III. JACHIN. This is the name of one of the two Pillars which were placed on each side the Porch of Solomon’s Temple. The other Pillar was called Boaz. They were of brass; four inches thick, eighteen cubits high, and twelve cubits in circumference1; I mean the shaft of the Pillar, without including the basis or pedestal, the height whereof the Scripture does not mention; nor the chapiter, which was five cubits high. Upon the top of each of these two Pillars was a crown, or chapiter five cubits high, (1 Kings vii. 16. Jerem. lii. 21.) In some places these chapiters are reckoned to be but three cubits, (1 Kings xxv. 17.) and elsewhere four, (1 Kings vii. 19.) The reason of this proceeds from considering them under different views; and comprehending sometimes the ornaments, and rose or lilly at the top; and sometimes not including them. The intire body of the crown consisted of five cubits; but if neither the lilly on the top, nor the ornaments, whereby the chapiter was joined to the shaft of the Pillar, were included, it was but three cubits high. Lastly, if the lilly only or rose be taken away, it was four cubits in height. Jachin signifies Stability, and Boaz Firmness.
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Footnotes
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1 Kings vii. 15. Jerem. li. 21. The Chronicles, 2 Chron. iii. 15, 17. allow the two Pillars to be but 35 cubits high; from whence it is thought that they were each but seventeen cubits and an half high. Eighteen Hebrew cubits, make 30 feet 9 inches; 12 cubits, 20 feet 6 inches. ↩