Jeremiah 52:21-23 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Jeremiah 52:21-23. The height of one pillar was eighteen cubits The same account is given of the height of these pillars, 1 Kings 7:15: but in 2 Chronicles 3:15, it is said, that both the pillars made thirty-five cubits; which two texts may be easily reconciled by allowing one cubit for the basis. And a fillet of twelve cubits So that the diameter was almost four cubits. The thickness whereof was four fingers The pillar being hollow, the thickness of the work that encompassed the hollow space was four fingers over. There were ninety and six pomegranates on a side Or, toward every wind, as Blaney very properly renders רוחה. “In 1 Kings 7:42, and 2 Chronicles 4:13, it is said, there were four hundred pomegranates for each net-work or wreath. The mode of expression here is different, but amounts to exactly the same. For divide the two pillars into four quarters, according to the four winds; and let ninety-six pomegranates stand opposite to each of the four winds upon the two pillars; the whole number in front of the four winds, taken together, will be three hundred and eighty-four. But they were in four rows, two on each pillar, and in each row must have been four angular pomegranates, that could not be said to be opposite to any of the four winds, consequently, sixteen angular ones in the four rows; which sixteen being added to three hundred and eighty-four, make up the number of pomegranates in all four hundred; that is, a hundred in a row of wreathen work round about.”