Hiram (Hiram, the craftsman from Tyre, the bronze caster who worked for Solomon)
The Bronze Caster from Tyre
Hiram was a highly skilled craftsman and bronze caster from Tyre who was brought by King Solomon to carry out the bronze work for the temple in Jerusalem. He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali and a Tyrian father, and his masterful work included the two large bronze pillars Jachin and Boaz, the bronze sea, and a number of other cult objects. His craftsmanship was crucial to the decoration of Solomon's temple.
Key events
Hiram is Brought from Tyre
King Solomon sent for Hiram from Tyre, a skilled bronze caster and son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, to carry out all the bronze work for the temple.
13King Solomon sent and brought Hiram from Tyre.
וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה וַיִּקַּ֥ח אֶת־חִירָ֖ם מִצֹּֽר׃
14He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father had been a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze. He was filled with skill, understanding, and knowledge to do every kind of work in bronze. He came to King Solomon and carried out all his work.
בֶּן־אִשָּׁה֩ אַלְמָנָ֨ה ה֜וּא מִמַּטֵּ֣ה נַפְתָּלִ֗י וְאָבִ֣יו אִישׁ־צֹרִי֮ חֹרֵ֣שׁ נְחֹשֶׁת֒ וַ֠יִּמָּלֵא אֶת־הַחָכְמָ֤ה וְאֶת־הַתְּבוּנָה֙ וְאֶת־הַדַּ֔עַת לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת כָּל־מְלָאכָ֖ה בַּנְּחֹ֑שֶׁת וַיָּבוֹא֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה וַיַּ֖עַשׂ אֶת־כָּל־מְלַאכְתּֽוֹ׃
Casting of the Two Bronze Pillars
Hiram cast the two large bronze pillars Jachin and Boaz, which were placed in front of the temple hall. Each pillar was eighteen cubits high and had decorated capitals.
15He cast the two bronze pillars. One pillar was eighteen cubits high, and a line of twelve cubits measured its circumference; so also the second pillar.
וַיָּ֛צַר אֶת־שְׁנֵ֥י הָעַמּוּדִ֖ים נְחֹ֑שֶׁת שְׁמֹנֶ֨ה עֶשְׂרֵ֜ה אַמָּ֗ה קוֹמַת֙ הָעַמּ֣וּד הָאֶחָ֔ד וְחוּט֙ שְׁתֵּים־עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה אַמָּ֔ה יָסֹ֖ב אֶת־הָעַמּ֥וּד הַשֵּׁנִֽי׃
16He made two capitals of cast bronze to set on the tops of the pillars; each capital was five cubits high.
וּשְׁתֵּ֨י כֹתָרֹ֜ת עָשָׂ֗ה לָתֵ֛ת עַל־רָאשֵׁ֥י הָֽעַמּוּדִ֖ים מֻצַ֣ק נְחֹ֑שֶׁת חָמֵ֣שׁ אַמּ֗וֹת קוֹמַת֙ הַכֹּתֶ֣רֶת הָאֶחָ֔ת וְחָמֵ֣שׁ אַמּ֔וֹת קוֹמַ֖ת הַכֹּתֶ֥רֶת הַשֵּׁנִֽית׃
17Lattices of woven mesh and wreaths of chainwork covered the capitals on the tops of the pillars—seven wreaths for each capital.
שְׂבָכִ֞ים מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה שְׂבָכָ֗ה גְּדִלִים֙ מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה שַׁרְשְׁר֔וֹת לַכֹּ֣תָרֹ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ הָעַמּוּדִ֑ים שִׁבְעָה֙ לַכֹּתֶ֣רֶת הָאֶחָ֔ת וְשִׁבְעָ֖ה לַכֹּתֶ֥רֶת הַשֵּׁנִֽית׃
18He made the pomegranates in two rows all around on the one network, to cover the capital at the top of the pillar, and he did the same for the other capital.
וַיַּ֖עַשׂ אֶת־הָעַמּוּדִ֑ים וּשְׁנֵי֩ טוּרִ֨ים סָבִ֜יב עַל־הַשְּׂבָכָ֣ה הָאֶחָ֗ת לְכַסּ֤וֹת אֶת־הַכֹּֽתָרֹת֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ הָֽרִמֹּנִ֔ים וְכֵ֣ן עָשָׂ֔ה לַכֹּתֶ֖רֶת הַשֵּׁנִֽית׃
19The capitals on the tops of the pillars in the vestibule were shaped like lilies, four cubits high.
וְכֹֽתָרֹ֗ת אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ הָעַמּוּדִ֔ים מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה שׁוּשַׁ֣ן בָּֽאוּלָ֑ם אַרְבַּ֖ע אַמּֽוֹת׃
20On the capitals of the two pillars, above the rounded part next to the network, were two hundred pomegranates in rows all around, on the second capital as well.
וְכֹתָרֹ֗ת עַל־שְׁנֵי֙ הָֽעַמּוּדִ֔ים גַּם־מִמַּ֙עַל֙ מִלְּעֻמַּ֣ת הַבֶּ֔טֶן אֲשֶׁ֖ר לְעֵ֣בֶר *שבכה **הַשְּׂבָכָ֑ה וְהָרִמּוֹנִ֤ים מָאתַ֙יִם֙ טֻרִ֣ים סָבִ֔יב עַ֖ל הַכֹּתֶ֥רֶת הַשֵּׁנִֽית׃
21He set up the pillars at the vestibule of the temple. He set up the pillar on the south and named it Jachin, and he set up the pillar on the north and named it Boaz.
וַיָּ֙קֶם֙ אֶת־הָֽעַמֻּדִ֔ים לְאֻלָ֖ם הַֽהֵיכָ֑ל וַיָּ֜קֶם אֶת־הָעַמּ֣וּד הַיְמָנִ֗י וַיִּקְרָ֤א אֶת־שְׁמוֹ֙ יָכִ֔ין וַיָּ֙קֶם֙ אֶת־הָעַמּ֣וּד הַשְּׂמָאלִ֔י וַיִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ בֹּֽעַז׃
22On the tops of the pillars was lily-work. So the work of the pillars was finished.
וְעַ֛ל רֹ֥אשׁ הָעַמּוּדִ֖ים מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה שׁוֹשָׁ֑ן וַתִּתֹּ֖ם מְלֶ֥אכֶת הָעַמּוּדִֽים׃
The Bronze Sea
Hiram made the great bronze sea, an enormous round basin that stood on twelve bronze oxen, used for the priests' ritual washings.
23He made the sea of cast bronze, ten cubits from rim to rim, perfectly round, five cubits high, and thirty cubits in circumference.
וַיַּ֥עַשׂ אֶת־הַיָּ֖ם מוּצָ֑ק עֶ֣שֶׂר בָּ֠אַמָּה מִשְּׂפָת֨וֹ עַד־שְׂפָת֜וֹ עָגֹ֣ל ׀ סָבִ֗יב וְחָמֵ֤שׁ בָּֽאַמָּה֙ קוֹמָת֔וֹ *וקוה **וְקָו֙ שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים בָּֽאַמָּ֔ה יָסֹ֥ב אֹת֖וֹ סָבִֽיב׃
24Under its rim, encircling it all around, were gourds, ten to a cubit, going all the way around the sea; the gourds were in two rows, cast together with it.
וּפְקָעִים֩ מִתַּ֨חַת לִשְׂפָת֤וֹ ׀ סָבִיב֙ סֹבְבִ֣ים אֹת֔וֹ עֶ֚שֶׂר בָּֽאַמָּ֔ה מַקִּפִ֥ים אֶת־הַיָּ֖ם סָבִ֑יב שְׁנֵ֤י טוּרִים֙ הַפְּקָעִ֔ים יְצֻקִ֖ים בִּיצֻקָתֽוֹ׃
25It stood on twelve oxen: three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The sea rested on them, and all their hindquarters were turned inward.
עֹמֵ֞ד עַל־שְׁנֵ֧י עָשָׂ֣ר בָּקָ֗ר שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה פֹנִ֣ים ׀ צָפ֡וֹנָה וּשְׁלֹשָׁה֩ פֹנִ֨ים ׀ יָ֜מָּה וּשְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה ׀ פֹּנִ֣ים נֶ֗גְבָּה וּשְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פֹּנִ֣ים מִזְרָ֔חָה וְהַיָּ֥ם עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם מִלְמָ֑עְלָה וְכָל־אֲחֹֽרֵיהֶ֖ם בָּֽיְתָה׃
26It was a handbreadth thick, and its rim was shaped like the rim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It held two thousand baths.
וְעָבְי֣וֹ טֶ֔פַח וּשְׂפָת֛וֹ כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה שְׂפַת־כּ֖וֹס פֶּ֣רַח שׁוֹשָׁ֑ן אַלְפַּ֥יִם בַּ֖ת יָכִֽיל׃ פ
The Ten Bronze Carts and Basins
Hiram made ten bronze carts with decorated side panels and ten bronze basins that were placed on the carts, used in the service of the temple.
27He also made ten bronze stands; each stand was four cubits long, four cubits wide, and three cubits high.
וַיַּ֧עַשׂ אֶת־הַמְּכֹנ֛וֹת עֶ֖שֶׂר נְחֹ֑שֶׁת אַרְבַּ֣ע בָּאַמָּ֗ה אֹ֚רֶךְ הַמְּכוֹנָ֣ה הָֽאֶחָ֔ת וְאַרְבַּ֤ע בָּֽאַמָּה֙ רָחְבָּ֔הּ וְשָׁלֹ֥שׁ בָּאַמָּ֖ה קוֹמָתָֽהּ׃
28This was the construction of the stands: they had side panels set within frames,
וְזֶ֛ה מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה הַמְּכוֹנָ֖ה מִסְגְּרֹ֣ת לָהֶ֑ם וּמִסְגְּרֹ֖ת בֵּ֥ין הַשְׁלַבִּֽים׃
29and on the panels between the frames were lions, oxen, and cherubim, and on the frames likewise above; beneath the lions and oxen were wreaths of hanging work.
וְעַֽל־הַמִּסְגְּר֞וֹת אֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ בֵּ֣ין הַשְׁלַבִּ֗ים אֲרָי֤וֹת ׀ בָּקָר֙ וּכְרוּבִ֔ים וְעַל־הַשְׁלַבִּ֖ים כֵּ֣ן מִמָּ֑עַל וּמִתַּ֙חַת֙ לַאֲרָי֣וֹת וְלַבָּקָ֔ר לֹי֖וֹת מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה מוֹרָֽד׃
30Each stand had four bronze wheels with bronze axles, and its four feet had supports; these supports were cast beneath the basin, and each had wreaths at the side.
וְאַרְבָּעָה֩ אוֹפַנֵּ֨י נְחֹ֜שֶׁת לַמְּכוֹנָ֤ה הָֽאַחַת֙ וְסַרְנֵ֣י נְחֹ֔שֶׁת וְאַרְבָּעָ֥ה פַעֲמֹתָ֖יו כְּתֵפֹ֣ת לָהֶ֑ם מִתַּ֤חַת לַכִּיֹּר֙ הַכְּתֵפֹ֣ת יְצֻק֔וֹת מֵעֵ֥בֶר אִ֖ישׁ לֹיֽוֹת׃
31Its opening, inside the crown at the top, was a cubit across; the opening was round, made like a pedestal, a cubit and a half wide. On the opening too there were carvings, and its panels were square, not round.
וּ֠פִיהוּ מִבֵּ֨ית לַכֹּתֶ֤רֶת וָמַ֙עְלָה֙ בָּֽאַמָּ֔ה וּפִ֙יהָ֙ עָגֹ֣ל מַעֲשֵׂה־כֵ֔ן אַמָּ֖ה וַחֲצִ֣י הָֽאַמָּ֑ה וְגַם־עַל־פִּ֙יהָ֙ מִקְלָע֔וֹת וּמִסְגְּרֹתֵיהֶ֥ם מְרֻבָּע֖וֹת לֹ֥א עֲגֻלּֽוֹת׃
32The four wheels were underneath the panels, and the axles of the wheels were attached to the stand. Each wheel was a cubit and a half high.
וְאַרְבַּ֣עַת הָאֽוֹפַנִּ֗ים לְמִתַּ֙חַת֙ לַֽמִּסְגְּר֔וֹת וִיד֥וֹת הָאֽוֹפַנִּ֖ים בַּמְּכוֹנָ֑ה וְקוֹמַת֙ הָאוֹפַ֣ן הָאֶחָ֔ד אַמָּ֖ה וַחֲצִ֥י הָאַמָּֽה׃
33The wheels were made like chariot wheels; their axles, rims, spokes, and hubs were all cast.
וּמַֽעֲשֵׂה֙ הָא֣וֹפַנִּ֔ים כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֖ה אוֹפַ֣ן הַמֶּרְכָּבָ֑ה יְדוֹתָ֣ם וְגַבֵּיהֶ֗ם וְחִשֻּׁקֵיהֶ֛ם וְחִשֻּׁרֵיהֶ֖ם הַכֹּ֥ל מוּצָֽק׃
34There were four supports at the four corners of each stand, the supports being of one piece with the stand.
וְאַרְבַּ֣ע כְּתֵפ֔וֹת אֶ֚ל אַרְבַּ֣ע פִּנּ֔וֹת הַמְּכֹנָ֖ה הָֽאֶחָ֑ת מִן־הַמְּכֹנָ֖ה כְּתֵפֶֽיהָ׃
35At the top of the stand was a round band half a cubit high, and on the top of the stand its stays and panels were of one piece with it.
וּבְרֹ֣אשׁ הַמְּכוֹנָ֗ה חֲצִ֧י הָאַמָּ֛ה קוֹמָ֖ה עָגֹ֣ל ׀ סָבִ֑יב וְעַ֨ל רֹ֤אשׁ הַמְּכֹנָה֙ יְדֹתֶ֔יהָ וּמִסְגְּרֹתֶ֖יהָ מִמֶּֽנָּה׃
36On the plates of its stays and on its panels he engraved cherubim, lions, and palm trees, wherever there was room, with wreaths all around.
וַיְפַתַּ֤ח עַל־הַלֻּחֹת֙ יְדֹתֶ֔יהָ וְעַל֙ *ומסגרתיה **מִסְגְּרֹתֶ֔יהָ כְּרוּבִ֖ים אֲרָי֣וֹת וְתִמֹרֹ֑ת כְּמַֽעַר־אִ֥ישׁ וְלֹי֖וֹת סָבִֽיב׃
37This is how he made the ten stands: all of them cast alike, the same measure and the same form.
כָּזֹ֣את עָשָׂ֔ה אֵ֖ת עֶ֣שֶׂר הַמְּכֹנ֑וֹת מוּצָ֨ק אֶחָ֜ד מִדָּ֥ה אַחַ֛ת קֶ֥צֶב אֶחָ֖ד לְכֻלָּֽהְנָה׃ ס
38He made ten bronze basins, each holding forty baths—about eight hundred liters—and measuring four cubits across, one basin for each of the ten stands.
וַיַּ֛עַשׂ עֲשָׂרָ֥ה כִיֹּר֖וֹת נְחֹ֑שֶׁת אַרְבָּעִ֨ים בַּ֜ת יָכִ֣יל ׀ הַכִּיּ֣וֹר הָאֶחָ֗ד אַרְבַּ֤ע בָּֽאַמָּה֙ הַכִּיּ֣וֹר הָאֶחָ֔ד כִּיּ֤וֹר אֶחָד֙ עַל־הַמְּכוֹנָ֣ה הָאַחַ֔ת לְעֶ֖שֶׂר הַמְּכֹנֽוֹת׃
39He set five of the stands on the south side of the house and five on the north side, and he placed the sea at the southeast corner of the house.
וַיִּתֵּן֙ אֶת־הַמְּכֹנ֔וֹת חָמֵ֞שׁ עַל־כֶּ֤תֶף הַבַּ֙יִת֙ מִיָּמִ֔ין וְחָמֵ֛שׁ עַל־כֶּ֥תֶף הַבַּ֖יִת מִשְּׂמֹאל֑וֹ וְאֶת־הַיָּ֗ם נָתַ֞ן מִכֶּ֨תֶף הַבַּ֧יִת הַיְמָנִ֛ית קֵ֖דְמָה מִמּ֥וּל נֶֽגֶב׃ ס
Other bronze articles for the temple
Hiram finished all the work he did for King Solomon: the basins, shovels and sprinkling bowls. He made all these things of burnished bronze for the Lord's house.
40Hiram also made the pots, the shovels, and the sprinkling bowls. So Hiram finished all the work he did for King Solomon on the house of the LORD:
וַיַּ֣עַשׂ חִיר֔וֹם אֶת־הַ֨כִּיֹּר֔וֹת וְאֶת־הַיָּעִ֖ים וְאֶת־הַמִּזְרָק֑וֹת וַיְכַ֣ל חִירָ֗ם לַֽעֲשׂוֹת֙ אֶת־כָּל־הַמְּלָאכָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂ֛ה לַמֶּ֥לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃
41the two pillars; the two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars; the two networks covering the two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars;
עַמֻּדִ֣ים שְׁנַ֔יִם וְגֻלֹּ֧ת הַכֹּתָרֹ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־עַל־רֹ֥אשׁ הָֽעַמֻּדִ֖ים שְׁתָּ֑יִם וְהַשְּׂבָכ֣וֹת שְׁתַּ֔יִם לְכַסּ֗וֹת אֶת־שְׁתֵּי֙ גֻּלֹּ֣ת הַכֹּֽתָרֹ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־רֹ֥אשׁ הָעַמּוּדִֽים׃
42the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, two rows of pomegranates for each network, to cover the two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars;
וְאֶת־הָרִמֹּנִ֛ים אַרְבַּ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת לִשְׁתֵּ֣י הַשְּׂבָכ֑וֹת שְׁנֵֽי־טוּרִ֤ים רִמֹּנִים֙ לַשְּׂבָכָ֣ה הָֽאֶחָ֔ת לְכַסּ֗וֹת אֶת־שְׁתֵּי֙ גֻּלֹּ֣ת הַכֹּֽתָרֹ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הָעַמּוּדִֽים׃
43the ten stands and the ten basins on the stands;
וְאֶת־הַמְּכֹנ֖וֹת עָ֑שֶׂר וְאֶת־הַכִּיֹּרֹ֥ת עֲשָׂרָ֖ה עַל־הַמְּכֹנֽוֹת׃
44the one sea and the twelve oxen beneath it;
וְאֶת־הַיָּ֖ם הָאֶחָ֑ד וְאֶת־הַבָּקָ֥ר שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֖ר תַּ֥חַת הַיָּֽם׃
45the pots, the shovels, and the basins. All these objects that Hiram made for King Solomon for the house of the LORD were of burnished bronze.
וְאֶת־הַסִּיר֨וֹת וְאֶת־הַיָּעִ֜ים וְאֶת־הַמִּזְרָק֗וֹת וְאֵת֙ כָּל־הַכֵּלִ֣ים *האהל **הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֥ה חִירָ֛ם לַמֶּ֥לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה נְחֹ֖שֶׁת מְמֹרָֽט׃
Parallel account in 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles gives a parallel account of Hiram's work and describes him as a man full of wisdom, understanding and skill in working with bronze.
11Huram also made the pots, the shovels, and the bowls. So Huram finished the work he had undertaken for King Solomon in the house of God:
וַיַּ֣עַשׂ חוּרָ֔ם אֶת־הַ֨סִּיר֔וֹת וְאֶת־הַיָּעִ֖ים וְאֶת־הַמִּזְרָק֑וֹת ס וַיְכַ֣ל *חירם **חוּרָ֗ם לַעֲשׂוֹת֙ אֶת־הַמְּלָאכָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂ֛ה לַמֶּ֥לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה בְּבֵ֥ית הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃
12the two pillars; the two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars; the two networks to cover the two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars;
עַמּוּדִ֣ים שְׁנַ֔יִם וְהַגֻּלּ֧וֹת וְהַכֹּתָר֛וֹת עַל־רֹ֥אשׁ הָעַמּוּדִ֖ים שְׁתָּ֑יִם וְהַשְּׂבָכ֣וֹת שְׁתַּ֔יִם לְכַסּ֗וֹת אֶת־שְׁתֵּי֙ גֻּלּ֣וֹת הַכֹּֽתָר֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־רֹ֥אשׁ הָֽעַמּוּדִֽים׃
13the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, two rows of pomegranates for each network, covering the two bowl-shaped capitals on the front of the pillars;
וְאֶת־הָֽרִמּוֹנִ֛ים אַרְבַּ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת לִשְׁתֵּ֣י הַשְּׂבָכ֑וֹת שְׁנַ֨יִם טוּרִ֤ים רִמּוֹנִים֙ לַשְּׂבָכָ֣ה הָאֶחָ֔ת לְכַסּ֗וֹת אֶת־שְׁתֵּי֙ גֻּלּ֣וֹת הַכֹּֽתָר֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הָעַמּוּדִֽים׃
14the stands, and the basins on the stands;
וְאֶת־הַמְּכֹנ֖וֹת עָשָׂ֑ה וְאֶת־הַכִּיֹּר֥וֹת עָשָׂ֖ה עַל־הַמְּכֹנֽוֹת׃
15the one Sea, and the twelve oxen beneath it;
אֶת־הַיָּ֖ם אֶחָ֑ד וְאֶת־הַבָּקָ֥ר שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֖ר תַּחְתָּֽיו׃
16and the pots, the shovels, the forks, and all their utensils. Huram-abi made all these things of polished bronze for King Solomon, for the house of the LORD.
וְאֶת־הַ֠סִּירוֹת וְאֶת־הַיָּעִ֤ים וְאֶת־הַמִּזְלָגוֹת֙ וְאֶת־כָּל־כְּלֵיהֶ֔ם עָשָׂ֞ה חוּרָ֥ם אָבִ֛יו לַמֶּ֥לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה לְבֵ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה נְחֹ֖שֶׁת מָרֽוּק׃