It was a hand width thick. Its brim was worked like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily. It held two thousand baths.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 26. Two thousand bates. That is, about ten thousand gallons. This was the quantity of water which was usually put into it: but it was capable, if brim-full, of holding three thousand. See 2 Chronicles 4:5. 7. Challoner.—The batus contained about five gallons. Worthington.—Some imagine, without grounds, ( Calmet.) that the measure in Par. was of a less capacity. Vallalp. A. Lapide.—The smaller is called metreta, “measure,” after the Greek, as it had no proper name. Salien.—Instead of a hand’s breadth, it is literally, “three ounces,” or the fourth part of a Roman foot; which is equivalent to four fingers’ ( Bible.) breadth, or a “hand’s breadth,” as the Hebrew tophach implies, or a little above three inches.—Crisped, or “full-blown lily.” The Chaldee supposes it was thus ornamented. Hebrew “with flowers of lilies,” ( Calmet.) or “roses,” Shoshan. Bible.