1 Kings 6 and 7
You remember about the large Tent made at Mt. Sinai, which the people of Israel carried about with them, and where they offered their gifts and sacrifices to God. Some tents would not last long, but this had coverings of skins and was all very strong and lasted ever so many years. Perhaps it was sometimes repaired, but God kept it from being destroyed.
At last, instead of the Tent, a fine house of stone and wood, called the Temple, was built on one of the high hills at Jerusalem. The material had all been made ready first,—great stones from the mountains nearby, strong cedars and other woods from the forests; iron and ever so much brass (or copper), gold and silver, and also precious stones.
We cannot tell you just how the Temple looked, but if you read one of the chapters about it, you will know it must have been very beautiful. There was a porch across the front with two big brass pillars, each about 35 ft. high and about 18 ft. around; there was a large court where the people could gather, with rooms around; there were two special rooms for the gold furniture, as in the Tent of God, only made twice as large; winding stairs covered with gold led to rooms above. The wood of the walls and the doors was carved and covered with gold, decorated with gold leaves, fruit, and other designs; even the floors were covered with gold!
The length of the Temple was 60 cubits, the width, 20 cubits and it was 30 cubits high. (A cubit is about 1 1/2 ft.) The windows are said to have been small, perhaps for air, more than for light, as the light was to be within.
Perhaps what makes us wonder most about this great house is to read that while it was being built there was no sound of a hammer or ax to be heard! Did you ever watch men working on a new building, and not hear a sound of tools? Instead, there is often so much noise, the workmen cannot hear one another. But this building was all done by a plan given by God and written down, and He had given the skill to the workers, so they cut and smoothed the great stones and the wood to the right measures, before they were brought to the place, although men cannot now tell how it could be clone. (Read 1 Chronicles 28:1919All this, said David, the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern. (1 Chronicles 28:19); 1 Kings 6:77And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building. (1 Kings 6:7), and 7:14).
All this grand temple was meant to teach the people of the Lord’s holiness, power and goodness, and stood there very many years. But at last, because the kings and the people worshiped idols, God let an enemy come to spoil His House. But, even yet, there are huge stones on that hill, as large as 14 ft. long, which are supposed to have been a part of this temple, and men who see them wonder how they were set in place.
From what forest was the wood of the Temple cut? (1 Kings 5:6-106Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint: for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians. 7And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be the Lord this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people. 8And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir. 9My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household. 10So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire. (1 Kings 5:6‑10)).
ML 01/08/1939