had its refpeétive degree of holiness, which increased in proportion, as they lay nearer the holy of holies.

Of the mount
of the temple.

I. Let us then begin our furvey of the temple, with confidering all that outward enclosure, which went by the name of the mount of the temple, or of the house (y). This was a fquare of 500 cubits every way (z), which contained feveral buildings, appointed for different ufes. All round it there were piazzas or cloisters, fupported by marble pillars. The piazza on the fouth fide had four rows of pillars, and all the rest but three. Solomon's porch, or rather piazza, was on the eastern fide. Here it was, that our Saviour was walking at the feast of the dedication (a), that the lame man, when healed, glorified God, before all the people (b), and that the apostles where used to affemble together (c). On the top of this portico is alfo placed the pinnacle, from whence the devil tempted our Saviour to caft himfelf down (d): because, according to Jofephus, there was at the bottom of this portico a valiey fo prodigiously deep, that the looking down made any one giddy (e). In the four corners of these piazzas food a kind of watch towers, for the ufe of the Levites, with feveral other apartments, and particularly a Synagogue, where our Saviour is commonly supposed to have been found fitting in the midst of the doctors. (See Luke ii. 46.) In this place likewife the Sanhedrim, or great council, met in our Saviour's time, after they had forfaken the chamber Gazith, which was in one corner of the court of the Priests; as did alfo the Council of twenty-three, whofe bufinefs it was to take cognizance of fome capital crimes, but not of all. Here moreover were the animals for the facrifices fold, and fuch as happened to be any way tainted or blemished were burned: It was in all probability from this part of the temple that Jefus Chrift drove out thofe that bought and fold doves (f). The Levites had apartments here, where they eat and flept when they were not upon duty. This outer enclosure of the temple had five gates, where the Levites conftantly kept guard: The most remarkable gate, that on the eaft, was called the gate Shusban, or the King's gate (g); which is thought to have been the fame with the Beautiful gate of the temple mentioned in the Acts (h). Some writers take this place to be the court of the Gentiles, and the fame as is fpoken of in the Revelations (i), though Jewish authors never mention more than the three courts, of the Women, of the Ifraelites, and of the Priefts. The fame authors tell us, it was unlawful for any one to come in here with a flick or a purse in his hand; with fhoes on, or dufly feet; to cross it in order to fhorten the way, or to fling down any naftiness in it. Which circumftances may give fome a light to Matth. x. 9, 10. where Jefus Chrift orders his difciples to walk fr

(y) 1 Maccab. xiii. 53. Ezra x. 9.

(x) i. e. 750 foot on every fide. See Dr. Prideaux Conn. ubi fupra.

(a) Joh. x. 23.

(d) Matth. iv. 5.

(ƒ) Matth. xxi. 12.

(c) Acts v. 2.

(b) Acts iii. 11.

(e) Jofeph. Antiq. 1. xv. c. 14.

(g) 1 Chron. ix. 18.

in

(b) Acts iii. 2. N. B. Some place the Beautiful gate at the entrance of the

court of women.

(i) Revelat. xi. 2.

VOL. III.

in the difcharge of their minifry, with the fame circumfpection and care, as men were wont to take, when they defigned to walk in the temple: This may alfo ferve to illuftrate Mark xi. 16. where Chrift would not fuffer any man to carry any vefjel through the temple.

The Soreg, or
Baluftrade

II. Between this outward fpace, or the mount of the tem ple and the courts, there was another fpace, called the AvantMure, through which the way led to the feveral courts of the temple. This fpace was feparated from the mount of the temple by ftone balufires three cubits high, at the diftance of ten cubits from the walls of the other courts. This is what Jofephus cails the fecond temple, that is, the second part of the temple; and he tells us, that there were in it feveral pillars at certain diftances having infcriptions on them, some whereof contained exhortations to purity and holiness, and others were prohibitions to the Gentiles, and all fuch as were unclean, not to advance beyond it, as having fome degrees of holinefs above the mount of the temple (k). As people were forced to pafs through this place to go into the court of the women, wherein was the apartment for the Nazarites; what occafioned the disturbance, of which we have an account in the Acts (), no doubt was the Jews imagining St. Paul had brought Greeks into the temple (beyond the before mentioned baluftres) and thereby polluted that holy place. The wall of this fpace was not fo high as thofe of the temple, and there were feveral openings in it, through which one could fee what was doing in the adjoining courts.

The court of.

III. The court of the women was the first as you went into the temple. It was called the outer court, because the women. it was the furtheft from the temple ftrictly fo called; it was named the court of the women, not becaufe none but women were fuffered to go into it, but because they were allowed to go no farther. It was 135 cubits fquare. On the four corners of it were four rooms appointed for four different ufes. In the first, the lepers purified themfelves after they were healed; in the fecond, the wood for the facrifices was laid, after it had been wormed; the Nazarites prepared their oblations, and shaved their heads in the third; and in the fourth the wine and oil for the facrifices were kept. There were alfo two rooms more, where the mufical inftruments belonging to the Levites were laid up. It is commonly fuppofed, that it was in this court the king read pub lickly the law every feventh year. In this place were the 13 treasury chefts, two of which were for the half bekel, which every Ifraelite paid yearly; and the rest held the money appointed for the facrifices and other oblations. And in this court likewife, as fome authors imagine, was the treasury, over against which Chrift fat and beheld how the people caft money into it (m); becaufe none were permitted to fit down in the great court (i. e. of the Ifraelites) except the kings of the family of David, and the Prizfts; and thefe laft too never did it, but when they were cating fuch remnants of the facrifices as were ordered to be eat in

(k) Jofeph. de Bell. Jud. 1. vi. c. 6. (/) Acts xxi, 26-28.

(m) Mark xii. 41.

the

Of the court of

the Ifraelites.

the temple. Round this court there was a Balcony, from whence the women could fee whatever was done in the great court. IV. From the court of the women they ascended into the great court by fifteen fteps. This was divided in two parts, one whereof was the court of the Ifraelites, and the other of the Priests. The latter was one cubit higher than the other; near the entrance of which there was a gallery, wherein the Levites fung and played on inftruments. This court had 13 gates, each of which had its particular name and ufe. There were feveral rooms and chambers in it, where things neceffary for the fervice of God were got ready; and, among others, the houfe of the hearth, where a continual fire was kept for the use of the Priefis, because they went always bare-foot on the cold marble pavement.

The altar of burnt offerings.

But what chiefly deferves our notice in this court is the altar of the Lord for burnt-offerings, other wife called the outer altar; whereon the daily offerings of the morning and evening fervice were made. This altar, which, according to the Talmudifts, was 32, but according to Jofephus 50 cubits square, and 10 in height, was built of rough and unhewn ftones (7). The afcent up to it was by a gentle rifing, without fteps. On this floping afcent there was always a heap of falt, wherewith they falted whatever was laid upon the altar (0), except wine, blood, and wood. On this altar were kept several fires for different ules. And on the four corners

of it were four horns, not fashioned like thofe of bulls, but ftrait, of a cubit in height and thickness, and hollow within (*). Near this' altar stood feveral marble tables, whereon they laid the flesh of the facrifices, and other things; and pillars, to which they faftened the animals, when they were going to kill or flea them. All this was in the open air. Between the altar and the porch, leading into the holy place, there ftood a large bafin, for the Priefis to wash in (p), which fupplied the want of the brafen fea, that was in the first temple (g).

Of the temple properly fo called."

V. From the court of the Priests, they went up into the temple properly fo called, by twelve fteps. This building was an hundred cubits every way, excepting the front, which was fix fcore (7). It may properly be divided into three parts, viz. 1. The porch; 2. The fanctuary, or holy place; 3. And the Holy of Holies, or most holy.

The porch was about 15 or 20 cubits long, and as many The porch of broad; it had a very large portal, which inftead of folding doors, had only a rich vail (†). In this first part of the temple were hung up feveral valuable ornaments, which were prefents

(2) Exod. xx. 25.

(0) Mark. ix. 49.

the temple..

from

(*)" Herein was to be put fome of the blood of the facrifices." Dr. Prideaux, Connect. Part I. Book III. ad ann. 535.

(p) 2 Chron. iv. 6.

(q) Ibid. 2

-5.

(r) It was 150 foot in length, and 105 in breadth, from out to out, faith

Dr. Prideaux, ibid. ad an. 534.

(†) Some place here a gate plated with gold. See Lamy, p. 92.

from kings and princes, and which were carried away by Antiochus Epiphanes (s). Jofephus and the Rabbins speak of a golden vine in this place, which crept up the pillars of cedar: this vine was the product of the prefents made by private perfons when they dedicated their firk fruits of their grapes. Here ftood alío a golden table; and a lamp of the fame metal was fixed over the gate which led into the fanctuary: These were given by Helena, queen of Adiabena, when the embraced the Jewish religion. There were two other tables in this porch; a marble one, whereon were fet the loaves of fhew-bread, before they were carried into the holy place; and a golden one, on which they were placed, when they were brought back from thence.

The fanctuary, or holy place, called by the Jews the The holy place. outer houfe, (it being fuch in refpect of the Holy of Holies) was between the porch, and the most holy place; being twenty cubits broad, and forty in length and height. It had two gates, one whereof was called the leffer; through which they went in order to open the great gate, which had four folding doors. The fanctuary was divided from the Holy of Holies neither by a wall nor gate, but only by a double vail (t). This is fuppofed to have been the vail which was rent in twain at our Saviour's death (u), because it was to be of no further ufe. Allufion feems to be made to this in the Revelations, where it is faid, that the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the temple of the tabernacle of the teftimony was opened (x).

The altar of ¡ncenfe.

What we are chiefly to confider in the Sanctuary are the golden candlestick; the table, whereon were put the cakes or loaves of fhew-bread; and (between it and the candlestick) the altar of incenje, fo named from the incenfe that burnt on it every day, which by St. John is ftiled the prayers of the faints (y). This altar was alfo called the inner altar, in oppofition to the altar of burnt-offerings, already described; and the altar of gold, because it was overlaid with pure gold (z). It was not placed in the holy of holies, as fome have been induced to believe from a wrong interpretation of fome paffages of fcripture (a), but in the fanctuary near the vail, which parted it from the Holy of Holies, and over against the ark of the covenant (b). This is the altar fo often mentioned in the Revelations. It was one cubit in length and breadth, and two in height. On the four corners it had four horns like the outer altar. On thefe horns was the atonement made, once every year, with the blood of the fin offering (c): Round it there was a very thick border, on which they fet the coals for burning the incenfe, which was prepared in the court of the priests (d).

(s) 2 Maccab. iii. 2. v. 16.

It was divided by a wall and a vail, faith Lamy, Appar. p. 92.

(u) Matth. xxvii. 51.

(y) Revel. v. 8.

(x) Revel. xi. 19. and xv. 5.

(x) Exod. xxx• 3.

(a) See 1 Kings vi. 22. and Heb. ix. 4.
(b) Exod. xxx. 6. and xl. 5.

(c) Exod. xxx. 10.

(d) Over-the water-gate in the room Ablitimes.

There

The table for fhew-bread.

There is no mention in Exodus of any more than one table for the use of the tabernacle (e); but we learn from the fecond book of Chronicles (f), that Solomon made ten tables (of gold, as is fuppofed,) and placed them in the temple, (which he had built) five on the right fide, and five on the left. The table of fhewbread having been carried to Babylon, and loft there, they were forced to make a new one for the fund temple. This laft Titus refcued from the flames, (at the taking of Jerufalem) and had it carried to Rome with the candleflick, and fome other rich spoils, to grace and adorn the triumph of his farther Vefpafian. It was made of wood, and overlaid with gold; and was two cubits long, one broad, and a cubit and a half high. It was placed by the altar at fome distance, and against the north wall of the fanctuary. Upon this table were put the twelve loaves of bew bread called in Hebrew the bread of faces (g), because the table being almoft over against the ark of the covenant, they might be faid to be fet before the face of God (h). These twelve loaves reprefented the twelve tribes of Ifrael, and were offered to God in their name, for a token of an everlasting covenant. They were oblong, fhaped like a brick; ten palms long, and five broad, and might weigh about eight pounds each. They were unleavened, and made of fine flour. After the Levites had made and baked them, they brought them to the priests, who set them upon the table in two rows, fix on a row, on the fabbath day. Frankincense was put upon each row; and to keep them from moulding, they were feparated from one another by a kind of reeds. The following fabbath the priest took them away, and put immediately others in their room; fo that the table was never without them. The old loaves belonged to the priests that were upon duty, who accordingly parted them among themselves. As this fort of bread was holy, it was not lawful for any but the priests to eat of it, except in a cafe of neceffity (i). Be. fides the loaves, there were fome veffels and utenfils upon the table; but the learned are not agreed about the fhape or use of them. It appears from the IId book of Chronicles that there were ten canulesticks in Solomon's temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left (k). But there was only one in the tabernacle, and the fecond temple, which ftood near the fouth wall of the fanctuary, over against the table. It was all made of pure gold, of beaten work (); and had feven branches, three on each fide, and one in the middle bigger than the rest. Each branch had three bowls made after the fafbion of almonds, three knobs, and three flowers, but the middlemoft had four. At the end of each of thefe branches there was a lamp; but whether fastened to the candlestick or not, is not well known, it is moft probable they were not. The Scripture tells us, that these lamps were to burn continually (m), which undoubtedly ought to be reftrained to the night-time, at least in refpect of the candlestick, that

(1) Exod. xxxvii. 17. &c.

(ƒ) iv. 8.

Of the golden candlestick.

(b) Exod. xl. 23. 25,

(k) 2 Chron. iv. 7.

(m) Exod. xxvii. 20.

was