* with flowers of lilies. or, like a lily flower. three
thousand baths.
In the parallel passage, it is said to hold only two thousand
baths; which some think may be reconciled by supposing that
the quantity of water which was commonly in it was 2,000
baths, but that, if filled up to the top, it would hold 3,000.
But, as we have already seen that the Babylonish cubit was
less than that of the ancient Hebrews, it might be the same
with measures of capacity; so that 2,000; of the ancient Jewish
baths might have been equal to 3,000; of those used after the
captivity. The Targum cuts the knot: "It received 3,000
baths of dry measure, and held 2,000; of liquid measure." See
1; Ki 7:26.
1Ki 7:26
|