File:Ahaz removes the Molten Sea from the oxen.jpg

Summary
Ahaz removes the Molten Sea from the oxen.

An artist's rendition of the Brazen Sea (or Molten Sea) of Solomon.

1 Kings 7:23 - 7:24 - 7:25 - 7:26 - 7:27 - 7:28 - 7:29 - 7:30 - 7:31 - 7:33 - 7:33 - 7:34 - 7:35 - 7:36 - 7:37 - 7:38 - 7:39 2 Chronicles 4:2 - 4:3 - 4:4 - 4:5 - 4:6 - 4:15

4:2. Also a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass: it was five cubits high, and a line of thirty cubits compassed it round about.

4:3. And under it there was the likeness of oxen, and certain engravings on the outside of ten cubits compassed the belly of the sea, as it were with two rows.

4:4. And the oxen were cast: and the sea itself was set upon the twelve oxen, three of which looked toward the north, and other three toward the west: and other three toward the south, and the other three that remained toward the east, and the sea stood upon them: and the hinder parts of the oxen were inward under the sea.

4:5. Now the thickness of it was a handbreadth, and the brim of it was like the brim of a cup, or of a crisped lily: and it held three thousand measures.

4:6. He made also ten lavers: and he set five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them all such things as they were to offer for holocausts: but the sea was for the priests to wash in.

4:15. One sea, and twelve oxen under the sea;

The molten sea was made of "brass" (at least one reference thinks it was copper), which Solomon had taken from the captured cities of Hadarezer, the king of Zobah (1 Chronicles 18). Ahaz later removed this laver from the oxen, and placed it on a stone pavement (2 Kings 16). It was destroyed by the Chaldeans (2 Kings 25).

II Kings 16:17

16:17. King Achaz took away the graven bases, and the laver that was upon them: and he took down the sea from the brazen oxen that held it up, and put it upon a pavement of stone.