Jeremiah 18:3 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

On the wheels— Upon the stones. This is the literal signification of עלאּהאבנים al haabnaiim, which the LXX. also render επι των λιθων. There can be no doubt that the machine is intended, on which the potters formed their earthen vessels; and the appellation, οι λιθοι, "the stones," will appear very proper, if we consider this machine as consisting of a pair of circular stones placed upon one another like milstones; of which the lower was immoveable, but the upper one turned upon the foot of a spindle or axis, and had motion communicated to it by the feet of the potter sitting at his work; as may be learned from Sir 38:29. Upon the top of this upper stone, which was flat, the clay was placed, which the potter, having given the stone the due velocity, formed into shape with his hands. The principal difference between this and the wheel in present use seems to be, that, instead of the upper stone, a nut or beam is used of about two feet in length, and one in diameter, the foot of which plays perpendicularly upon the nether stone. This beam serves for an axis to a circular wooden frame, like a wheel, joined to it at the lower end; and on the top of this beam, which is flat, the clay is placed, and the motion given, and the operation performed in the manner above described. It is probable that the upper stone was for convenience shaped not unlike this wheel and beam; and might not improperly have given the name of "the wheel" to the whole machine; but not of "the wheels," as in our English version; there being but one of the stones which had the resemblance of a wheel.