And under the brim of it round about there were knobs compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about: the knobs were cast in two rows, when it was cast.
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Bede
AD 735
“And a carved work under its brim surrounded it, encircling the sea for ten cubits. There were two rows cast of chamfered sculptures.” Since it has been said above that a line of thirty cubits encircled the sea and it is now added that this carved work under the brim went around it for ten cubits, it is obvious from both accounts that the vessel was bent backwards and spread out like a bowl, because from a circumference of thirty cubits, which it measured at the brim, it narrowed to ten cubits. The chamfered sculpture is one that represents some historical events. Hence also the chamfered sculptures surrounding the sea rightly denote examples of former times that we must judiciously ponder to see by what works the saints have pleased God from the beginning and with what obstinacy the reprobate persisted in crimes and with what wickedness they perished because of their crimes; how in the beginning of the nascent world Cain was condemned for the malice of envy and Abel crowned for the me...
Ten cubits. All was not therefore ornamented. Protestants, "there were knops compassing it, ten in a cubit. The knops were cast in two rows, when it was cast. "(Haydock)
The signification of Pekahim is not ascertained, whether it be "apples, balls", or perhaps a corrupt word for Bokrim, "oxen "or "ox heads "as 2 Paralipomenon (iv. 3,) clearly explains it. (Calmet)
There also it is insinuated, that the carvings commenced only towards the bottom, where the circumference was reduced to 10 cubits. (Menochius)
