Molten Sea

An artist's rendition of the Molten Sea

TheMolten SeaorBrazen Sea(ים מוצקyām mūṣāq"cast metalsea") was a large basin in theTemple in Jerusalemmade bySolomonforablutionof the priests. It is described in1 Kings 7:23–26and2 Chronicles 4:2–5.It stood in the south-eastern corner of the inner court. According to theBibleit was fivecubitshigh, ten cubits in diameter from brim to brim, and thirty cubits in circumference. The brim was like the rim of a cup or like alilyblossom,and its thickness was a hand breadth ", three or four inches. It was placed on the backs of twelveoxen,standing with their faces outward. It was capable of containing two or three thousandbathsof water (2 Chronicles 4:5). The fact that it was a wash basin which was too large to enter from above lends to the idea that water would likely have flowed from it down into a subcontainer beneath. The water was originally supplied by theGibeonites,but was afterwards brought by a conduit fromSolomon's Pools.The "molten sea" was made ofbrassorbronze,which Solomon had taken from the captured cities ofHadarezer,the king ofZobah(1 Chronicles 18:8).Ahazlater removed this laver from the oxen, and placed it on a stone pavement (2 Kings 16:17). It was destroyed by theChaldeans(2 Kings 25:13).

In rabbinical literature

The Brazen Sea is destroyed by the Chaldeans (watercolor, circa 1896–1902 byJames Tissot,or followers)

The basin contained water sufficient for two thousand baths.Adding to its Biblical description, according to the Talmud, thelaverwas not entirely round; the upper two-fifths were round, but the lower three were square.

The symbolism and specific appearance of the brazen sea is described in detail in theMidrash Tadshe.The sea represented the world and the ten ells of diameter corresponded to the tenSefirot;it was round at the top (according to the Talmud passage above cited),as the heavens are round,and the specific curvature reflected the Hebrew zodiac (Mazzaloth). The depth of the sea was fiveells,corresponding to the distance of five hundred years' journey between heaven and earth.The two rows ofcolocynths(knops) below the rim were symbolic of the sun (greater light) and the moon (lesser light).The band of thirty ells around it corresponded to theTen Commandments,to theten words of Godat the creation of the world, and to the tenSefirot:for the world can exist only when the Ten Commandments are observed, and the ten Sefirot as well as the ten words of God were the instruments of the Creation. The twelveoxenon which the sea rested represented theTwelve Tribes of Israel.It contained 2,000 baths (cubic measures), for the world will sustain him who keeps the Torah, which was created 2,000 years before the world.

The Laver of the Tabernacle

In thePriestly CodeofExodus,instead of the Molten Sea is described abronzelaver(basin), which was to rest on a bronzefoot(presumably meaninga stand).The text explains that this laver was to be used for theIsraelite prieststo wash their hands and feet when they entered the sanctuary. This is confirmed in a later part of the Priestly Code, in the passage describing the actual installation of the Tabernacle furniture.

The size and shape of this laver are not mentioned anywhere in the Bible, and nor are those of its stand, unlike the case for the Molten Sea. By contrast, thespecial golden candlestickis described by the Priestly Code, but not in the description of Solomon's temple. It might therefore be the case that the laver and the candlestick are somehow the same object.

Relation to Solomon's platform

Solomon is described by theBook of Chroniclesas having constructed a special platform in his Temple, for him to use during the opening ceremony.Although it is often assumed that the text describes Solomon as standing on this platform, the text could equally be readstood next to.

This platform is literally described by themasoretic textas a laver (Hebrew:kiyyor), and as with the Priestly Code's laver, there is only one platform, and it is placed in the centre of the outer court. TheSeptuagintcalls it abase,and the size of the brazen platform is the same as that of each base for the tenbrazen lavers.

It is therefore quite possible that the account of this platform in the Book of Chronicles is actually an account of a laver corresponding to the laver of the Priestly Code.

Latter-Day Saint interpretation

Baptismal font in theSalt Lake Temple,circa 1912, where baptisms for the dead are performed.

Members ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints(LDS Church) believe that the molten sea in Solomon's Temple was abaptismal font.As explained bychurch leaderBruce R. McConkie:

In Solomon's Temple a large molten sea of brass was placed on the backs of 12 brazen oxen, these oxen being symbolical of the 12 tribes of Israel. This brazen sea was used for performing baptisms for the living. There were no baptisms for the dead until after the resurrection of Christ.

It must be remembered that all direct and plain references to baptism have been deleted from the Old Testament (1 Nephi13) and that the wordbaptizeis of Greek origin. Some equivalent word, such aswash,would have been used by the Hebrew peoples. In describing the molten sea the Old Testament record says,"The sea was for the priests to wash in."(2 Chron 4:2–6). This is tantamount to saying that the priests performed baptisms in it.

Everytempleof the LDS Church contains a baptismal font on twelve oxen which is modeled after the molten sea. The Church performsbaptisms for the deadin these fonts.

Approximation of π

Main article:Approximations of π § Imputed biblical value

The biblical description that the bowl has a diameter of 10 cubits and a circumference of 30 cubits suggest that in the construction of the basin,πwas approximated with the integer value 3. This is consistent with the practice inBabylonian mathematicsat the time (6th century BC), but it has given rise to debate withinrabbinical Judaismfrom an early period due to the concern that the biblical text might here be inaccurate.

Rabbi Nehemiahin the 2nd century argued that the text is not claiming thatπequals 3, but that instead the Hebrews measured the diameter from the outside edge of the rim of the bowl, while the circumference was measured from under the rim, since it cannot be measured with a cord along the outside edge of the rim. After accounting for the width of the brim— "about an hand breadth" —this results in a ratio closer to the true value ofπ.Taking acubitto be about 18 inches (46 cm) and ahandbreadthto be about 4 inches (10 cm), the ratio of the described dimensions of the bowl differs fromπby less than 1%.

Rabbi Max Munk pointed to the fact that the word for measuring line in the respective verses (1 Kings 7:23, 2 Chronicles 4:2) is written in two different ways, as קוה and קו. That hints to two different measures. If the Hebrew letters are read as numbers, the first form of the word for measuring line adds to 111 and the second form to 106. The relation, i.e. the quotient of these two measuring tapes, is 1.0472. And if this number, the relation of these two measuring tapes, is multiplied with Solomon's simple pi of 3, the result reads: 3.1416, the value ofπaccurate to four digits.

See also

• Approximations of π
• Archaeology of Israel

References

• This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Easton, Matthew George(1897). "Sea, The molten".Easton's Bible Dictionary(New and revised ed.). T. Nelson and Sons.
• This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Singer, Isidore;et al., eds. (1901–1906)."Brazen Sea".The Jewish Encyclopedia.New York: Funk & Wagnalls.