The “Molten Sea” Revisited
According to the biblical account (1 Kgs 7:23–26), in the middle of the courtyard of the temple stood a large water vessel of cast brass. Commentators and researchers have put forward various suggestions as to the form of the Molten Sea and its purpose in the temple. In this article, I argue that th...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Brill
2021
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| In: |
Vetus Testamentum
Year: 2021, Volume: 71, Issue: 2, Pages: 251-262 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
el
/ Temple
/ bat
/ Bronze basin
/ Water tank
/ Brass
/ Bible. Könige 1. 7,23-26
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| IxTheo Classification: | HB Old Testament HD Early Judaism HH Archaeology |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | According to the biblical account (1 Kgs 7:23–26), in the middle of the courtyard of the temple stood a large water vessel of cast brass. Commentators and researchers have put forward various suggestions as to the form of the Molten Sea and its purpose in the temple. In this article, I argue that the description in 1 Kings offers definitive conclusions as to the biblical author’s intent regarding the form of the “Sea” and its volume (in בת units), and can resolve the outstanding question in the literature as to the equivalent of a בת in modern units of volume measurement. I shall also point to evidence in support of the view of other researchers that the Molten Sea held a purely symbolic role, while the practical functions of water for sacrificial purposes were provided by the bases (1 Kgs 7:27). |
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| ISSN: | 1568-5330 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Vetus Testamentum
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/15685330-12341449 |