For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about.
Two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high. They were made of the brass (bronze) which was taken from the king of Zobah (1 Chronicles 18:8). In 2 Chronicles 3:15 they are said to have been 35 cubits high. There, however, their joint lengths are given; whereas here the length of the pillars is given separately. Each pillar was 17 1/2 cubits long, which is stated in round numbers as eight. Their dimensions in English measure are as follows:-The pillars without the capitals measured 32 1/2 feet long and 7 feet diameter; and if hollow, as Whiston, in his translation of Josephus, thinks (Jeremiah 52:21), the metal would be about 3 1/2 inches thick; so that the whole casting of one pillar must have been from 16 to 20 tons. The height of the capitals was 8 3/4 feet; and, at the same thickness of metal, would not weigh less than 7 or 8 tons each. The nature of the workmanship in the finishing of these capitals is described, 1 Kings 7:17-22. The pillars, when set up, would stand 40 feet in height, (Napier's 'Metal.')