The third area, called the COURT OF THE PRIESTS, immediately surrounded the temple, and was separated from the court of the Israelites by a low enclosure, which enabled the Israelites to see into the court and observe what was being done. This court was elevated above the 2nd court, though not so much as the 2nd area was elevated above that of the Gentiles. The largest gate, called Beautiful (Acts iii. 2), was on the eastern side of the outer wall. It was 150 feet high, and made of Corinthian brass, a metal more highly valued than gold. The ascent to this gate was from the valley of Cedron, over many steps. There were four other gates in the outer wall, one of which connected the temple with Mount Zion, by means of a bridge or viaduct. In the inner wall were six gates, three on the north and three on the south, besides the gate leading to the court of the women. All these gates were 45 feet high, and covered with gold and silver. The Court of the Gentiles was surrounded by arcades, paved with tessellated coloured marble, and supported by Corinthian pillars. These pillars on the southern side were four deep, so as to form a triple piazza, and on the other three sides they were placed in three rows, forming a double promenade. Each column was 72 feet in height, and so large that three men could not span it with extended arms. The roof of the arcades was made of cedar. The middle porch on the southern side was 150 feet high, and was at least 800 feet above the level of the valley which it overlooked It was upon one of the spiral ornaments on this roof that our Lord was placed by Satan, who said: "If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from this pinnacle to the valley beneath, for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee." (Matt. iv. 5.) The arcade on the eastern side was called Solomon's porch. (John x. 23; Acts v. 12.) All these porches were resorted to by moneychangers, and those who sold animals for sacrifice; and it was here that our Lord overthrew the changers' tables and drove out the merchant sellers, saying: It is written, My house is the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves!" (Matt. xxi. 12, 13.) The temple itself in appearance was not unlike a modern church, the porch forming the tower, and the holy of holies the chancel. It was all built of white marble, and was approached by a flight of 12 steps. The PORCH, or tower, was 150 feet high, and as many broad. It was not unlike the tower of a modern church, and conducted at once into the SANCTUARY, which was also built of the same material. The entrance leading from the porch to the sanctuary was ornamented with a vine pattern, to which our Lord referred when he said: "I am the vine, and ye are the branches." It was in this porch, or tower, that Judas threw down the 30 pieces of silver, the price of our Redeemer's blood. (Matt. xxvii. 5.) The length and height of the sanctuary were each 90 feet, and the breadth 30; it was separated by an embroidered veil from the HOLY OF HOLIES, the walls of which, both within and without, were entirely covered with gold. The sanctuary contained the golden candlestick, the golden table of the shew-bread, and the altar of incense; but the holy place of Herod's temple contained nothing whatsoever. |