And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the brasen oxen that were under it, and put it upon a pavement of stones.
King Ahaz cut off the decorative panels from the bronze stands and removed the washing basins from them. He also took down the large bronze basin called 'the Sea' from the bronze oxen that supported it, and placed it on a stone floor instead.
King Ahaz stripped away and dismantled the beautiful bronze furnishings and sacred objects from God's temple, likely to pay tribute to foreign powers.
📚 Historical Context
This occurred around 735-715 BC when King Ahaz of Judah was facing military pressure from Israel and Syria. He had appealed to the Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser for help, which required paying heavy tribute. The temple furnishings Ahaz dismantled were originally crafted during Solomon's time and were considered sacred items used in temple worship.
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