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comKeil and Delitzsch Commentary - 2 Chronicles 4:19 - 4:19
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
The golden furniture of the holy place and the gilded doors of the temple. This section is found also in 1Ki 7:40-50. The enumeration of the things wrought in brass coincides to a word, with the exception of trifling linguistic differences and some defects in the text, with 1Ki 7:40-47. In 2Ch 4:12 וְהַכֹּתָרֹות הַגֻּלֹּות is the true reading, and we should so read in 1Ki 7:41 also, since the גֻּלֹּות, circumvolutions, are to be distinguished from the כֹּתָרֹות, crowns; see on 2Ch 3:16. In 2Ch 4:14 the first עָשָׂה is a mistake for עֶשֶׂר, the second for עֲשָׂרָה, 1Ki 7:43; for the verb עָשָׂה is not required nor expected, as the accusative depends upon לַעֲשֹׂות, 2Ch 4:11, while the number cannot be omitted, since it is always given with the other things. In 2Ch 4:16 מִזְלָנֹות is an orthographic error for מִזְרָקֹות; cf. 2Ch 4:11 and 1Ki 7:44. וְאֶת־כּל־כְּלֵיחֶם is surprising, for there is no meaning in speaking of the utensils of the utensils enumerated in 2Ch 4:12-16. According to 1Ki 7:45, we should read הָאֵלֶּה כָּל־הַכֵּלִים אֵת. As to אָבִיו, see on 2Ch 2:12. מָרוּק נְחשֶׁת is accusative of the material, of polished brass; and so also מְמֹרָט נח, 1Ki 7:45, with a similar signification. In reference to the rest, see the commentary on 1Ki 7:40.
2Ch 4:19-21
In the enumeration of the golden furniture of the holy place, our text diverges somewhat more from 1Ki 7:48-50. On the difference in respect to the tables of the shew-bread, see on 1Ki 7:48. In 2Ch 4:20 the number and position of the candlesticks in the holy place are not stated as they are in 1Ki 7:49, both having been already given in 2Ch 4:7. Instead of that, their use is emphasized: to light them, according to the right, before the most holy place (כַּמְּשְׁפָּט as in 2Ch 4:7). As to the decorations and subordinate utensils of the candlesticks, see on 1Ki 7:49. To זָהָב, 2Ch 4:21 (accus. of the material), is added זָהָב מִכְלֹות הוּא, “that is perfect gold.” מִכְלָה, which occurs only here, is synonymous with מִכְלָל, perfection. This addition seems superfluous, because before and afterwards it is remarked of these vessels that they were of precious gold (סָגוּר זָהָב), and it is consequently omitted by the lxx, perhaps also because מִכְלֹות was not intelligible to them. The words, probably, are meant to indicate that even the decorations and the subordinate utensils of the candlesticks (lamps, snuffers, etc.) were of solid gold, and not merely gilded.
2Ch 4:22
מְזַמְּרֹות, knives, probably used along with the snuffers for the cleansing and trimming of the candlesticks and lamps, are not met with among the utensils of the tabernacle, but are here mentioned (Chr. and Kings), and in 2Ki 12:14 and Jer 52:18, among the temple utensils. Along with the מִזְרָקֹות, sacrificial vessels (see on 2Ch 4:8), in 1Ch 28:17 מִזְלָנֹות, forks of gold, are also mentioned, which are not elsewhere spoken of. Among the utensils of the tabernacle we find only מזלגות of brass, flesh-forks, as an appurtenance of the altar of burnt-offering (Exo 27:3; Exo 38:3; Num 4:14; cf. 1Sa 2:13.), which, however, cannot be intended here, because all the utensils here enumerated belonged to the holy place. What purpose the golden forks served cannot be determined, but the mention of golden knives might lead us to presuppose that there would be golden forks as well. That the forks are not mentioned in our verse does not render their existence doubtful, for the enumeration is not complete: e.g., the סִפֹּות, 1Ki 7:50, are also omitted. כַּפֹּות, vessels for the incense, and מַחְתֹּות, extinguishers, as in 1Ki 7:50. Instead of דַּלְתֹותָיו הַבַּיִת וּפֶּתַח הַבַּיִת , “and as regards the opening (door) of the house, its door-leaves,” in 1Ki 7:50 we have הַבַּיִת לְדַלְתֹות וְהַפֹּתֹת, “and the hinges of the door-leaves of the house.” This suggests that פתח is only an orthographical error for פֹּתֹת; but then if we take it to be so, we must alter דַּלְתֹותָיו into לְדַלְתֹותָיו. And, moreover, the expression הַבַּיִת פֹּתֹת, door-hinges of the house, is strange, as פֹּות properly denotes a recess or space between, and which renders the above-mentioned conjecture improbable. The author of the Chronicle seems rather himself to have generalized the expression, and emphasizes merely the fact that even the leaves of the doors in the most holy place and on the holy place were of gold; - of course not of solid gold; but they were, as we learn from 2Ch 3:7, overlaid with gold. This interpretation is favoured by the simple זָהָב being used without the predicate סָגוּר. To the sing. פֶּתַח no objection can be made, for the word in its fundamental signification, “opening,” may easily be taken collectively.