Sea, The Molten

The Molten Sea (also Brazen Sea) was a massive bronze basin cast by the craftsman Hiram of Tyre for Solomon's temple (1 Kgs. 7:23–26; 2 Chr. 4:2–5). It measured ten cubits in diameter, five cubits in depth, and thirty cubits in circumference, resting on twelve bronze oxen arranged in four groups of three facing the four compass directions. According to Chronicles it held 3,000 baths (approximately 18,000 gallons) and served for the ritual washing of the priests. The Molten Sea was destroyed by the Babylonians when they sacked Jerusalem: they broke the bronze in pieces to carry it to Babylon (2 Kgs. 25:13). The heavenly "sea of glass" in Revelation 4:6 is widely seen as its eschatological counterpart.