Biblical Hebrew Forum

["K Randolph" <kwrandolph AT gmail.com>]

Dear Edward:

On 11/2/07, belaga AT math.u-strasbg.fr <belaga AT math.u-strasbg.fr> wrote:
>
> (B)
>
> > While the 10 cubit measurement referred to an external measurement of
> > the vat, did the circle of 30 cubits refer to an external measurement,
> > or to an internal one (external minus the thickness of the metal)? If
> > to an internal one, how close would it be to pi?
> >
In verse 26 the thickness of the metal used to make the vat (sea) is
listed as one handbreadth. How many of those were in a cubit?

If you take it that there were 4 or 5 handbreadths to a cubit, then
the inside measurement of the circumference comes very close to 30
cubits.

Another possibility is that the diameter may have been measured to
include the decorations on the outside, while to get a smooth
measurement of the vat would omit those decorations, resulting in a
measurement of 30 cubits.

Have you considered other possibilities such as these?

Don't you wish the Biblical writers gave us more details?

Karl W. Randolph.