For he fashioned the two pillars of bronze, eighteen cubits high apiece; and a line of twelve cubits encircled either of them.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 15. Eighteen. Both together are said in Paral. to be 35, as if half a cubit too much had been here assigned, which is not unusual with regard to imperfect numbers, verse 1. But Jeremias (52:21,) agrees with this passage; and the book of Paral. may not have included a cubit of solid metal at the base or plinth. A. Lap.—The rest was hollow. The chapiters of five cubits, and the bases, which were perhaps as large, are not contained in the 18 cubits, which might otherwise appear to be disproportionate with the circumference of 12 cubits. The Egyptian pillars are sometimes very thick and low; and their temples bear a great resemblance with that of Solomon, than with those of the Greeks and Romans. Calmet.—Both. Hebrew “the second,” as if something similar had been observed of the first. Calmet.—But Sheni, signifies also “both, either,” and so forth Menochius.—Prot. “did compass either of them about.” Bible.—Circles, at equal distances, adorned these pillars. Exodus 26:32. Athen. verse 9.