they had in use, was within a very little (a pint or such a thing) even and equal with the receit of our English bushel, or eight Gallons: now how a Vessel of but five cubits deep and of ten cubits from side to side, should contain three thousand baths, or near upon twenty four thousand gallons of Water, is of some difficulty to imagine: The cu∣bit in this Vessel is to be taken parallel to its measure in other Vessels and parts of the Temple, and so that particular will help nothing to a resolution. The Jews have deser∣vedly taken this scruple into their consideration and dispute; and the conclusion that they have made upon the doubt and debate is this, that this Sea was square in the bottom for three cubits high, and every side of the square was ten cubits broad, and so the whole was forty cubits about: and this squareness they go about to prove from the Oxens standing in a square facing under it (in which opinion they are far different from their Countryman Josephus, for he saith, that the Sea was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, fashioned in form of an Haemisphere, or half a Globe, which if I understand aright, doth augment the scru∣ple that we are upon. And they say withal, that the upper part of it, namely for the height of the two upper cubits it was round, and they contracting into the round and circular form did so much take in the compass which lay out in the four corners of the Quadrangle below, that now it was but thirty cubits about, according as the Text saith, that a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about. In which assertion although they speak that which is uncouth, and not ordinarily apprehended upon this matter, yet is their dispute so rational if it should particularly be given at length, that if it be not found on the suddain worth the believing, yet certainly is the matter very well worth the considering, and so be it left to consideration.
Now as for the difference which is between the Book of Kings and the Book of Chronicles, about the contents of this Vessel, (which is a doubt more obvious and con∣spicuous to the Eye) whilest one saith, it contained two thousand Baths, and the other, three thousand, the answer that is given generally by the Hebrew Writers, may be some sa∣tisfaction (which is, that of liquid it contained but two thousand Baths, but of dry things that would lye heaped above the brim, it would hold three) though I believe there is more in it. The Molten Sea was for the Priests washing themselves in it against they went about the Service, 2 Chron. IV. 6. Now their washing being twofold, either of their Hands and Feet, or of their whole Bodies, this Vessel served for both, but in diverse manner: Their Hands and Feet they washed in the Water that ran out by some Cocks and Spouts out of it; but for the washing or bathing of their Bodies they went down into the Vessel it self: Now had it been always full of Water to the brim, it had been too deep for them to stand in, and would hazzard their drowning; therefore there was such a gage set by Cocks or Pipes running out continually, that the Water was kept at such a height, as should serve for their purpose abundantly, and yet should not at all indanger their persons: And so may we very well reconcile the difference in question by supposing, that the Text that saith, that it contained two thousand Baths meaneth, the common and constant quantity of Water that was in it, that was fit and served for their washing, and the other that saith, it contained three thousand Baths meaneth that it would hold so much being filled up to the brim.
About the Body of this huge Vessel, there were two borders of Ingraving., the Work of which the Book of Kings calleth 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which the Chaldee and the Jews interpret Ovals, but the Book of Chronicles calleth them Oxen: not in their full proportion but the Heads only, and the rest in an Oval, in stead of the Body; and it is conceived by some that out of these Heads, or out of some of them the Water issued forth, they be∣ing made as Cocks or conveyances for that purpose.
The supply of Water to these huge Vessels (and that so abundantly that they were not only always full, but continually ran out and yet were full still) was from the Well Etam, of which we have spoken before: And the Jerusalem Talmud in the Treatise Joma, speaking particularly of this Molten Sea, and how it was for the Priests to bath their Bodies in against they came to the Service, it proposeth this question, But is it not a Vessel? Yes, but Rabbi Jehoshua the son of Levi saith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 A Pipe of Water cometh into it out of the well Etam: The meaning of the dispute is this; It was not lawful to bath for Purification in a Vessel, but in a gathering of Waters up∣on the ground, and how then might the Priests bath in the Molten Sea which was a Vessel? To this Rabbi Joshua giveth this satisfaction, That the Sea was as it were a spring of Water, for Water ran into it continually out of the Well Etam, and accordingly Wa∣ter ran continually out of it.