The Temple of Solomon by Easton

Before his death David had "with all his might" provided

materials in great abundance for the building of the temple on

the summit of Mount Moriah (1 Chr. 22:14; 29:4; 2 Chr. 3:1), on

the east of the city, on the spot where Abraham had offered up

Isaac (Gen. 22:1-14). In the beginning of his reign Solomon set

about giving effect to the desire that had been so earnestly

cherished by his father, and prepared additional materials for

the building. From subterranean quarries at Jerusalem he

obtained huge blocks of stone for the foundations and walls of

the temple. These stones were prepared for their places in the

building under the eye of Tyrian master-builders. He also

entered into a compact with Hiram II., king of Tyre, for the

supply of whatever else was needed for the work, particularly

timber from the forests of Lebanon, which was brought in great

rafts by the sea to Joppa, whence it was dragged to Jerusalem (1

Kings 5). As the hill on which the temple was to be built did

not afford sufficient level space, a huge wall of solid masonry

of great height, in some places more than 200 feet high, was

raised across the south of the hill, and a similar wall on the

eastern side, and in the spaces between were erected many arches

and pillars, thus raising up the general surface to the required

level. Solomon also provided for a sufficient water supply for

the temple by hewing in the rocky hill vast cisterns, into which

water was conveyed by channels from the "pools" near Bethlehem.

One of these cisterns, the "great sea," was capable of

containing three millions of gallons. The overflow was led off

by a conduit to the Kidron.

In all these preparatory undertakings a space of about three

years was occupied; and now the process of the erection of the

great building began, under the direction of skilled Phoenician

builders and workmen, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign, 480

years after the Exodus (1 Kings 6; 2 Chr. 3). Many thousands of

labourers and skilled artisans were employed in the work. Stones

prepared in the quarries underneath the city (1 Kings 5:17, 18)

of huge dimension (see QUARRIES -T0003032) were gradually placed

on the massive walls, and closely fitted together without any

mortar between, till the whole structure was completed. No sound

of hammer or axe or any tool of iron was heard as the structure

arose (6:7). "Like some tall palm the noiseless fabric sprang."

The building was 60 cubits long, 20 cubits wide, and 30 cubits

high. The engineers of the Israel Exploration Fund, in their

explorations around the temple area, discovered what is believed

to have been the "chief corner stone" of the temple, "the most

interesting stone in the world." It lies at the bottom of the

south-eastern angle, and is 3 feet 8 inches high by 14 feet

long. It rests on the solid rock at a depth of 79 feet 3 inches

below the present surface. (See PINNACLE -T0002957.) In

examining the walls the engineers were "struck with admiration

at the vastness of the blocks and the general excellence of the

workmanship."

At length, in the autumn of the eleventh year of his reign,

seven and a half years after it had been begun, the temple was

completed in all its architectural magnificence and beauty. For

thirteen years there it stood, on the summit of Moriah, silent

and unused. The reasons for this strange delay in its

consecration are unknown. At the close of these thirteen years

preparations for the dedication of the temple were made on a

scale of the greatest magnificence. The ark was solemnly brought

from the tent in which David had deposited it to the place

prepared for it in the temple, and the glory-cloud, the symbol

of the divine presence, filled the house. Then Solomon ascended

a platform which had been erected for him, in the sight of all

the people, and lifting up his hands to heaven poured out his

heart to God in prayer (1 Kings 8; 2 Chr. 6, 7). The feast of

dedication, which lasted seven days, followed by the feast of

tabernacles, marked a new era in the history of Israel. On the

eighth day of the feast of tabernacles, Solomon dismissed the

vast assemblage of the people, who returned to their homes

filled with joy and gladness, "Had Solomon done no other service

beyond the building of the temple, he would still have

influenced the religious life of his people down to the latest

days. It was to them a perpetual reminder and visible symbol of

God's presence and protection, a strong bulwark of all the

sacred traditions of the law, a witness to duty, an impulse to

historic study, an inspiration of sacred song."

The temple consisted of, (1.) The oracle or most holy place (1

Kings 6:19; 8:6), called also the "inner house" (6:27), and the

"holiest of all" (Heb. 9:3). It was 20 cubits in length,

breadth, and height. It was floored and wainscotted with cedar

(1 Kings 6:16), and its walls and floor were overlaid with gold

(6:20, 21, 30). There was a two-leaved door between it and the

holy place overlaid with gold (2 Chr. 4:22); also a veil of blue

purple and crimson and fine linen (2 Chr. 3:14; comp. Ex.

26:33). It had no windows (1 Kings 8:12). It was indeed the

dwelling-place of God. (2.) The holy place (q.v.), 1 Kings

8:8-10, called also the "greater house" (2 Chr. 3:5) and the

"temple" (1 Kings 6:17). (3.) The porch or entrance before the

temple on the east (1 Kings 6:3; 2 Chr. 3:4; 29:7). In the porch

stood the two pillars Jachin and Boaz (1 Kings 7:21; 2 Kings

11:14; 23:3). (4.) The chambers, which were built about the

temple on the southern, western, and northern sides (1 Kings

6:5-10). These formed a part of the building.

Round about the building were, (1.) The court of the priests

(2 Chr. 4:9), called the "inner court" (1 Kings 6:36). It

contained the altar of burnt-offering (2 Chr. 15:8), the brazen

sea (4:2-5, 10), and ten lavers (1 Kings 7:38, 39). (2.) The

great court, which surrounded the whole temple (2 Chr. 4:9).

Here the people assembled to worship God (Jer. 19:14; 26:2).

This temple erected by Solomon was many times pillaged during

the course of its history, (1) 1 Kings 14:25, 26; (2) 2 Kings

14:14; (3) 2 Kings 16:8, 17, 18; (4) 2 Kings 18:15, 16. At last

it was pillaged and destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:13;

2 Chr. 36:7). He burned the temple, and carried all its

treasures with him to Babylon (2 Kings 25:9-17; 2 Chr. 36:19;

Isa. 64:11). These sacred vessels were at length, at the close

of the Captivity, restored to the Jews by Cyrus (Ezra 1:7-11).

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