2. The Tabernacle was surrounded by an oblong court, separated by curtains from the camp of Israel. The priests and other sacred ministers alone were permitted to enter it; the people, who came to offer sacrifices, stopped at the entrance, opposite to which stood the brazen alter for burnt offerings; and nearly in the centre of the court stood a capacious brazen vessel, called the brazen laver, in which the priests washed their hands and feet previously to performing any of their sacred functions.

The tabernacle being so constructed as to be taken to pieces and put together as occasion required, it accompanied the Israelites in all their progresses, until they arrived in the land of Canaan. There it was set up, first at Gilgal, and afterwards at Shiloh: on being restored by the Philistines, who had taken it and deposited it in the temple of one of their idols, as related in 1 Sam. iv. 10, 11. v. vi.; it remained for twenty years in the custody of Abinadab, of Gibeah, and afterwards (for three months) in the house of Obed-edom, whence David brought it with great solemnity into that part of Jerusalem which was called the city of David. (2 Sam. vi. 17. 1 Chron. xv. 25. xvi. 1.) Here it remained until it was deposited in the temple of Solomon, where (having been subsequently removed) it was again replaced by order of the pious King Josiah. (2 Chron. xxxv. 3.) It is supposed to have been consumed in the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchad

nezzar.

Representation of the GOLDEN CANDLESTICK, from the Triumphal Arch of Titus.

Two Temples are mentioned in the Scriptures, 1.That of Solomon; and 2. That erected after the Captivity.

I. The FIRST TEMPLE is that which usually bears the name of Solomon; the materials for which were provided by David before his death, though the edifice

was raised by his son. It stood on Mount Moriah, an eminence of the mountainous ridge in the Scriptures termed Mount Sion. (Psal. cxxxii. 13, 14.), which had been purchased of Araunah or Ornan, the Jebusite. (2 Sam. xxiv. 23, 24. 1 Chron. xxi. 25.) The plan and whole model of this superb structure were formed after that of the tabernacle, but of much larger dimensions. It was dedicated by Solomon with great solemnity. Various attempts have been made to describe the proportions and several parts of this structure: but as no two writers scarcely agree on this subject, a minute description of it is designedly omitted. It retained its pristine splendour only thirty-three or thirty-four years, when Shishak king of Egypt took Jerusalem, and carried away the treasures of the temple; and after undergoing subsequent profanations and pillages, this stupendous building was finally plundered and burnt by the Chaldæans under Nebuchadnezzar in the year of the world 3416, or before Christ 584. (2 Kings xxv. 13-15. 2 Chron. xxxvi. 17-20.)

II. After the captivity the temple emerged from its ruins, being rebuilt by Zerubbabel, but with vastly inferior and diminished glory; as appears from the tears of the aged men who had beheld the former structure in all its grandeur. (Ezra iii. 12.) The SECOND TEMPLE was profaned by order of Antiochus Epiphanes (A.M. 3837. B. c. 163); who caused the daily sacrifice to be discontinued, and erected the image of Jupiter Olympus on the altar of burnt offering. In this condition it continued three years (1 Macc. i. 62.), when Judas Maccabeus purified and repaired it, and restored the sacrifices and true worship of Jehovah. (A.M. 3840. B. C. 160.)

Some years before the birth of our Saviour, the repairing or rather gradual rebuilding of this second tem

ple, which had become decayed in the lapse of five centuries, was undertaken by Herod the Great, who for nine years employed eighteen thousand workmen upon it, and spared no expence to render it equal, if not superior, in magnitude, splendour, and beauty to any thing among mankind. But though Herod accom plished his original design in the time above specified, yet the Jews continued to ornament and enlarge it, expending the sacred treasure in annexing additional buildings to it; so that they might with great propriety assert that their temple had been forty and six years in building. (John ii. 20.)

The second temple, originally built by Zerubbabel after the captivity, and repaired by Herod, differed in several respects from that erected by Solomon, although they agreed in others.

The temple erected by Solomon was more splendid and magnificent than the second temple, which was deficient in five remarkable things that constituted the chief glory of the first: these were, the ark and mercy seat, the shechinah or manifestation of the divine presence in the holy of holies, the sacred fire on the altar, which had been first kindled from heaven, the urim and thummim,-and the spirit of prophecy. The second temple, however, surpassed the first in glory, being honoured by the frequent presence of our divine. Saviour, agreeably to the prediction of Haggai. (ii. 9.) Both, however, were erected upon the same site, a very hard rock, encompassed by a very frightful precipice; and the foundation was laid with incredible expense and labour. The superstructure was not inferior to this great work: the height of the temple wall, especially on the south side, was stupendous. In the lowest places it was three hundred cubits, or four hundred and fifty feet, and in some places even greater. This

most magnificent pile was constructed with hard white stone of prodigious magnitude. Of its general disposition some idea may be formed from the plan annexed to the Map which faces page 218.

The temple itself, strictly so called, (which comprised the portico, the sanctuary, and the holy of holies,) formed only a small part of the sacred edifice on Mount Moriah; being surrounded by spacious courts, making a square of half a mile in circumfer ence. It was entered through nine magnificent gates; one of which, called the Beautiful Gate in Acts iii. 2., was more splendid and costly than all the rest: it was composed of Corinthian brass, the most precious metal in antient times. The first or outer court was called the Court of the Gentiles; because they were not permitted to advance any further, though they were allowed to enter it. Markets were held here for the sale of incense, salt, animals, and every other article necessary for the Jewish sacrifices. Here also sat the moneychangers. (Matt. xxi. 12, 13. Mark xi. 15-17.) This court was surrounded by a range of porticoes or cloisters, one of which was called Solomon's Porch. (John x. 23. Acts iii. 11.) The south-east corner of the roof of this portico is supposed to have been the pinnacle, whence Satan tempted Christ to precipitate himself. Matt. iv. 5.)

Within the court of the Gentiles stood the Court of the Israelites divided into two parts or courts, the outer one being appropriated to the women, and the inner one to the men. The Court of the Women was separated from that of the Gentiles by a low stone wall or partition, of elegant construction, on which stood pillars at equal distances, with inscriptions in Greek and Latin, importing that no alien should enter into the holy place. To this wall Saint Paul most evidently alludes in Eph.