1 Kings 7:28

And the work of the bases was on this manner,.... The following was the form in which they were made: they had borders; plates of brass all around them, which enclosed them: and the borders were

And the work of the bases was on this manner: they had borders, and the borders were between the ledges: No JFB commentary on these verses.

They had borders; broad brims, possibly for the more secure holding of the lavers.

1 Kings 7:28 And the work of the bases [was] on this [manner]: they had borders, and the borders [were] between the ledges:Ver. 28. They had borders.] Around the vessel, like panes of wainscotting; whereon were engraven lions, oxen, and cherubims; to teach the priests courage, painfulness, and prudence.

(13-50) The exceedingly graphic and elaborate description of the work of Hiram on the vessels and furniture of the Temple, and on the great pillars, bears on the very face of it the most evident marks of historical accuracy and of the use of contemporary documents, and it has, moreover, great antiquarian interest. Looked at in itself, it shows that the Temple (like many other buildings in the comparative infancy of architecture) depended for its effect, not so much on size or proportion, as on rich material, elaborate decoration, and costly furniture, on which all the resources both of treasure and art were lavished. But besides this, the sense of the especial sacredness attached to all the vessels of the Temple, which was hereafter to degenerate into a Pharisaic superstition (see Matthew 23:16-18), suggested the most careful record of every detail, and reverently traced to “the Spirit of God” the gift of “wisdom of heart” “to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,” as in Bezaleel and Aholiab for the Tabernacle (Exodus 35:31-32), so also in Hiram for the Temple. There is something especially remarkable in this broad comprehensiveness of conception which recognises the illuminating and inspiring power of the Spirit of God, not only in the moral and religious teaching of the prophet and the devotional utterances of the psalmist, but in the warlike enthusiasm of the Judge, the sagacity of the statesman, the imaginative skill of the artist, and the wisdom of the philosophic thinker. Nothing could more strikingly illustrate the Apostolic declaration: “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:4).

28. they had borders] From the description in the next verse, the word, which in its literal sense would apply to any surrounding or enclosure, must mean the side of the base, on which the figures mentioned in 29 were carved or cast. So that the panels of the R.V. (marg.) would be the most correct rendering. And so in 1 Kings 7:31-32; 1 Kings 7:35-36. between the ledges] These seem to have been the perpendicular shafts, at the four corners of each base, which would be raised so as to form two sides of the framework enclosing the panels. A more strictly literal rendering of the final words would be ‘even borders between the ledges.’

Borders - Rather, “panels” (so 1 Kings 7:32, 1 Kings 7:35), a set of square compartments between the “ledges” or borders, or mouldings.

28. They had borders — ξρβψεϊ, inclosed panels. (a a a in figure.) Between the ledges — ωׁ ?μαιν, joints; fastening places. The corner pieces which joined upon and fastened the panels.