1. HISTORY.

There were three successive temples, all standing on Mt. Moriah in Jerusalem. The first temple was built by Solomon and dedicated in 1006 B. C. This temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 587 B. C. The second temple, known as Zerubabel's temple, was begun after the return from the captivity, 536 B. C. and completed in 516. The rebuilding of the third temple was begun under the direction of Herod, 20 B. C., but was not completed until 65 A. D. This was the same temple, but much improved and enlarged. It was standing in the time of Christ and is frequently referred to by him. The Romans destroyed it in 70 A. D., when Titus took the city of Jerusalem. Herod's temple is the one we are most familiar with and hence we describe it.

2. APARTMENTS.

(1) The Court of the Gentiles. — This was the only place the Gentiles were permitted to enter. It was an open space paved with marble and surrounded by a wall. The shape was quadrangular, about 1,000 feet on each side. On the east was a covered corridor known as Solomon's porch; on the south another called Herod's porch. It was entered by six gates, three on the west, leading to the city, one on the north, one on the east, and one on the south. In this court was a market where animals for sacrifice were sold Here also the money changers kept their tables.

(2) The Sacred Enclosure. — The Jews called it the Chel. was a raised platform 8 feet higher than the court of the Gentiles which surrounded it. It was 630 feet from east to west and 300 from north to south and contained the sacred buildings. The outer wall was called Soreg and was 4½ feet high. It was a lattice wrought in stone and contained inscriptions in various languages, warning Gentiles not to enter on penalty of death. It was entered by nine gates four on the north, four on the south and one on the east. Inside the outer wall was a terrace 24 feet wide, and above the terrrace an inner wall from 40 to 60 feet high.

(3) The Court of the Women. — This is sometimes called the treasury and occupied a square of 240 feet, at the east end of the sacred enclosure. It was 3 feet higher than the sacred enclosure and was entered by four gates, one on each side. The one on the east was called “ The Beautiful Gate. " In each corner of this court was a room 60 feet square which had no covering. The one on the northeast corner was used to store away wood for the altar; the one in the southeast for the ceremonies of the Nazarite vow; the one in the southwest for the storage of oil and the one in the northwest for the cleansing of the leper. Between these rooms were galleries from which the women could see the sacrifices.

(4) The Court of Israel. — This was 320 feet from east to west and 240 feet from north to south. It had a corridor 16 feet wide on the north and south and 24 on the east and west, surrounding the court of the priests at the west end of the sacred enclosure. It was ten feet higher than the Court of the Women and was separated from the Court of the Priests by a low balustrade so that the men could view the sacrifices. There were three entrances on the north, three on the south and one on the east. In the southeast corner was the place where the Sanhedrim met.

(5) The Court of the Priests. — This was raised 3 feet above the Court of Israel. It was 275 feet long by 200 feet wide. Within this court stood the altar, laver and temple building.

(6) The Temple. — The House of God occupied the west end of the Court of the Priests. It was raised 8 feet above the surrounding court. It was 90 feet long and 30 feet high and wide. The Temple was constructed of cedar wood, stone and gold. David collected much of the material for Solomon's Temple. Some of the material was brought from Phenicia. The stones were hewn and the timber prepared so that when they were brought to Jerusalem it was put together without the sound of the hammer or saw. 1 Kings 6:7

(a) The Porch or Vestibule.¹ — This extended across the front and was 120 feet high. It was built of marble and richly ornamented.

(b) The Chambers. These surrounded the building, but were not attached to the wall. They were three stories high and were entered by winding stairways on the north and south. They furnished rooms for the priests during their time of service at the Temple each year.

(c) The Holy Place. This was 60 feet long and 30 feet wide and high, or twice the dimensions of the Tabernacle. It contained the table of shewbread, the candlestick and the altar of incense or golden altar.

(d) The Most Holy Place. — This was a cube of 30 feet, separated from the Holy Place by a double veil. Solomon's Temple contained the Ark of the Covenant, but the ark was lost during the captivity and could not be put in the second and third temples, but was replaced by a marble block upon which the high priest sprinkled the blood on the Day of Atonement.

3. THE OBJECT.

The Tabernacle was a movable dwelling place for God to occupy with his people. But the Temple was a permanent Palace for Jehovah; it was the center of Jewish worship through out the world. When the Jews offered prayers they opened the windows of their homes towards the Temple. They did this when the Temple was in ruins and they worshiped in synagogues.

QUESTIONS.

• How many temples were there? Where were they built?
• Who built the first one? When?
• When and by whom was it destroyed?
• Who built the second temple? When?
• What was the third temple?
• When and by whom was it destroyed?
• What were the apartments of the Temple?
• What was the Court of the Gentiles?
• What porches on the east and south of it? How many gates?
• Describe the Sacred Inclosure?
• By what other name was it called? What was the Soreg?
• What was the Court of the Women?
• Where was "The Beautiful Gate"?
• What rooms were in the corners? Describe the Court of Israel?
• What council met in this apartment?
• Describe the Court of the Priests. What stood within this Court?
• Of what was the Temple constructed?
• What were its apartments? Describe the porch?
• What were the chambers? Describe the Holy Place?
• What did it contain?
• What was the object of the Temple?
• How did the Jews reverence it?

1) There is some question as to the height of the porch, and some think there is an error in the text, and it should read 20 feet high.