Temple, the First.

• 4 min. read • grade level: 8

Built on Mount Moriah on the threshing-floor of Oman or Araunah. 1 Chron. 21:28-30²⁸At that time when David saw that the Lord had answered him in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there. ²⁹For the tabernacle of the Lord, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that season in the high place at Gibeon. ³⁰But David could not go before it to inquire of God: for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the Lord. (1 Chronicles 21:28‑30), with 1 Chron. 22:1¹Then David said, This is the house of the Lord God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel. (1 Chronicles 22:1). 2 Chr. 3:1¹Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. (2 Chronicles 3:1).

DAVID

Anxious to build. 2 Sam. 7:2²That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. (2 Samuel 7:2). 1 Chron. 22:7⁷And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God: (1 Chronicles 22:7). 1 Chron. 29:3³Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, (1 Chronicles 29:3). Psa. 132:2-5²How he sware unto the Lord, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob; ³Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; ⁴I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, ⁵Until I find out a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. (Psalm 132:2‑5).

Being a man of war not permitted to build. 2 Sam. 7:5-9⁵Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the Lord, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in? ⁶Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. ⁷In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar? ⁸Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: ⁹And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth. (2 Samuel 7:5‑9), with 1 Kin. 5:3. 1 Chron. 22:8⁸But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight. (1 Chronicles 22:8).

Told by the prophet that Solomon should build. 2 Sam. 7:12, 13¹²And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. (2 Samuel 7:12‑13). 1 Chron. 17:12¹²He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever. (1 Chronicles 17:12).

Made preparations for building. 1 Chron. 22:2-5, 14-16²And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God. ³And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings; and brass in abundance without weight; ⁴Also cedar trees in abundance: for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David. ⁵And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the Lord must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death. (1 Chronicles 22:2‑5)
¹⁴Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the Lord an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto. ¹⁵Moreover there are workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of cunning men for every manner of work. ¹⁶Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise therefore, and be doing, and the Lord be with thee. (1 Chronicles 22:14‑16). 1 Chron. 29:2 -5²Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colors, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance. ³Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, ⁴Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal: ⁵The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord? (1 Chronicles 29:2‑5).

Charged Solomon to build. 1 Chron. 22:6, 7, 11⁶Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build an house for the Lord God of Israel. ⁷And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God: (1 Chronicles 22:6‑7)
¹¹Now, my son, the Lord be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the Lord thy God, as he hath said of thee. (1 Chronicles 22:11).

Prayed that Solomon might have wisdom to build. 1 Chron. 29:19¹⁹And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision. (1 Chronicles 29:19).

Charged his princes to assist in building. 1 Chron. 22:17-19¹⁷David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, ¹⁸Is not the Lord your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side? for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into mine hand; and the land is subdued before the Lord, and before his people. ¹⁹Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the Lord. (1 Chronicles 22:17‑19).

Free-will offerings of the people for building. 1 Chron. 29:6-9⁶Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king's work, offered willingly, ⁷And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron. ⁸And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the Lord, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite. ⁹Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy. (1 Chronicles 29:6‑9).

SOLOMON

Determined to build. 2 Chr. 2:1¹And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the Lord, and an house for his kingdom. (2 Chronicles 2:1).

Specially instructed for. 2 Chr. 3:3³Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God. The length by cubits after the first measure was threescore cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits. (2 Chronicles 3:3).

Employed all the strangers in preparing for. 2 Chr. 2:2, 17, 18²And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them. (2 Chronicles 2:2)
¹⁷And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering wherewith David his father had numbered them; and they were found an hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred. ¹⁸And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to be bearers of burdens, and fourscore thousand to be hewers in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set the people a work. (2 Chronicles 2:17‑18), with 1 Kin. 5:15.

Applied to Hiram for a skilful workman to superintend, &c. the building of. 2 Chr. 2:7, 13, 14⁷Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide. (2 Chronicles 2:7)
¹³And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father's, ¹⁴The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and to find out every device which shall be put to him, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord David thy father. (2 Chronicles 2:13‑14).

Employed thirty thousand Israelites in the work. 1 Kin. 5:13, 14.

Contracted with Hiram for wood, stone, and labor. 1 Kin. 5:6-12. 2 Chr. 2:8-10⁸Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon: for I know that thy servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants, ⁹Even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to build shall be wonderful great. ¹⁰And, behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil. (2 Chronicles 2:8‑10).

Commenced second day of second month of fourth year of Solomon. 1 Kin. 6:1, 37. 2 Chr. 3: 2.

Built without the noise of hammers, ax, or any tool. 1 Kin. 6:7.

DIVIDED INTO

The sanctuary or greater house. 2 Chr. 3:5⁵And the greater house he cieled with fir tree, which he overlaid with fine gold, and set thereon palm trees and chains. (2 Chronicles 3:5).

The oracle or most holy place. 1 Kin. 6:19.

The porch. 2 Chr. 3:4⁴And the porch that was in the front of the house, the length of it was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the height was an hundred and twenty: and he overlaid it within with pure gold. (2 Chronicles 3:4).

Surrounded with three stories of chambers communicating with the interior on the right side. 1 Kin. 6:5, 6, 8, 10.

Surrounded with spacious courts. 1 Kin. 6:36. 2 Chr. 4:9⁹Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass. (2 Chronicles 4:9).

Was three score cubits long, twenty broad, and thirty high. 1 Kin. 6: 2. 2 Chr. 3:3³Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God. The length by cubits after the first measure was threescore cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits. (2 Chronicles 3:3).

Was lighted by narrow windows. 1 Kin. 6:4.

Was roofed with cedar. 1 Kin. 6:9.

THE GREATER OR OUTER HOUSE

Was forty cubits long. 2 Kin. 6:17.

Had folding doors of fir wood carved and gilded. 1 Kin. 6:34, 35.

Had door posts of olive-wood carved and gilded. 1 Kin. 6:33. 2 Chr. 3:7⁷He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubims on the walls. (2 Chronicles 3:7).

THE ORACLE OR MOST HOLY PLACE

Was twenty cubits every way. 1 Kin. 6:16, 20.

Two cherubim’s of gilded olive-wood made within. 1 Kin. 6:23 -28. 2 Chr. 3:11-13¹¹And the wings of the cherubims were twenty cubits long: one wing of the one cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was likewise five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub. ¹²And one wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was five cubits also, joining to the wing of the other cherub. ¹³The wings of these cherubims spread themselves forth twenty cubits: and they stood on their feet, and their faces were inward. (2 Chronicles 3:11‑13).

A partition of chains of gold between it and outer house. 1 Kin. 6:21.

The doors and posts of, of olive-wood carved and gilded. 1 Kin. 6:31, 32.

Separated from the outer house by a vail. 2 Chr. 3:14¹⁴And he made the vail of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon. (2 Chronicles 3:14).

The floor and walls of, covered with cedar and fir wood. 1 Kin. 6:15.

Cedar of, carved with flowers, &c. 1 Kin. 6:18.

Celled with fir wood and gilt. 2 Chr. 3:5⁵And the greater house he cieled with fir tree, which he overlaid with fine gold, and set thereon palm trees and chains. (2 Chronicles 3:5).

The whole inside and outside covered with gold. 1 Kin. 6:21, 22. 2 Chr. 3:7⁷He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubims on the walls. (2 Chronicles 3:7).

Garnished with precious stones. 2 Chr. 3:6⁶And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim. (2 Chronicles 3:6).

THE PORCH OF

Twenty cubits long and ten broad. 1 Kin. 6:3.

One hundred and twenty cubits high. 2 Chr. 3:4⁴And the porch that was in the front of the house, the length of it was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the height was an hundred and twenty: and he overlaid it within with pure gold. (2 Chronicles 3:4).

Pillars of, with their chapiters described. 1 Kin. 7:15-22. 2 Chr. 3:15-17¹⁵Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty and five cubits high, and the chapiter that was on the top of each of them was five cubits. ¹⁶And he made chains, as in the oracle, and put them on the heads of the pillars; and made an hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains. ¹⁷And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz. (2 Chronicles 3:15‑17).

Its magnificence. 2 Chr. 2:5, 9⁵And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods. (2 Chronicles 2:5)
⁹Even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to build shall be wonderful great. (2 Chronicles 2:9). Was seven years in building. 1 Kin. 6:38.

Was finished in the eighth month of the eleventh year of Solomon. 1 Kin. 6:38.

WAS CALLED

The house of the Lord. 2 Chr. 23:5, 12⁵And a third part shall be at the king's house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation: and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord. (2 Chronicles 23:5)
¹²Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the Lord: (2 Chronicles 23:12).

The mountain of the Lord's house. Isa. 2:2²And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. (Isaiah 2:2).

House of the God of Jacob. Isa. 2:3³And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:3).

Zion. Psa. 84:1-7¹<<To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.>> How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! ²My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. ³Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God. ⁴Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah. ⁵Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. ⁶Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. ⁷They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. (Psalm 84:1‑7).

Mount Zion. Psa. 74:2²Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt. (Psalm 74:2).

Appointed as a house of sacrifice. 2 Chr. 7:12¹²And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. (2 Chronicles 7:12).

Appointed as a house of prayer. Isa. 56:7⁷Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. (Isaiah 56:7), with Matt. 21:13¹³And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. (Matthew 21:13).

God promised to dwell in. 1 Kin. 6:12, 13.

All dedicated things placed in. 2 Chr. 5:1¹Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the Lord was finished: and Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated; and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments, put he among the treasures of the house of God. (2 Chronicles 5:1).

The ark of God brought into with great solemnity. 1 Kin. 8:1-9. 2 Chr. 5:2-10²Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion. ³Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king in the feast which was in the seventh month. ⁴And all the elders of Israel came; and the Levites took up the ark. ⁵And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, these did the priests and the Levites bring up. ⁶Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled unto him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude. ⁷And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord unto his place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims: ⁸For the cherubims spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above. ⁹And they drew out the staves of the ark, that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen without. And there it is unto this day. ¹⁰There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt. (2 Chronicles 5:2‑10).

Filled with the cloud of glory. 1 Kin. 8:10, 11. 2 Chr. 5:13¹³It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord; (2 Chronicles 5:13). 2 Chr. 7:2²And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house. (2 Chronicles 7:2).

Solemnly dedicated to God by Solomon. 1 Kin. 8:12-66. 2 Chr. 6 ch.

Sacred fire sent down from heaven at its dedication. 2 Chr. 7:3³And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. (2 Chronicles 7:3).

Was but a temple built with hands. Acts 7:47, 48⁴⁷But Solomon built him an house. ⁴⁸Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, (Acts 7:47‑48).

Complete destruction of, predicted. Jer. 26:18¹⁸Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest. (Jeremiah 26:18), with Mic. 3:12¹²Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest. (Micah 3:12).

HISTORICAL NOTICES OF;

Pillaged by Shishak king of Egypt. 1 Kin. 14:25, 26. 2 Chr. 12:9⁹So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house; he took all: he carried away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made. (2 Chronicles 12:9).

Repaired by Jehoash at the instigation of Jehoiada. 2 Kin. 12:4 -14. 2 Chr. 24:4-13⁴And it came to pass after this, that Joash was minded to repair the house of the Lord. ⁵And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that ye hasten the matter. Howbeit the Levites hastened it not. ⁶And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses the servant of the Lord, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness? ⁷For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of the Lord did they bestow upon Baalim. ⁸And at the king's commandment they made a chest, and set it without at the gate of the house of the Lord. ⁹And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to the Lord the collection that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness. ¹⁰And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end. ¹¹Now it came to pass, that at what time the chest was brought unto the king's office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king's scribe and the high priest's officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to his place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance. ¹²And the king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of the service of the house of the Lord, and hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the Lord, and also such as wrought iron and brass to mend the house of the Lord. ¹³So the workmen wrought, and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it. (2 Chronicles 24:4‑13).

Treasures of given by Jehoash to propitiate the Syrians. 2 Kin. 12:17, 18.

Defiled and its treasures given by Ahaz to the king of Assyria. 2 Kin. 16:14, 18. 2 Chr. 28:20, 21²⁰And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not. ²¹For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the Lord, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not. (2 Chronicles 28:20‑21).

Purified and divine worship restored under Hezekiah. 2 Chr. 29:3-35³He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the Lord, and repaired them. ⁴And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street, ⁵And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place. ⁶For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord, and turned their backs. ⁷Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel. ⁸Wherefore the wrath of the Lord was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes. ⁹For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. ¹⁰Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us. ¹¹My sons, be not now negligent: for the Lord hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should minister unto him, and burn incense. ¹²Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites: and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehalelel: and of the Gershonites; Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah: ¹³And of the sons of Elizaphan; Shimri, and Jeiel: and of the sons of Asaph; Zechariah, and Mattaniah: ¹⁴And of the sons of Heman; Jehiel, and Shimei: and of the sons of Jeduthun; Shemaiah, and Uzziel. ¹⁵And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and came, according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord. ¹⁶And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the Lord into the court of the house of the Lord. And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad into the brook Kidron. ¹⁷Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month came they to the porch of the Lord: so they sanctified the house of the Lord in eight days; and in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end. ¹⁸Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all the house of the Lord, and the altar of burnt offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the showbread table, with all the vessels thereof. ¹⁹Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression, have we prepared and sanctified, and, behold, they are before the altar of the Lord. ²⁰Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the Lord. ²¹And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the Lord. ²²So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar. ²³And they brought forth the he goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation; and they laid their hands upon them: ²⁴And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel. ²⁵And he set the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the Lord by his prophets. ²⁶And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. ²⁷And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the Lord began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel. ²⁸And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished. ²⁹And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped. ³⁰Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the Lord with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped. ³¹Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the Lord, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the Lord. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings. ³²And the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten bullocks, an hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt offering to the Lord. ³³And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep. ³⁴But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests. ³⁵And also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings, and the drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the house of the Lord was set in order. (2 Chronicles 29:3‑35).

Its treasures, &c. given by Hezekiah to the Assyrians, to procure a treaty. 2 Kin. 18:13-16.

Polluted by the idolatrous worship of Manasseh. 2 Kin. 21:4-7. 2 Chr. 33:4, 5-7⁴Also he built altars in the house of the Lord, whereof the Lord had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever. (2 Chronicles 33:4)
⁵And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. ⁶And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. ⁷And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever: (2 Chronicles 33:5‑7).

Repaired by Josiah in the eighteenth year of his reign. 2 Kin. 22:3-7. 2 Chr. 34:8-13⁸Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land, and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the Lord his God. ⁹And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the doors had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin; and they returned to Jerusalem. ¹⁰And they put it in the hand of the workmen that had the oversight of the house of the Lord, and they gave it to the workmen that wrought in the house of the Lord, to repair and amend the house: ¹¹Even to the artificers and builders gave they it, to buy hewn stone, and timber for couplings, and to floor the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed. ¹²And the men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward; and other of the Levites, all that could skill of instruments of music. ¹³Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of all that wrought the work in any manner of service: and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters. (2 Chronicles 34:8‑13).

Purified by Josiah. 2 Kin. 23:47. 11, 12.

Pillaged and burned by the Babylonians. 2 Kings 25:9, 13-17⁹And he burnt the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man's house burnt he with fire. (2 Kings 25:9)
¹³And the pillars of brass that were in the house of the Lord, and the bases, and the brazen sea that was in the house of the Lord, did the Chaldees break in pieces, and carried the brass of them to Babylon. ¹⁴And the pots, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass wherewith they ministered, took they away. ¹⁵And the firepans, and the bowls, and such things as were of gold, in gold, and of silver, in silver, the captain of the guard took away. ¹⁶The two pillars, one sea, and the bases which Solomon had made for the house of the Lord; the brass of all these vessels was without weight. ¹⁷The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and the chapiter upon it was brass: and the height of the chapiter three cubits; and the wreathen work, and pomegranates upon the chapiter round about, all of brass: and like unto these had the second pillar with wreathen work. (2 Kings 25:13‑17). 2 Chr. 36:18, 19¹⁸And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon. ¹⁹And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof. (2 Chronicles 36:18‑19).

ILLUSTRATIVE OF

Christ. John 2:19, 21¹⁹Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. (John 2:19)
²¹But he spake of the temple of his body. (John 2:21).

The spiritual church. 1 Cor. 3:16¹⁶Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16). 2 Cor. 6:16¹⁶And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (2 Corinthians 6:16). Eph. 2:20-22²⁰And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; ²¹In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: ²²In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:20‑22).

The bodies of saints. 1 Cor. 6:19¹⁹What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19).

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The New Topical Textbook

• Strangers in Israel.

• Temple, the First.

• Temple, the Second.

• Theocracy, the, or Immediate Government by God.

• Threshing.

• Time.

• Tithe.