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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Sea, The Molten or Brazen
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moÌ„l´t'n, or (מוּצק ×™×, yaÌ„m muÌ„caÌ„kÌ£, ×”× Ö¼×—×©×ª ×™×, yaÌ„m ha-nehÌ£oÌ„sheth): This was a large brazen (bronze) reservoir for water which stood in the court of Solomon's Temple between the altar and the temple porch, toward the South (-26; -5, ). The bronze from which it was made is stated in to have been taken by David from the cities Tibhath and Cun. It replaced the laver of the tabernacle, and, like that, was used for storing the water in which the priests washed their hands and their feet (compare ; ). It rested on 12 brazen (bronze) oxen, facing in four groups the four quarters of heaven. For particulars of shape, size and ornamentation, see TEMPLE. The “sea†served its purpose till the time of Ahaz, who took away the brazen oxen, and placed, the sea upon a pavement (). It is recorded that the oxen were afterward taken to Babylon (). The sea itself shared the same fate, being first broken to pieces (, ).