in their opinions about the fituation of these two cities, and of the hills on which they stood, in refpect one of another; fome placing the upper city and mount Sion on the north, and others, on the fouth. We have embraced the latter opinion, judging it to be the most probable. This city was not always of the fame bignefs, for at firft it took up no more than mount Sion. But in Jofephus's time it was 33 ftadia in compass, that is, between 4 and 5 Italian miles. We cannot precifely tell how many gates it had: There were eleven in Nehemiah's time. We find some of the gates of Jerufalem mentioned in fcripture under other names than what Nehemiah gave them (n); whether they were the fame under different names, or not, we cannot eafily determine. It is probable the city had twelve gates, fince the heavenly Jerufalem, spoken of in the Revelations, had fo many. As Jerufalem was fituated in a dry foil, they took care to make a great number of ponds, or confervatories of water (0) within the city, for washing the facrifices, and purifying the people; among others, the pools of Bethesda and Siloam mentioned by St. John (p), though fome are of opinion these were one and the fame. There is no need of taking notice here of the several palaces in Jerufalem, as David's, Herod's, Agrippa's, the house of the Afinonæans, and many other noble edifices, which are placed differently by the learned, and defcribed by Jofephus. The Jews reckon up a prodigious number of Synagogues in this city, of which I fhall treat hereafter. They likewife afcribe to Jerufalem feveral privileges, which the other cities of Judea had not. These laft belonged to fome tribe or other, whereas Jerufalem was common to all the Ifraelites in general, though it was fituated partly in the tribe of Judah, and partly in that of Benjamin. This was the reason why the houses were not let, and that all ftrangers of the Jewish nation had the liberty of lodging there gratis, and by right of hofpitality. Of this cuftom we find fome traces in the New Teftament, as in Matth. xxvi. 17, &c. It was unlawful to leave a dead body within the city, even for one night, or to bring in the bones of any dead perfon. Profelytes of the gate, that is, fuch as were uncircumcifed, were not permitted to dwell there. There were no fepulchres in the city, except thofe of the family of David, and of Huldah the prophetefs. These they took care to whiten from time to time, that people might avoid coming near them, and fo polluting themfelves (q). No one had the liberty of planting or fo wing within the city; accordingly there were no gardens; but without the walls there were great numbers. In fhort, whatever could occafion the least uncleanness was carefully banished thence. But the main glory, and chiefeft ornament of Jerufalem, and the true fource of its holiness, was the temple Solomon built there by the command of God, (r) on mount Moriah, which was part of mount Sion. It was upon the account of the choice God made of this place, that the temple is frequently called in fcripture the houfe of the Lord, or the boufe (n) Neh. iii. (p) John v. 2. ix. 7. (•) Jofeph. de Bello Jud. 1. vi. c. 12. (r) i Chron. xxviii. 12. 2 Chron. iii, 1. by by way of eminence. It is a difficult task to give an exact defcription of this temple of Solomon, becaufe, on the one hand, the accounts which we have of it in the firft book of Kings, and the fecond of Chronicles, are fo lame and imperfect, that they do not give us a true notion of the feveral parts of it; and, on the other, because we are in the dark, at this distance of time, about the meaning of moft of the Hebrew terms of architecture. Some learned authors however, are of opinion, that one might frame a full and compleat idea of it, by joining the defcription given by Ezekiel (s), to that which we have in the firft book of Kings, and the fecond of Chronicles. But to enter into a particular examination of this matter, would be foreign to our prefent defign, which is to make fome few remarks on the temple of Jerufalem, as it was in the time of Jefus Chrift. I have therefore only this one obfervation to make, with regard to the first and fecond temple: That they were the only places God had chofen and appointed for the performance of his worship, which was one of the chief and moft effential parts of the ceremonial law. This the fupreme Law-giver did, not only for the fake of preferving unity in the common-wealth, but more especially to prevent the Ifraelites from falling into fuperftition, idolatry, and the foolish and impure worthip which the heathens paid to their Deities in the high places, that is, in chapels, or temples built on hills and eminences. The words of Our Saviour to the woman of Samaria, The time is coming when God shall no longer be worshipped either in Jerufalem, or on Gerizim only, but shall be adored in fpirit and in truth every where alike by his true worshippers, are a clear evidence that the fixing of the worship of God to the temple of Jerufalem alone, was a ceremonial inftitution defigned merely for the preferving the unity and purity of the Jewish religion. The temple of Zerubbabel (which we had an occafion to mention, when speaking of Herod) was built in the very place (1) where Solomon's ftood before, that is on mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David (u), and where this prince was ordered by God to erect an altar, in order to have a ftop-put to the plague (x). This temple was afterwards very much improved and beautified by Herod; who added exceedingly to the magnificence of it. But notwithstanding all the expence he bestowed upon it, it still came far fhort of Solomon's; which deferved indeed much better to be ranked among the wonders of the world, than fome ancient buildings that have been honoured with that title. By the temple is to be understood, not only the temple strictly fo called, viz. the holy of holies, the fanctuary, and the feveral courts, both of the Priefts and Ifraelites; but also all the apartments and out-buildings in general that belonged to it. This is neceflary to be observed, left we Thould imagine, that whatever is faid in fcripture to have happened in the temple, was actually done in the inner part of that facred edifice, whofe feveral parts we are now going to take a view of: Each of them had (s) Ezek. xl. xli. (1) And upon the very fame foundations, faith Dr. Prideaux. Connect. P. I. B. III. fub. ann. 534. (u) 2 Chron. iii. 1. (x) 2 Sam. xxiv. 18. had its refpective degree of holiness, which increased in proportion, as they lay nearer the holy of holies. This I. Let us then begin our furvey of the temple, with confidering all that outward enclofure, which went by the Of the mount name of the mount of the temple, or of the house (y). of the temple. was a fquare of 500 cubits every way (z), which contained several buildings, appointed for different ufes. All round it there were piazzas or cloifters, fupported by marble pillars. The piazza on the futh fide had four rows of pillars, and all the reft but three. Solomon's porch, or rather piazza, was on the caftern fide. Here it was, that our Saviour was walking at the feaft of the dedication (a), that the lame man, when healed, glorified God, before all the people (b), and that the apostles where used to affemble together (c). On the top of this portico is also placed the pinnacle, from whence the devil tempted our Saviour to caft himfelf down (d): becaufe, according to Jofephus, there was at the bottom of this portico a valley fo prodigiously deep, that the looking down made any one giddy (e). In the four corners of these piazzas stood a kind of watch towers, for the ufe of the Levites, with feveral other apartments, and particularly a fynagogue, where our Saviour is commonly fuppofed to have been found fitting in the midst of the doctors. (See Luke ii. 46.) In this place likewife the Sanhedrim, or great council, met in our Saviour's time, after they had forfaken the chamber Gazith, which was in one corner of the court of the Priests; as did alfo the Council of twenty-three, whose business it was to take cognizance of fome ca pital crimes, but not of all. Here moreover were the animals for the facrifices fold, and fuch as happened to be any way tainted or blemished were burned: It was in all probability from this part of the temple that Jefus Chrift drove out thofe that bought and fold doves (f). The Levites had apartments here, where they eat and flept when they were not upon duty. This outer enclosure of the temple had five gates, where the Levites conftantly kept guard: The most remarkable gate, that on the eaft, was called the gate Shufbon, or the King's gate (g); which is thought to have been the fame with the Beautiful gate of the temple mentioned in the Acts (h). Some writers take this place to be the court of the Gentiles, and the fame as is fpoken of in the Revelations (i), though Jewish authors never mention more than the three courts, of the Women, of the Ifraelites, and of the Priests. The fame authors tell us, it was unlawful for any one to come in here with a flick or a purfe in his hand; with fboes on, or dusty feet; to cross it in order to fhorten the way, or to fling down any naftiness in it. Which circumftances may give some light to Matth. x. 9, 10. where Jesus Christ orders his difciples to walk (y) 1 Maccab. xiii. 53. Ezra x. 9. (x) i. c. 750 foot on every fide. See Dr. Prideaux Conn. ubi fuprà. (a) Joh. x. 23. (d) Matth. iv. 5. (ƒ) Matth. xxi. 12. (g) 1 Chron. ix. 18. in (b) Acts iii. 2. N. B. Some place the Beautiful gate at the entrance of the Court of women. (i) Revelat. xi. 2, VOL. III. in the discharge of their minifiry, with the fame circumfpection and care, as men were wont to take, when they defigned to walk in the temple: This may alfo ferve to illuftrate Mark xi. 16. where Chrift would not fuffer any man to carry any veffel through the temple. Balustrade r II. Between this outward fpace, or the mount of the temThe Soreg, or ple and the courts, there was another fpace, called the AvantMure, through which the way led to the feveral courts of the temple. This fpace was feparated from the mount of the temple by fone-baluftres three cubits high, at the diftance of ten cubits from the walls of the other courts. This is what Jofephus calls the fecond temple, that is, the fecond part of the temple; and he tells us, that there were in it feveral pillars at certain diftances having infcriptions on them, fome whereof contained exhortations to purity and holinefs, and others were prohibitions to the Gentiles, and all fuch as were unclean, not to advance beyond it, as having fome degrees of holinefs above the mount of the temple (k). As people were forced to pafs through this place to go into the court of the women, wherein was the apartment for the Nazarites; what occafioned the disturbance, of which we have an account in the Acts (), no doubt was the Jews imagining St. Paul had brought Greeks into the temple (beyond the before mentioned baluftres) and thereby polluted that holy place. The wall of this fpace was not fo high as thofe of the temple, and there were several openings in it, through which one could fee what was doing in the adjoining courts. The court of III. The court of the women was the firft as you went into the temple. It was called the cuter court, because the women. it was the furtheft from the temple ftrictly fo called; it was named the court of the women, not because none but women were fuffered to go into it, but because they were allowed to go no farther. It was 135 cubits fquare. On the four corners of it were four rooms appointed for four different ufes. In the first, the lepers purified themfelves after they were healed; in the fecond, the wood for the facrifices was laid, after it had been wormed; the Nazarites prepared their oblations, and shaved their heads in the third; and in the fourth the wine and oil for the facrifices were kept. There were also two rooms more, where the mufical inftruments belonging to the Levites were laid up. It is commonly fuppofed, that it was in this court the king read publickly the law every feventh year. In this place were the 13 treasurychefts, two of which were for the half bekel, which every Ifraelite paid yearly; and the rest held the money appointed for the facrifices and other oblations. And in this court likewife, as fome authors imagine, was the treafury, over against which Chrift fat and beheld how the people caft money into it (m); because none were permitted to fit down in the great court (i. e. of the Ifraelites) except the kings of the family of David, and the Prisfts; and thefe laft too never did it, but when they were eating fuch remnants of the facrifices as were ordered to be eat in (k) Jofeph. de Bell. Jud. 1. vi. c. 6. (7) Acts xxi, 26-28, (m) Mark xii. 41. the the temple. Round this court there was a Balcony, from whence the women could see whatever was done in the great court. Of the court of IV. From the court of the women they afcended into the great court by fifteen steps. This was divided in two the Ifraelites. parts, one whereof was the court of the Ifraelites, and the other of the Priests. The latter was one cubit higher than the other; near the entrance of which there was a gallery, wherein the Levites fung and played on inftruments. This court had 13 gates, each of which had its particular name and ufe. There were feveral rooms and chambers in it, where things neceffary for the fervice of God were got ready; and, among others, the house of the hearth, where a continual fire was kept for the use of the Priests, because they went always bare-foot on the cold marble pavement. The altar of burnt offerings.. But what chiefly deferves our notice in this court is the aliar of the Lord for burnt-offerings, otherwife called the outer altar; whereon the daily offerings of the morning and evening fervice were made. This altar, which, according to the Talmudifts, was 32, but according to Jofephus 50 cubits fquare, and to in height, was built of rough and unhewn ftones (n). The afcent up to it, was by a gentle rifing, without fteps. On this floping afcent there was always a heap of falt, wherewith they falted whatever was laid upon the altar (0), except wine, blood, and wood. On this altar were kept several fires for different ules. And on the four corners of it were four horns, not fashioned like thofe of bulls, but ftrait, of a cubit in height and thickness, and hollow within (*). Near this altar ftood feveral marble tables, whereon they laid the flesh of the facrifices, and other things; and pillars, to which they fastened the animals, when they were going to kill or flea them. All this was in the open air. Between the altar and the porch, leading into the holy place, there ftood a large bafin, for the Priests to wash in (p), which fupplied the want of the brafen fea, that was in the first temple (q). Of the temple properly to called. V. From the court of the Priests, they went up into the temple properly fo called, by twelve fteps. This building was an hundred cubits every way, excepting the front, which was fix fcore (7). It may properly be divided into three parts, viz. 1. The porch; 2. The fanctuary, or boly place; 3. And the Holy of Holies, or most holy. The porch was about 15 or 20 cubits long, and as many The porch of broad; it had a very large portal, which inftead of folding the temple. doors, had only a rich vail (†). In this first part of the temple were hung up feveral valuable ornaments, which were prefents (1) Exod. xx. 25. (0) Mark. ix. 49. from (*) "Herein was to be put fome of the blood of the facrifices." Dr. Prideaux, Connect. Part I. Book III. ad ann. 535. (p) 2 Chron. iv. 6. (9) Ibid. 2 5. (r) It was 150 foot in length, and 105 in breadth, from out to out, faith Dr. Prideaux, ibid. ad an. 534. (†) Some place here a gate plated with gold. See Lamy, p. 92. |