“He made the two bronze columns, each one thirty-one-and-a-half feet high and twenty-one feet in circumference.” – 1 Kings 7:15
When we last left off, we were talking about a homie named Hiram.
He was a skilled Hebrew craftsman whom Solomon had assigned to oversee the bronze work for the Temple.
In verse 15, we’re told his biggest project was to cast the two famous entrance pillars.
These weren’t little porch posts.
These things were poles the size of Godzilla.
Each bronze pillar stood about 32 feet tall and was almost 7 feet across.
That’s taller than a three-story house.
Then, as if that wasn’t impressive enough…
Each one had a huge decorative top called a capital sitting on it.
The capital was the decorative top section of the pillar.
Now here’s where we encounter a little contradiction.
1st Kings says each capital was 5 cubits tall (just under 9 feet).
But 2nd Kings 25 says they were only 3 cubits tall.
So…which one is it?
Nobody knows for sure.
Rashi says the capitals were really 5 cubits tall.
But because the pillars were hollow, about 2 cubits of each capital fit down inside the pillar like a giant plug to keep it steady.
That would leave only 3 cubits sticking up where everyone could actually see it.
Could that be the answer?
Well, homies, I’m tickled with delight to say I think it just might be!
But can anyone prove it?
Nope.
So let’s move on.
These capitals were covered with intricate designs resembling blooming flowers and decorated with rows of pomegranates.
They were meant to stop any homie in his tracks with how impressive they were, and I’d say they accomplished that in spades.
Ya feel me?
Now, most academic homies think these two giant pillars were situated exactly at the entrance to the Temple porch.
However, there ain’t nobody on planet earth who can say that with 100% certainty.
So we ain’t gonna be debating that topic.
Onward!
Finally, what’s really cool is that Solomon gave each of the pillars names.
The pillar on the right was called JACHIN.
This means “He will establish.”
The one on the left was called BOAZ.
This means “In Him is strength.”
Well, golly jee, I think there’s a takeaway somewhere there.
To me, the Hebrew words JACHIN and BOAZ exhibit two inspiring attributes of the Lord we worship.
The Lord establishes His ways.
And He does it with strength.
If you think about it, those two things go hand in hand.
Because you can’t establish something without the power to back it up.
That’s why the gods of the gentile nations are worthless.
They make bold claims and brag like all those boxers who arrogantly boasted they were gonna beat Mike Tyson…before getting completely slaughtered by him.
In other words, their words were hollow and without power.
There was no BOAZ to back them up.
Ya feel me?
That’s why we should be so filled with gratitude for the Lord we worship.
Not only does He make bold claims.
He has the STRENGTH to back them up.
He demonstrated that big time during the Exodus when He went to war against the gods of Egypt.
Ya feel me?
Done.
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