The Bronze Water Carts

27 Then he made 10 bronze water carts.[a](A) Each water cart was six feet[b] long, six feet[c] wide, and 4½ feet[d] high. 28 This was the design of the carts: They had frames; the frames were between the cross-pieces, 29 and on the frames between the cross-pieces were lions, oxen, and cherubim.(B) On the cross-pieces there was a pedestal above, and below the lions and oxen were wreaths of hanging[e] work. 30 Each cart(C) had four bronze wheels with bronze axles. Underneath the four corners of the basin were cast supports, each next to a wreath. 31 And the water cart’s opening inside the crown on top was 18 inches[f] wide. The opening was round, made as a pedestal 27 inches[g] wide. On it were carvings, but their frames were square, not round. 32 There were four wheels under the frames, and the wheel axles were part of the water cart; each wheel was 27 inches[h] tall. 33 The wheels’ design was similar to that of chariot wheels: their axles, rims, spokes, and hubs were all of cast metal. 34 Four supports were at the four corners of each water cart; each support was one piece with the water cart. 35 At the top of the cart was a band nine inches[i] high encircling it; also, at the top of the cart, its braces and its frames were one piece with it. 36 He engraved cherubim, lions, and palm trees(D) on the plates of its braces and on its frames, wherever each had space, with encircling wreaths. 37 In this way he made the 10 water carts using the same casting, dimensions, and shape for all of them.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 7:27 Lit bronze stands
  2. 1 Kings 7:27 Lit four cubits
  3. 1 Kings 7:27 Lit four cubits
  4. 1 Kings 7:27 Lit three cubits
  5. 1 Kings 7:29 Or hammered-down
  6. 1 Kings 7:31 Lit a cubit
  7. 1 Kings 7:31 Lit one and a half cubits
  8. 1 Kings 7:32 Lit was one and a half cubits
  9. 1 Kings 7:35 Lit half a cubit

27 He also made ten movable stands(A) of bronze; each was four cubits long, four wide and three high.[a] 28 This is how the stands were made: They had side panels attached to uprights. 29 On the panels between the uprights were lions, bulls and cherubim—and on the uprights as well. Above and below the lions and bulls were wreaths of hammered work. 30 Each stand(B) had four bronze wheels with bronze axles, and each had a basin resting on four supports, cast with wreaths on each side. 31 On the inside of the stand there was an opening that had a circular frame one cubit[b] deep. This opening was round, and with its basework it measured a cubit and a half.[c] Around its opening there was engraving. The panels of the stands were square, not round. 32 The four wheels were under the panels, and the axles of the wheels were attached to the stand. The diameter of each wheel was a cubit and a half. 33 The wheels were made like chariot wheels; the axles, rims, spokes and hubs were all of cast metal.

34 Each stand had four handles, one on each corner, projecting from the stand. 35 At the top of the stand there was a circular band half a cubit[d] deep. The supports and panels were attached to the top of the stand. 36 He engraved cherubim, lions and palm trees on the surfaces of the supports and on the panels, in every available space, with wreaths all around. 37 This is the way he made the ten stands. They were all cast in the same molds and were identical in size and shape.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 7:27 That is, about 6 feet long and wide and about 4 1/2 feet high or about 1.8 meters long and wide and 1.4 meters high
  2. 1 Kings 7:31 That is, about 18 inches or about 45 centimeters
  3. 1 Kings 7:31 That is, about 2 1/4 feet or about 68 centimeters; also in verse 32
  4. 1 Kings 7:35 That is, about 9 inches or about 23 centimeters