23. Then Huram cast a great round basin, 15 feet across from rim to rim, called the Sea. It was 71/2 feet deep and about 45 feet in circumference.
24. It was encircled just below its rim by two rows of decorative gourds. There were about six gourds per foot all the way around, and they were cast as part of the basin.
25. The Sea was placed on a base of twelve bronze oxen, all facing outward. Three faced north, three faced west, three faced south, and three faced east, and the Sea rested on them.
26. The walls of the Sea were about three inches thick, and its rim flared out like a cup and resembled a water lily blossom. It could hold about 11,000 gallons of water.
27. Huram also made ten bronze water carts, each 6 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 41/2 feet tall.
28. They were constructed with side panels braced with crossbars.
29. Both the panels and the crossbars were decorated with carved lions, oxen, and cherubim. Above and below the lions and oxen were wreath decorations.
30. Each of these carts had four bronze wheels and bronze axles. There were supporting posts for the bronze basins at the corners of the carts; these supports were decorated on each side with carvings of wreaths.
31. The top of each cart had a rounded frame for the basin. It projected 11/2 feet above the cart’s top like a round pedestal, and its opening was 21/4 feet across; it was decorated on the outside with carvings of wreaths. The panels of the carts were square, not round.
32. Under the panels were four wheels that were connected to axles that had been cast as one unit with the cart. The wheels were 21/4 feet in diameter
33. and were similar to chariot wheels. The axles, spokes, rims, and hubs were all cast from molten bronze.