The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1909-09-17

SOiuHlHo WOiO duipO OOhihiOh IL Ohe
Temples of Baal.
THE MOLTEN SEA.
The Molten Sea was so named on ac-
count of its size. 1t stood in the south
east angle of the Court of the Temple,
was 10 cubits 10 feet in diameter, 5
cubits "a feep high and 80 cubits AS
feet in circumference. 1t was said to
have been capable of containing 1900
baths" or 5000 gallons. 1t was
made of brass or copper captured by
David from Tibbath and Chun, cities OF
Hadarezar, King of Zobah. The brim
was wrought like the brim of cup
with flowers of lilies" that is, curved
outward like lily or a lotus flower. II
stood on twelve oxen over life-sized,
three turned to each corner of the heav-
ems and all looking outwards. 1t was a
handbreadth thick, about four inches.
How the sea" was filled or emptied is
not stated.
THE LAYERS AND BRAZEL ALTAR.
There were ten LAYERS, quadrangulal
in shape, supported on wagons 4 cubits
long, 4 wide and high. Each wagon
stood on four wheels, II cubits in di-
ameter. The LAYERS were used for the
water with which the entrails of the
beasts used for burnt offerings were
cleansed, and also their feet. The LAYERS
on the wagons came nearly up to the
level Of the great brazen altar. In the
forecourt-due east from the Temple
entrance-stood the great altar of burnt
offering. 1t was made of brass, was 20
cubits go feet) long, 20 cubits go feet
broad and 10 cubts Us fee0 high. To
the service of the altar belonged a great
many utensils of brass cast in bright
brass. The numbers of these are I'M
known.
THE NUMBER OF THE PRIESTS.
1t is not known how many priests Of
fciated in the Temple and belonged to
its service. According to the best Jew
ish authority they could not have been
very numerous, for those requested tC
take part in the service at any one time
were very few. Josephus distinctly
states that the number was 10000
However, this was probably another ex
aggeration of the author. In addition
to the priests were: (a) Levites, who
though occupying a position subordi
nate to the priests, formed a strictly ex
elusive and hereditary order. (b) TIL,
official Isr@lites, who, in turn, repre-
scented the whole people while the dali.
sacrifice was offered.
GOLDEN oRNANGENTs-vEss
The golden ornaments included thu
great candlestick with seven lights
symbols of the Divine presence, sever
being the number of perfection. Tel
reduced copies of this candlestick wer,
made and ranged on each side of tn,
Altar of Incense. Bes ides these Their
were the ark to hold the tables of th,
law, the table for the shewbread, can
dlesticks, censers, tongs, knives, snuff
fers, extinguishers, trays, vases anC
other utensils for trimming and maxim!
the lights and fires, in numbers un
known; also basins, spoons, entry TO
the house, inner doors of the most hol,
place, and the doors of the house of tn
temple.
THE GOLD IN THE TEMPLE.
1t is stated in Chronicles that tn
whole temple was overlaid with gold
The quantity of gold for the most hol.
house-the oracle-was 800 talents. |
the same system was adopted in tn
outer part, 300 talents must have beef
required. 1t is difficult to estimate tn
value of the gold, for the BabylonlaI
gold talent was worth f6, $50 i
heavy" and f3,O75 if light. l
heavy" the gold used in the oracl
was worth $500, 900; and that in thu
other part of the Temple ZIG, COS, 600
The value of the whole of the gold useC
in the Temple, the thickness of the golC
on the wainscoting, and the value o
the precious stones used are unknown.