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52. What was the volume of the molten sea in Solomon’s temple? 1 Kings 7:26 vs. 2 Chronicles 4:5

If some religious zealous were trying to trick the world into believing in a make-believe god, one would think that they would take the precaution of not publishing two accounts of the same history in one “holy” book.

1 Kings 7:26
It was a handbreadth thick; and its brim was shaped like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It contained two thousand baths.

2 Chronicles 4:5
It was a handbreadth thick; and its brim was shaped like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It contained three thousand baths.

Several explanations have been given:

1. Different Measures. Theologian and biblical scholar Adam Clarke notes that 2 Chronicles was written after the Babylonian captivity, and that Babylonian measurements are different from Jewish ones.
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2. Correction. Some think that 2000 was an estimate, and that after they filled it they found it could hold 3000.
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3. The Jewish Targum explains that it held 2000 baths of liquid, and 3000 baths of dry measure – since the dry measure could be heaped up.

I like this one:

Theologians and scholars John Gill and Matthew Henry, in their Exposition and Complete Commentary, respectively, agree that the capacity of the sea was 3000 baths, but that it was generally only filled to 2000 in practice. 2 Chronicles 4:6 tells us explicitly that the “Sea” was for the priests to bathe in before performing their duties, so it makes sense that it wouldn’t actually be filled to the brim all the time.

Then there’s the forest,

which I wouldn’t want to miss for the trees again. 

Everything about the temple is symbolic of our relationship with God in the New Testament. Regardless of how many thousands of baths it holds, why should there be a bath in God’s house anyway?

Matthew Henry’s commentary mentions that the sea would have been in the open court, where anyone could see it. 2 Chronicles 4:10 tells us that the sea was, specifically, next to the door that led from the outer court into the priests’ court.

Before the priests went from where the world was, to where God’s presence was, they would clean themselves.

James 4:8 tells us that if we would come near to God, we must cleanse our hands and our hearts. In the Old Testament, that meant the select few had to take a bath before meeting with God. God wasn’t offended at their body oder. It’s all symbolic.

Jesus tore the veil in that same temple, to make a way for everyone to come into God’s presence.

1 John 1:7,

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

You don’t even have to bathe anymore (although I encourage you to do so). It’s just about faith.