Daily Tanach Monday Sefer Melachim 1 – Chapter 7: The pool of the Temple

1.      Chiram, the craftsman who built the vessels of the Temple:

• King Shlomo sent for Chiram to be brought to him from the city of Tzur. He was the son of a widowed woman from the tribe of Naphtali. His father was from Tzur, and was a coppersmith. G-d enlightened him with wisdom and understanding in order to be able do all the work necessary with the copper.
• He arrived to King Shlomo and did for him all the work that he needed to be done.

2.      The pillars of Yachin Uboaz of the Heichal of the Temple: 

• Chiram formed the two copper pillars [that stood in the hall of Yachin Uboaz].
• The height of the pillars: Each pillar was 18 cubits tall, it was surrounded by 12 cubits of string.
• The crowns placed on top of the pillars: Two molten copper chapiters [i.e. chapiters] were placed on top of the pillars, each being a height of five cubits.
• The designs on the crowns: Each crown contained seven nets and chains placed on top of it [in the shape of palm tree branches^[1]]. The netting was covered with two rows of copper and pomegranates. On top of the crowns, they placed designs of roses that reached a height of four cubits. On top of this there placed another set of crowns, which was designed with 200 rows of pomegranates.
• The setting up and naming of the pillars: The two pillars were set up in front of the Heichal. The pillar to the right was named Yachin and the pillar to the left was named Boaz.

3.      The pool of the Temple:

• A pool was made in the palace [which was used by the priests for immersing from impurity].
• It’s dimensions: The pool was made in the form of a circle and was 10 cubits from one end [of the circle] to the other and was five cubits deep and contained a circumference of 30 cubits. It was able to hold a total of 2000 cubits of water [which was the amount needed to be considered a valid Mikveh].
• It’s design: Two rows of egg-shaped sculptures surrounded the rim of the pool, encompassing it for a length of 10 cubits. It was also designed with roses.
• The ox sculptures that supported the pool: The structure of the pool was supported and held up by 12 sculptured oxen. The sculptured oxen were positioned in each direction, with three positioned to the north, and three positioned to the west, and three positioned to the south and three positioned to the east. The back of the sculptured oxen faced towards the inner part of the pond [and hence had their heads facing outwards, and was the part visible to those looking at the pond].
• The thickness of the metal that formed the pond: The metal structure in which the water of the pool was held was 1 handbreadth thick.
• It’s shape: The shape of the pool was similar to that of a cup or bowl.

[1] Rashi 7:17