- three thousand baths:
- In the parallel passage, it is said to hold only two thousand baths; which some think may be reconciled by supposing that the quantity of water which was commonly in it was 2,000 baths, but that, if filled up to the top, it would hold 3,000. But, as we have already seen that the Babylonish cubit was less than that of the ancient Hebrews, it might be the same with measures of capacity; so that 2,000 of the ancient Jewish baths might have been equal to 3,000 of those used after the captivity. The Targum cuts the knot: "It received 3,000 baths of dry measure, and held 2,000 of liquid measure." See note on 1 Kings 7:26. "And it [was] an hand breadthª thick,ª and the brimª thereof was wroughtª like the brimª of a cup,ª with flowersª of lilies:ª it containedª° two thousandª baths.ª" {1Kg 7:26}
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