George M. Hollenback, «The Value of Pi and the Circumference of the "Molten Sea" in 3 Kingdoms 7,10», Vol. 79 (1998) 409-412
The dimensions of the "molten sea", the huge vessel fabricated for King Solomons temple, are given in 1 Kgs 7,23.26 (MT) and 3 Kingdoms 7,10.12 (LXX). All measurements of the MT correspond exactly to those of the LXX except one, the circumference. The MT gives "thirty cubits" and the LXX "thirty-three cubits". It seems probable that the MT used the value attributed to pi by the Old Babylonian (pi = 3), whereas the LXX may have known the more accurate value discovered by Archimedes and presumably known in Alexandria (pi = approximately 3 1/7).
such as Chronicles, the Mishnat ha-Middot, and the Talmud; the 33 cubit figure never shows up again after its appearance in 3 Kingdoms. A 30 cubit figure in the Vorlage would mean that all the arguments for the LXX translator/editors emendation of the text to read 33 cubits and reflect a 3 1/7 pi value would still apply. Given the common Alexandrian background of both the LXX and the 3 1/7 value for pi, this latter view would seem to be the most plausible.