II Chronicles 4:19 · Bible study
2 Chronicles 4:19 Commentary: Why Multiple Tables? The Showbread in Solomon's Temple
Hebrew · 6 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Discover why 2 Chronicles 4:19 mentions multiple tables for the showbread while 1 Kings mentions only one. Scholarly insights and pastoral application.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Solomon made all the gold furnishings for the temple, including the incense altar and the tables for the showbread.
- Key words: “Tables” (plural, Hebrew shulḥanot) contrasts with the singular in 1 Kings 7:48; “bread of the presence” (Hebrew leḥem hapanim) means bread set before the face of God.
- Main debate: The reason for the plural “tables”, historical (several tables used for different purposes), textual (possible scribal error or harmonization), or literary (the Chronicler emphasising abundance).
- Theological theme: God’s presence and provision symbolised through the golden altar (intercession) and the bread (covenant sustenance).
- Best use: A passage for teaching about the temple’s furnishings, the Chronicler’s interpretive method, and the symbolism of Old Testament worship.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Solomon also made all the furnishings for the house of God: the golden altar; the tables on which was placed the Bread of the Presence;
WEB World English Bible 2000
Solomon made all the vessels that were in God’s house: the golden altar, the tables with the show bread on them,
KJV King James Version 1769
And Solomon made all the vessels that were for the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables whereon the shewbread was set;
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables whereon was the showbread;
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And Solomon maketh all the vessels that are for the house of God, and the altar of gold, and the tables, and on them is bread of the presence;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And Solomon made all the vessels that were [in] the house of God: the golden altar; and the tables whereon was the shewbread;
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And Solomon made all the vessels for the house of God, and the golden altar, and the tables, upon which were the loaves of proposition,
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Así hizo Salomón todos los vasos para la casa de Dios, y el altar de oro, y las mesas sobre las cuales se ponían los panes de la proposición;
Assim fez Salomão todos os vasos para a casa de Deus, e o altar de ouro, e as mesas sobre as quais se punham os pães da proposição;
Salomon fit encore tous les autres ustensiles pour la maison de Dieu: l’ autel d’ or; les tables sur lesquelles on mettait les pains de proposition;
Und Salomo machte alles Gerät zum Hause Gottes, nämlich den goldenen Altar und die Tische mit den Schaubroten darauf;
Ook maakte Salomo alle vaten, die voor het huis Gods waren, en het gouden altaar, en de tafelen, waarop de toonbroden zijn;
Salomone fece fabbricare tutti gli arredi della casa di Dio: l’altare d’oro, le tavole sulle quali si mettevano i pani della presentazione;
Sprawił także Salomon wszystko naczynie, które należało do domu Bożego, jako ołtarz złoty, i stoły, na których bywały chleby pokładne.
Также сделал Соломон все вещи для дома Божия и золотой жертвенник, и столы, на которых хлебы предложения,
所羅門 又造 神 殿裡的 金 壇 和 陳設 餅 的桌子，
And Solomon made all the vessels used in the house of God, the gold altar and the tables on which the holy bread was placed,
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · II Chronicles 4:19
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse catalogues the golden furnishings Solomon made for the temple. The main point of debate is the plural “tables” where the showbread was placed. Barnes suggests that Solomon made ten similar tables, though the bread was placed on only one at a time. Cambridge prefers the singular reading found in 1 Kings 7:48, arguing that the plural here may be a textual error. Keil and Delitzsch note that the Chronicler’s account diverges from Kings in several details, possibly to emphasize the abundance of vessels. Matthew Henry simply summarises the verse without resolving the discrepancy. The shared conviction is that these vessels were made according to God’s design for regular worship.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Historical multiple tables: Barnes suggests Solomon made ten tables, with only one used for showbread at a time. This view accepts the plural as reflecting actual furnishings.
- Textual preference for singular: Cambridge argues the original reading may have been singular, as in 1 Kings 7:48, and the plural arose from scribal error or chronicler’s expansion.
- Chronicler’s literary emphasis: Keil and Delitzsch see the plural as a deliberate alteration to stress abundance and the temple’s glory, consistent with the Chronicler’s theological goals.
What is clear: The verse lists golden vessels for the house of God, including the incense altar and tables for the Bread of the Presence, affirming that the temple was fully equipped for worship.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Number of tables for the showbread | The verse mentions multiple tables; the parallel in 1 Kings 7:48 mentions a single table. | Barnes holds that ten tables existed but only one was used for showbread at a time; Cambridge prefers the singular reading as original; Keil and Delitzsch see the plural as the Chronicler’s own emphasis on abundance. |
| The golden altar’s function | It was an altar of incense, made of gold, placed before the Most Holy Place. | Some note that in Exodus 30:1, 10 it was used only for incense; others see a secondary role in atonement rituals (Exodus 30:10). No major disagreement on this verse itself. |
| Chronicler’s purpose in this passage | The Chronicler aims to describe the temple’s glory and legitimacy for worship. | Some argue he freely adapts earlier sources to stress abundance and divine order; others think he follows a separate ancient tradition that included multiple tables. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The temple described in 2 Chronicles 4 was built in the mid-tenth century BC during Solomon’s unified monarchy. This verse lists items from the holy place: the golden altar (for incense) and the tables for the Bread of the Presence. The golden altar stood before the veil, as prescribed in Exodus 30:1, 10, where the high priest burned incense daily. The showbread consisted of twelve loaves placed on a table in the holy place, renewed every Sabbath (Leviticus 24:5, 8). The bread symbolised God’s continual provision and covenant with Israel.
In the parallel account of 1 Kings 7:48, only one table is mentioned. The Chronicler, writing after the exile, often reshapes material to highlight the temple’s glory and proper worship. Mentioning multiple tables may reflect either a historical reality, that Solomon made several tables, with only one used for the showbread at a time (Barnes), or a literary choice to stress the lavishness of the furnishings. In Ezekiel’s visionary temple (Ezekiel 40:39, 41), eight tables are described for slaughtering sacrifices, suggesting that tables had multiple functions. The Chronicler may have combined different sources or traditions. The broader context lists all vessels in great abundance (2 Chronicles 4:18), so the plural fits that theme.
This verse is part of a longer passage (2 Chronicles 4:19, 5:1) detailing the golden furniture and the completion of the work. The Chronicler’s emphasis on precise adherence to divine instructions (the word ordinance appears in verse 20) underscores the importance of ordered worship for the restored community.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries note no significant textual variants for 2 Chronicles 4:19 itself. However, Keil and Delitzsch compare the Chronicler’s text with 1 Kings 7:48, 50, pointing out that the plural “tables” is original in Chronicles while the singular appears in Kings. They also mention that in 2 Chronicles 4:20, 21 the author diverges from Kings by omitting the number of lampstands and adding a note on their use; these differences suggest intentional editorial changes rather than scribal errors. The Hebrew text of 2 Chronicles 4:19 is stable across manuscripts.
Reception History
This verse appears in a passage that early Christian and Jewish readers used to confirm the historicity of Solomon’s temple and its lavish furnishings. The plural “tables” drew less attention than the overall description of gold. Some rabbinic sources speculated that the multiple tables held the showbread and other offerings. In the Reformation, Matthew Henry used the verse to show the “punctual” work of Huram and the “great abundance” of temple vessels. The passage has been read primarily as an inventory that testifies to the completion of the temple according to God’s pattern, underscoring themes of divine provision and proper worship. More recently, scholars have focused on the Chronicler’s editorial method and the theological message for the post-exilic community.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The golden altar: a place of intercession. The incense altar stood before the Most Holy Place, reminding Israel that their prayers rose to God through atonement (Exodus 30:1, 10).
- The tables of presence: God’s continual provision. The Bread of the Presence, renewed each Sabbath, showed that God sustains His people day by day (Exodus 25:30).
- All vessels made: worship requires careful preparation. Every item, from the majestic to the mundane, was crafted according to God’s pattern. Our worship, too, deserves thoughtful ordering.
Five-point outline
- The golden altar: intercession at the heart of worship. Incense symbolised prayer; the altar was the place where the priest stood between God and people.
- The tables: a sign of covenant fellowship. Twelve loaves represented the twelve tribes, seated before God in His house.
- One table or many? The question of abundance. The Chronicler’s plural heightens the sense of generosity, God’s house was furnished without shortage.
- The Bread of the Presence: a neglected symbol. Unlike the sacrifices, this bread was a standing reminder of God’s presence and provision, given in silence week after week.
- Completion and dedication: “Thus Solomon made all these vessels.” The work was finished. God’s dwelling was ready for His glory to fill it.
Illustration hooks
- Setting the dinner table. When a family prepares a special meal, they bring out the best dishes. The temple furnishings were that, God’s best for His house.
- A chef’s kitchen. Just as a chef lays out many utensils and bowls for a complex recipe, the temple had multiple tables for different purposes. Nothing was improvised.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does the Bible seem to contradict itself on the number of tables?
- Does the gold and splendour of the temple mean God still expects lavish worship today?
- What does the Bread of the Presence have to do with our everyday faith?
Leading a Discussion
This verse may seem like a simple inventory, but it raises a puzzle: why does the Chronicler say “tables” when 1 Kings says “table”? As you discuss, pay attention to how each writer highlights different aspects of the temple. The goal is to see the heart behind the details: a God who wants to dwell with His people and who provides everything needed for that relationship.
Discussion questions
- Observation: What vessels are listed in 2 Chronicles 4:19? What does the verse say about each one?
- Comparison: Compare 2 Chronicles 4:19 with 1 Kings 7:48. What difference do you notice? How do you explain it?
- Background: The Bread of the Presence (showbread) is described in Leviticus 24:5, 8. What do these verses tell you about its meaning and purpose?
- Interpretation: Why might the Chronicler have chosen to say “tables” (plural) rather than “table”? What effect does that have on the reader?
- Application: The temple was furnished with great care and abundance. How does that reflect God’s character? What does it teach us about how we approach worship?
- Community: The showbread was a weekly reminder of God’s covenant with the twelve tribes. In what ways does your community remember God’s presence and provision together?
- Personal: The golden altar symbolised prayer rising before God. How can you make your own “prayer altar” a regular part of your day?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 25:23 | “You shall make a table of acacia wood. Its length shall be two cubits, and its width a cubit, and its height one and a half cubits. |
| Exodus 25:30 | You shall set bread of the presence on the table before me always. |
| Exodus 30:1 | “You shall make an altar to burn incense on. You shall make it of acacia wood. |
| Exodus 30:10 | Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once in the year; with the blood of the sin offering of atonement once in the year he shall make atonement for it throughout your generations. It is most holy to Yahweh.” |
| Exodus 37:25 | He made the altar of incense of acacia wood. It was square: its length was a cubit, and its width a cubit. Its height was two cubits. Its horns were of one piece with it. |
| Exodus 37:29 | He made the holy anointing oil and the pure incense of sweet spices, after the art of the perfumer. |
| Leviticus 24:5 | “You shall take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes of it: two tenths of an ephah shall be in one cake. |
| Leviticus 24:8 | Every Sabbath day he shall set it in order before Yahweh continually. It is an everlasting covenant on the behalf of the children of Israel. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
5 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes observes that while Scripture mentions only one table for the showbread, Solomon actually made ten identical ones. His distinctive point is that these extra tables were not used simultaneously; the showbread was placed on only one table at any given time.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes a textual discrepancy: some manuscripts read "tables" while the parallel passage in 1 Kings has "table" (singular), which he favors. He also points out the Revised Version's change from "for the house" to "in the house."
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note highlights that Solomon's work on the temple vessels was comprehensive: he made every single item required, specifically naming the golden altar and the tables for the showbread. This completeness underscores that nothing was left unfinished in preparing the house of God.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch note that the Chronicler adds the phrase "perfect gold" to emphasize that even the smallest candlestick utensils were solid gold, not merely gilded. They also observe that the Chronicler generalizes the description of the temple doors, highlighting that they were overlaid with gold, rather than detailing the hinges.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry focuses on Huram's punctuality: he finished every piece of work assigned to him and left nothing undone. For Henry this thoroughness matters because it shows a craftsman who served God's house with complete faithfulness, not cutting corners or leaving tasks half-done.