Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.

In mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared unto David his father, in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

David had given to Solomon his son the pattern of all that he had received by the Spirit, also gold and silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service.

And 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 ax, nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.

And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying, Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judg ments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them: then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father.

And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.

And Solomon built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar, both the floor of the house, and the walls of the ceiling: and he covered them on the inside with wood, and covered the floor of the house with planks of fir.

And the cedar of the house within was carved with knops, and open flowers: all was cedar, there was no stone seen; and he overlaid the house within with pure gold.

And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty, and the gold was gold of Parvaim.

And the oracle he prepared in the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of image work, and overlaid them with gold.

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The wings of these cherubims spread themselves forth twenty cubits: and they stood on their feet, and their faces were inward.

And he made a partition before the oracle with chains of gold.

And he made the vail of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon.

And he made also ten candlesticks of pure gold, and set five on the right hand, and five on the left, with their lamps before the oracle.

And for the entering of the oracle he made doors of olive tree.

And against the wall of the house he built chambers round about, against the walls of the house round about, both of the temple, and of the oracle: and he made chambers round about. And Solomon built a porch before the temple.

And he cast two pillars of brass, and two chapiters of molten brass, to set upon the tops of the pillars; and nets of chequer work, and wreaths of chain work, seven for one chapiter, and seven forthe other, with pomegranates: and the chapiters were of lily work.

And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz.

Moreover he made an altar of brass; also a molten sea, and under it was the similitude of oxen; it stood upon twelve oxen, three looking towards the north, three towards the west, three towards the south, and three towards the east.

He made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand and five on the left to wash in them: such things as they offered for the burnt-offering they washed in them but the sea was for the priests to wash in.

He made also ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right side, and five on the left. And he made an hundred basons of gold, and vessels in great abundance.

Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court overlaid with brass. And he built the inner court round about with three cows of hewed stones, and a row of cedar beams.

And Solomon built the chambers round about, and the treasures of the house of GOD, and of the dedicated things, namely, The meat-offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, the tithes of the corn, the new wine and the oil, and the offerings of the priests.

And Solomon made a brazen scaffold, and set it in the midst of the court.

In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the LORD laid, in the month Zif.

And the eleventh year, in the month Bul, (which is the eighth month) was the house finished, throughout. all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it: so was he seven years in building it.

ANNOTATIONS AND REFLECTIONS..

We have here a description of the magnificent temple which Solomon erected to the name of the LORD in Jerusalem.

The second day of the month Zif, on which it was. begun, answered to our 27th of April. Mount Moriah. where it was situated, was either a part of mount Sion, or a hill of less compass near it. The front of the temple. was turned towards the east.

It is not material to explain the exact dimensions of its several parts; we may judge, from this general account of it, that it was very capacious; but a few particulars. require explanation.

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There was great resemblance between the TABERNAELE, which was made in the days of Moses, and Solomon's TEMPLE; only, as the former was designed to be occa sionally removed, and the latter to be fixed, one was made of more durable materials than the other: their use was the same, to serve as a repository for the ARK of the TESTIMONY, which might be considered as GOD's earthly throne, on which he manifested his DIVINE PRESEnce.

Instead ofthe curtains and boards which composed the different apartments and courts of the Tabernacle, the Temple was built with the most costly stones and timber that could be procured, and ornamented with gold, silver, and jewels, purchased with the natural produce of that land which the LORD had sanctified; and with these commodities were the foreign artificers also paid.

What is called the HOUSE or TEMPLE, answered to the HOLY PLACE or SANCTUARY. in the Tabernacle. The ORACLE built for the reception of the ark was a square room within the temple. The VAIL served to divide the HOLYPLACE from the MOST HOLY, and there was a door besides. The PORCH, which stood before the Temple added grandeur to the building; and it is supposed that there was a wall to separate them, so that the TEMPLE might stand wholly by itself, and also be shut' : up occasionally.

In respect to the number and uses of the CHAMBERS which were built against the wall of the house it is not possible to come to any certainty; but as there was a staircase from the temple, it is supposed that some of the sacred things were deposited there; and also that they served for the accommodation of the priests, to keep the utensils of the TEMPLE, and the sacred vestments; and also for the priests to eat their portion of the sacrifices in. Besides the chambers adjoining to the temple, there were others in the courts for various uses.

The two large pillars, which Solomon erected, are supposed to have been inscribed with the words JACHIN and Boaz, from whence they took their names. JACHIN signified, HE shall establish. BOAZ Strength is in him; intended to remind the king and people of their entire dependance on the LORD.

The PRIESTS' Court was separated from the court of the CONGREGATION by a wall sufficient to keep the people from obstructing the business of the priests, but low enough for them without to see what was doing within.

The BRAZEN SEA and LAVERS were for the washings and purifications, which the law required to be performed; and there was a great number of vessels besides; but it is not material to enlarge on their uses, as our religion does not enjoin us to offer sacrifices. We shall, in the next section, read for what purpose the BRAZEN SCAFFOLD was erected.

As no steps were allowed to go up to the altar, which was placed in the midst of the court, it is supposed that there were easy ASCENTS to it, both for the king and people, the entrances to which were by GATES; of these there were three on three sides of the temple, east, north, and south; and two on the west. At one of the western gates was the KING's ascent, built in a very superb and costly manner; at the other western gate was a way the people in general: at the south gate was the HOUSE of ASSUPPIM, supposed to be the place where the priests and Levites assembled at times, about business relating to the temple.

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Solomon must have had great satisfaction in erecting this noble edifice for such holy purposes; especially as the LORD Vouchsafed to assure him, that, on condition he would be mindful of the covenant made with David, HIS DIVINE PRESENCE should certainly dwell amongst his people, and never forsake them. SECTION