The Sea stood on twelve bulls, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south and three facing east. The Sea rested on top of them, and their hindquarters were toward the center.
2 Chronicles 4:4
NIV - 4 The Sea stood on twelve bulls, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south and three facing east. The Sea rested on top of them, and their hindquarters were toward the center.
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The Molten Sea or Brazen Sea was a large basin in the Temple in Jerusalem made by Solomon for ablution of the priests. It is found in 1 Kings 7 and as you quoted from 2 Chronicles 4. It stood in the south-eastern corner of the inner court. According to the Bible it was five cubits high, ten cubits in diameter from brim to brim, and thirty cubits in circumference. It was placed on the backs of twelve oxen or bulls (depending on which translation you use), standing with their faces outward. It was capable of containing two or three thousand baths of water.
This is an interesting question, Mark Marcotte. I have wondered in awe at such a structure, myself. The Old Testament sea, according to the dictionary is, "A great brazen laver in the temple at Jerusalem; -- so called from its size." [1913 Webster] "He made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits the height thereof." [1913 Webster]
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