its; but there was cast with each of their
chapiters lily-work that stood upon the pillar, and it was elevated
five cubits, round about which there was net-work interwoven with small
palms, made of brass, and covered the lily-work. To this also were hung
two hundred pomegranates, in two rows. The one of these pillars he set
at the entrance of the porch on the right hand, and called it Jachin [9]
and the other at the left hand, and called it Booz.

5. Solomon also cast a brazen sea, whose figure was that of a
hemisphere. This brazen vessel was called a sea for its largeness, for
the laver was ten feet in diameter, and cast of the thickness of a palm.
Its middle part rested on a short pillar that had ten spirals round it,
and that pillar was ten cubits in diameter. There stood round about
it twelve oxen, that looked to the four winds of heaven, three to each
wind, having their hinder parts depressed, that so the hemispherical
vessel might rest upon them, which itself was also depressed round about
inwardly. Now this sea contained three thousand baths.

6. He also made ten brazen bases for so many quadrangular lavers; the
length of every one of these bases was five cubits, and the breadth four
cubits, and the height six cubits. This vessel was partly turned, and
was thus contrived: There were four small quadrangular pillars that
stood one at each corner; these had the sides of the base fitted to them
on each quarter; they were parted into three parts; every interval had
a border fitted to support [the laver]; upon which was engraven, in
one place a lion, and in another place a bull, and an eagle. The small
pillars had the same animals engraven that were engraven on the sides.
The whole work was elevated, and stood upon four wheels, which were also
cast, which had also naves and felloes, and were a foot and a half in
diameter. Any one who saw the spokes of the wheels, how exactly they
were turned, and united to the sides of the bases, and with what
harmony they agreed to the felloes, would wonder at them. However, their
structure was this: Certain shoulders of hands stretched out held the
corners above, upon which rested a short spiral pillar, that lay under
the hollow part of the laver, resting upon the fore part of the eagle
and the lion, which were adapted to them, insomuch that those who viewed
them would think they were of one piece: between these were engravings
of palm trees. This was the construction of the ten base