按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
erected over it； equal to it in its measures； so that the entire
altitude of the temple was a hundred and twenty cubits。 Its front
was to the east。 As to the porch； they built it before the
temple； its length was twenty cubits； and it was so ordered that
it might agree with the breadth of the house； and it had twelve
cubits in latitude； and its height was raised as high as a
hundred and twenty cubits。 He also built round about the temple
thirty small rooms； which might include the whole temple； by
their closeness one to another； and by their number and outward
position round it。 He also made passages through them； that they
might come into on through another。 Every one of these rooms had
five cubits in breadth； （7） and the same in length； but in height
twenty。 Above these there were other rooms； and others above
them； equal； both in their measures and number； so that these
reached to a height equal to the lower part of the house； for the
upper part had no buildings about it。 The roof that was over the
house was of cedar； and truly every one of these rooms had a roof
of their own； that was not connected with the other rooms； but
for the other parts； there was a covered roof common to them all；
and built with very long beams； that passed through the rest； and
rough the whole building； that so the middle walls； being
strengthened by the same beams of timber； might be thereby made
firmer： but as for that part of the roof that was under the
beams； it was made of the same materials； and was all made
smooth； and had ornaments proper for roofs； and plates of gold
nailed upon them。 And as he enclosed the walls with boards of
cedar； so he fixed on them plates of gold； which had sculptures
upon them； so that the whole temple shined； and dazzled the eyes
of such as entered； by the splendor of the gold that was on every
side of them； Now the whole structure of the temple was made with
great skill of polished stones； and those laid together so very
harmoniously and smoothly； that there appeared to the spectators
no sign of any hammer； or other instrument of architecture； but
as if； without any use of them； the entire materials had
naturally united themselves together； that the agreement of one
part with another seemed rather to have been natural； than to
have arisen from the force of tools upon them。 The king also had
a fine contrivance for an ascent to the upper room over the
temple； and that was by steps in the thickness of its wall； for
it had no large door on the east end； as the lower house had； but
the entrances were by the sides； through very small doors。 He
also overlaid the temple； both within and without； with boards of
cedar； that were kept close together by thick chains； so that
this contrivance was in the nature of a support and a strength to
the building。
3。 Now when the king had divided the temple into two parts； he
made the inner house of twenty cubits ＇every way＇； to be the most
secret chamber； but he appointed that of forty cubits to be the
sanctuary； and when he had cut a door…place out of the wall； he
put therein doors of Cedar； and overlaid them with a great deal
of gold； that had sculptures upon it。 He also had veils of blue；
and purple； and scarlet； and the brightest and softest linen；
with the most curious flowers wrought upon them； which were to be
drawn before those doors。 He also dedicated for the most secret
place； whose breadth was twenty cubits； and length the same； two
cherubims of solid gold； the height of each of them was five
cubits （8） they had each of them two wings stretched out as far
as five cubits； wherefore Solomon set them up not far from each
other； that with one wing they might touch the southern wall of
the secret place； and with another the northern： their other
wings； which joined to each other； were a covering to the ark；
which was set between them； but nobody can tell； or even
conjecture； what was the shape of these cherubims。 He also laid
the floor of the temple with plates of gold； and he added doors
to the gate of the temple； agreeable to the measure of the height
of the wall； but in breadth twenty cubits； and on them he glued
gold plates。 And； to say all in one word； he left no part of the
temple； neither internal nor external； but what was covered with
gold。 He also had curtains drawn over these doors in like manner
as they were drawn over the inner doors of the most holy place；
but the porch of the temple had nothing of that sort。
4。 Now Solomon sent for an artificer out of Tyre； whose name was
Hiram； he was by birth of the tribe of Naphtali； on the mother's
side； （for she was of that tribe；） but his father was Ur； of the
stock of the Israelites。 This man was skillful in all sorts of
work； but his chief skill lay in working in gold； and silver； and
brass； by whom were made all the mechanical works about the
temple； according to the will of Solomon。 Moreover； this Hiram
made two ＇hollow＇ pillars； whose outsides were of brass； and the
thickness of the brass was four fingers' breadth； and the height
of the pillars was eighteen cubits and their circumference twelve
cubits； but there was cast with each of their chapiters lily…work
that stood upon the pillar； and it was elevated five cubits；
round about which there was net…work interwoven with small palms；
made of brass； and covered the lily…work。 To this also were hung
two hundred pomegranates； in two rows。 The one of these pillars
he set at the entrance of the porch on the right hand； and called
it Jachin （9） and the other at the left hand； and called it Booz。
5。 Solomon also cast a brazen sea； whose figure was that of a
hemisphere。 This brazen vessel was called a sea for its
largeness； for the laver was ten feet in diameter； and cast of
the thickness of a palm。 Its middle part rested on a short pillar
that had ten spirals round it； and that pillar was ten cubits in
diameter。 There stood round about it twelve oxen； that looked to
the four winds of heaven； three to each wind； having their hinder
parts depressed； that so the hemispherical vessel might rest upon
them； which itself was also depressed round about inwardly。 Now
this sea contained three thousand baths。
6。 He also made ten brazen bases for so many quadrangular lavers；
the length of every one of these bases was five cubits； and the
breadth four cubits； and the height six cubits。 This vessel was
partly turned； and was thus contrived： There were four small
quadrangular pillars that stood one at each corner； these had the
sides of the base fitted to them on each quarter； they were
parted into three parts； every interval had a border fitted to
support ＇the laver＇； upon which was engraven； in one place a
lion； and in another place a bull； and an eagle。 The small
pillars had the same animals engraven that were engraven on the
sides。 The whole work was elevated； and stood upon four wheels；
which were also cast； which had also naves and felloes； and were
a foot and a half in diameter。 Any one who saw the spokes of the
wheels； how exactly they were turned； and united to the sides of
the bases； and with what harmony they agreed to the felloes；
would wonder at them。 However； th