Molten Sea
The Molten Sea or Brazen Sea (ים מוצק yām mūṣāq "
In rabbinical literature
The basin contained water sufficient for two thousand baths.[2] According to the Talmud, the laver was not entirely round, as might be inferred from Scripture; the upper two-fifths were round, but the lower three were square (Talmud. Eruvin 14a, b)
The symbolism of the brazen sea is described in detail in the
The Laver of the Tabernacle
In the Priestly Code of Exodus, instead of the Molten Sea is described a bronze laver (basin), which was to rest on a bronze foot (presumably meaning a stand).[4] The text explains that this laver was to be used for the Israelite priests to wash their hands and feet when they entered the sanctuary.[5] This is confirmed in a later part of the Priestly Code, in the passage describing the actual installation of the Tabernacle furniture.[6]
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, the
Relation to Solomon's platform
Solomon is described by the
This platform is literally described by the
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.[9]
Latter-Day Saint interpretation
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) believe that the molten sea in Solomon's Temple was a baptismal font. As explained by church leader Bruce 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 Nephi 13) and that the word baptize is of Greek origin. Some equivalent word, such as wash, 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.[11]
Every temple of the LDS Church contains a baptismal font on twelve oxen which is modeled after the molten sea. The Church performs baptisms for the dead in these fonts.
Approximation of π
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, π was approximated with the integer value 3. This is consistent with the practice in
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 of π accurate to four digits.[13]
See also
References
- ^ 2 Chronicles 4:5: New Century Version
- ^ 1 Kings 7:26
- ^ Midrash Tadshe ii., ed. Epstein, in "Mi-Ḳadmoniyot ha-Yehudim," xvi., xvii.; Yalḳuṭ, Kings, 185.
- ^ Exodus 30:18
- ^ Exodus 30:19–21
- ^ Exodus 40:30–32
- ^ This article incorporates text from the 1903 Encyclopaedia Biblica article "Laver", a publication now in the public domain.
- ^ 2 Chronicles 6:13
- ^ a b c This article incorporates text from the 1903 Encyclopaedia Biblica article "Scaffold", a publication now in the public domain.
- ^ 2 Chronicles 6:13, LXX
- ^ Bruce R. McConkie (1966, 2d ed.) Mormon Doctrine (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft) pp. 103–104. See also Church Educational System (2003, 3d ed.) Old Testament Student Manual: 1 Kings–Malachi (Salt Lake City, Utah: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) §1-32, p. 6.
- ^ Petr Beckmann (1971). A History of Pi. St. Martin's. pp. 75–76.
- ^ Elishakoff, Isaac; Pines, Elliot (2007). "Do Scripture and Mathematics Agree on the Number π?" (PDF). B'Or Ha'Torah. 17: 133–153.
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public 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 the public domain: Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). "Brazen Sea". The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.