The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1908-12-03
Solomon Dedicates
the Temple
Sunday School Lesson for Dec. IL, 1908
Specially Arranged for This Paper


THE TEMPLE.-The temple was be-
gun in the fourth year OF Solomon's
reign. y. c. 1912 and completed seven
years later. -. c. 1904, according TO the
Assyrian Canon about E years later. The
dedication was In Solomon's twelfth
year.
CONTEMPORARY HISTORY. The
kingdom was now at its largest extent
from the Lebanon mountains to the Red
sea. from the Mediterranean to the Syri-
an desert on the east. Tyre hourishing
under King Hiram The Sabaean king
dog Of Yemen. the queen OF which came
q see Solomon. Commerce extended 10
Europe. Africa and India.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The Temple. situation was on
the eastern hill Of Jerusalem, called
sometimes Mount Moriah, overlooking
the valley of the Kidron and the
Mount OF Olives.
Modern authorities are inclined to
think that the temple platform was
a part of Mount Zion; and that Zion
was the name OF the eastern hill OF
Jerusalem, and not OF the western
hill, as has been the general opinion.
The rugged top Of Moriah was lev
eled with immense labor; its sides,
which to the east and south we're pre-
cipitous, were faced with a wall Of
stone, built up perpendicular from the
bottom OF the valley. so as TO appear
to those who looked down OF most
terrifying height "a work Of pro-
digious skill and labor, as the i'm
mense stones were strongly mortised
together and wedged into the rock" -
Milmsn.
The platform. according to Jose
plus, was square. three-quarters OF
mile in circuit WARS. SIS, p. in the
time OF Herod, but he also says that
Herod doubled the original Enclosure.
Probably, therefore. the platform
constructed by Solomon's engineers
was an area Of about IL acres. or a
quadrangle Of 800 by 500 feet
James Sine.
Alone and isolated in its grandeur
stood the Temple Mount. Terrace
upon terrace its courts rose, till high
above the city. within the Enclosure
Of marble cloisters. the temple itself
stood out, a mass OF snowy marble and
OF gold, glittering In the sunlight
against the half encircling green back
ground of Olivet. Nor has there
been in ancient or modern times a
sacred building equal to the temple.
whether for situation OF magnihcence."
-Edersheim.
The Size and Plan Of the Temple
The best model Of the temple have
ever SEEN" declares DR.. F. N. Peloube;,
rs the one sent from England to Mr..
Dwight L. Moody. and placed in his
school at Mortified. Mass. II is
said TO have cost $4,000. A similar
one belonged to Mr.. Thomas New
berry, Alexander villa. Weston-Super-
Mare. England"
Counting a cubit as is inches, the
main building was as follows: Porch,
30 feet broad. 10 feet deep. $50 feet
high; holy place, 60 feet long. 80 feet
wide, 30 feet high; holy OF HOLES. 30
feet long, 80 feet wide, 80 feet high;
chambers, Is feet wide on the two
sides and rear.
In front of the porch were two
great pillars.
The whole was situated according
to the points of the compass, the
front entrance being toward the east.
The Courts.-There were two courts
q Chron. $3.50. The outer court was
surrounded by wall partly OF stone.
partly Of cedar; on the eastern Dor
der was cioister or colonnade. This
court was adorned with trees. and
free to all the people. Within this
quadrangle was a smaller court. the
court OF the priests, on the highest
ridge of the hill. inclosiDg the temple,
and the great brazen altar, and brazen
sea. and the LAYERS.
In the inner court we're the great
braxen altar OF sacrifice. Is feet high
and 80 feet square, in sight Of all the
worshipers of the outer court, and the
molten or brazen sea supported by IL
huge oxen. each IA feet high.
v.1O "The cloud filed the house OF
the Lord" The article before cloud
denotes that 1t was the well-known
cloud which betokened the divine
presence. THE cloud was the veil
that hid ". ID "the glory OF the
Lord" for that glory was too bright to
be seen by mortal eyes. This was the
same as the pillar Of cloud and Of fire
that guided the people through the
wilderness, which had rested on the tab
ernacle on the day 1t was dedicated
(Ex. 40:34), ''and had apparently been
specially displayed at certain june
lures In the history OF Israel Mum.
1875, 10: 1G:4z, Deul S1:15). II was
thus the acknowledged symbol Of Gods
presence, and as such was a visible
sign that he now accepted the temple.
as he had formerly accepted the tab
ernacie. as his shrine and dwelling
place"
The Dedication Services.
1. Sentences (vs. IL, 10; 2 Chron.
6:1, -.
2. King blesses congregation V. IA;
2 Chron. $50, all standing.
3. Address, (Vs. 1921; 2 Chron. s:
AID, standing.
4. Dedicatory prayer (Vs. 1858; 2
Chron. 6;14-40). kneeling (v. "a;