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d upon her： and happy is every one that retaineth her。〃 Proverbs 3：13…18。
〃Wisdom is the principal thing； therefore get wisdom： and with all thy getting get understanding。〃 Proverbs 4：7。 〃The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom。〃 Psalm 111：10。 〃The fear of the Lord is to hate evil： pride； and arrogancy； and the evil way； and the froward mouth； do I hate。〃 Proverbs 8：13。
O that in later years Solomon had heeded these wonderful words of wisdom！ O that he who had declared； 〃The lips of the wise disperse knowledge〃 （Proverbs 15：17）； and who had himself taught the kings of the earth to render to the King of kings the praise they desired to give to an earthly ruler； had never with a 〃froward mouth；〃 in 〃pride and arrogancy；〃 taken to himself the glory due to God alone！
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Chapter 2
The Temple and Its Dedication
The long…cherished plan of David to erect a temple to the Lord； Solomon wisely carried out。 For seven years Jerusalem was filled with busy workers engaged in leveling the chosen site； in building vast retaining walls； in laying broad foundations；〃great stones； costly stones； and hewed stones；〃in shaping the heavy timbers brought from the Lebanon forests； and in erecting the magnificent sanctuary。 1 Kings 5：17。
Simultaneously with the preparation of wood and stone； to which task many thousands were bending their energies； the manufacture of the furnishings for the temple was steadily progressing under the leadership of Hiram of Tyre； 〃a cunning man； endued with understanding； 。 。 。 skillful 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。〃 2 Chronicles 2：13； 14。
Thus as the building on Mount Moriah was noiselessly
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upreared with 〃stone made ready before it was brought thither： so that there was neither hammer nor ax nor any tool of iron heard in the house； while it was in building；〃 the beautiful fittings were perfected according to the patterns committed by David to his son； 〃all the vessels that were for the house of God。〃 1 King 6：7；2 Chronicles 4：19。 These included the altar of incense； the table of shewbread； the candlestick and lamps； with the vessels and instruments connected with the ministrations of the priests in the holy place； all 〃of gold； and that perfect gold。〃 2 Chronicles 4：21。 The brazen furniture；the altar of burnt offering； the great laver supported by twelve oxen； the lavers of smaller size； with many other vessels；〃in the plain of Jordan did the king cast them； in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredathah。〃 2 Chronicles 4：17。 These furnishings were provided in abundance； that there should be no lack。
Of surpassing beauty and unrivaled splendor was the palatial building which Solomon and his associates erected for God and His worship。 Garnished with precious stones； surrounded by spacious courts with magnificent approaches； and lined with carved cedar and burnished gold； the temple structure； with its broidered hangings and rich furnishings； was a fit emblem of the living church of God on earth； which through the ages has been building in accordance with the divine pattern； with materials that have been likened to 〃gold； silver； precious stones；〃 〃polished after the similitude of a palace。〃 1 Corinthians 3：12； Psalm 144：12。 Of this spiritual temple Christ is 〃the chief Cornerstone； in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord。〃 Ephesians 2：20； 21。
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At last the temple planned by King David； and built by Solomon his son； was completed。 〃All that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the Lord；〃 he had 〃prosperously effected。〃 2 Chronicles 7：11。 And now； in order that the palace crowning the heights of Mount Moriah might indeed be； as David had so much desired； a dwelling place 〃not for man； but for the Lord God〃 （1 Chronicles 29：1）； there remained the solemn ceremony of formally dedicating it to Jehovah and His worship。
The spot on which the temple was built had long been regarded as a consecrated place。 It was here that Abraham； the father of the faithful； had revealed his willingness to sacrifice his only son in obedience to the command of Jehovah。 Here God had renewed with Abraham the covenant of blessing； which included the glorious Messianic promise to the human race of deliverance through the sacrifice of the Son of the Most High。 See Genesis 22：9； 16：18。 Here it was that when David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings to stay the avenging sword of the destroying angel； God had answered him by fire from heaven。 See 1 Chronicles 21。 And now once more the worshipers of Jehovah were here to meet their God and renew their vows of allegiance to Him。
The time chosen for the dedication was a most favorable onethe seventh month； when the people from every part of the kingdom were accustomed to assemble at Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles。 This feast was preeminently an occasion of rejoicing。 The labors of the harvest being ended and the toils of the new year not yet begun； the people were free from care and could give themselves up to the sacred； joyous influences of the hour。
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At the appointed time the hosts of Israel； with richly clad representatives from many foreign nations； assembled in the temple courts。 The scene was one of unusual splendor。 Solomon； with the elders of Israel and the most influential men among the people； had returned from another part of the city； whence they had brought the ark of the testament。 From the sanctuary on the heights of Gibeon had been transferred the ancient 〃tabernacle of the congregation； and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle〃 （2 Chronicles 5：5）； and these cherished reminders of the earlier experiences of the children of Israel during their wanderings in the wilderness and their conquest of Canaan； now found a permanent home in the splendid building that had been erected to take the place of the portable structure。
In bringing to the temple the sacred ark containing the two tables of stone on which were written by the finger of God the precepts of the Decalogue； Solomon had followed the example of his father David。 Every six paces he sacrificed。 With singing and with music and with great ceremony； 〃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。〃 Verse 7。 As they came out of the inner sanctuary； they took the positions assigned them。 The singers Levites arrayed in white linen； having cymbals and psalteries and harpsstood at the east end of the altar； and with them a hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets。 See verse 12。
〃It came even to pass； as the trumpeters and singers were as one； to make one sound to be heard in praising and
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thanking the Lord； and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music； and praised the