The History of the Old Testament Methodized, Chapter 5 · Section 2 – Section 3
SECT. II.
IN the 11th. year of Solomon's reign the building of the Temple was finiſhed with all things belonging thereunto, having been ſeven years and an half in finiſhing, 1 King. 6.38. 2 Chron. 3.2. but the Dedication thereof was put off till the next year, becauſe of the Jubilee. And in the ſeventh month (a)The whole Edifice and moſt material things were now finiſhed, but poſſibly they were perfecting ſome things till the 8th. month. 1 King. 6.38.of that year call'd Ethanim, and the ſeventh day of that month was the firſt day whereon Solomon celebrated with great magnificence the Dedication of this glorious Temple, ſo that from the ſeventh day to the fifteenth (the tenth day which was the great faſt and day of expiation being excepted *On which the Jubilee was to be proclaim'd with ſound of Trumpet. Levit. 25.9.) was this feaſt of Dedication celebrated, and from the 15th to the 23. was the Feaſt of Tabernacles, and the 23d. was the laſt day of this feaſt, and always very ſolemnly kept, and the day following the people were diſmiſſed.
Having thus deſcribed the parts of the Temple, and the Ornaments and Officers thereof, we ſhall now return to ſpeak of the great and magnificent ſolemnity of this Dedication, which was on this wiſe:
1. Solomon aſſembled the Elders and Heads of all the Tribes, and a mighty Congregation of all the Nation to meet at Jeruſalem on this ſolemn occaſion.
2. By the Miniſtry of the Prieſts, and by ſuch rites as were appointed by the Law he hallowed the middle of the Prieſts Court, wherein either they did erect other Altars, or made uſe of the pavement for that preſent occaſion, becauſe the brazen Altar was too little to receive ſo many Burnt-offerings, and Peace-offerings as he intended then to offer, 1 King. 8.64. 2 Chron. 7.7.
3. The Princes and Elders of the people being now aſſembled waited upon the King to Mount Sion where the Ark was, and whither (as 'tis like) they had brought the Tabernacle with all the things appertaining to it from Gibeon. The Prieſts*2 Chron. 5.4. 'Tis ſaid the Levites took up the Ark becauſe the Prieſts were alſo Levites, that is, of the Tribe of Levi. took up the Ark on their ſhoulders; the Levites according to their ſeveral appointed ranks carried the Tabernacle with the boards and curtains, and the holy veſſels belonging thereunto. The King and the Elders walked after in a ſolemn proceſſion to Mount Moriah(a)The Temple (to ſpeak properly) was not built on Mount Sion, but on Mount Moriah, but becauſe the whole City of Jeruſalem is uſually called Sion, and Mount Sion from that Mount that was a chief part of it, thence it is that the Temple (Gods dwelling place) is uſually ſaid to have been in Sion. where the Temple was built; whither being come, the Prieſts carried the Ark into the Oracle or moſt holy place, and ſet it under the wings of the Golden Cherubims. But they drew out the ſtaves of the Ark ſomething from under the wings of the Cherubims that they might be ſeen in the holy place which was before the Oracle, but they were not ſeen as taken out of the Ark, 2 Chron. 5.9. And poſſibly theſe ſtaves were the rather thus diſpoſed to remember the people that if they brake Gods Covenant the ſtaves yet remained within the rings of the Ark ready to bear away the Symbol of Gods gracious preſence from them. The Levites alſo diſpoſed thoſe things which they carried belonging to the (b)The Tabernacle was carried about in the Wilderneſs forty years; it remained in Gilgal about fourteen years, it remain'd in Shiloh till Samuels time, 1 Sam. 4.4. it then remain'd in Nob till Saul deſtroyed that place, 1 Sam. 22.19. it was in Gibeon all Davids time, from thence it was brought into Zion, and from thence into the Treaſuries of the Temple.Tabernacle into the Treaſuries of the Temple, there to remain as Sacred things not again to be removed. When the Prieſts had ſet the Ark in its place and were come out, immediately an hundred and twenty of them with ſilver Trumpers, and the Levite-ſingers, viz. Aſaph, Heman and Jeduthun with their Sons and Brethren, being arrayed in white linnen, and having Cymbals, Pſalteries and Harps in their hands, ſtood at the Eaſt-end of the Altar, and the Trumpets ſounding, and they playing on their Inſtruments, and lifting up their voices with one conſent, and making one melodious harmony ſang (as it ſeems) the 136 Pſalm, the burden of which is, For he is good for his mercy endureth for ever. Whilſt they were thus employed ſuddenly the houſe of the Lord was filled with a cloud, which was an extraordinary manifeſtation of the preſence of God; 2 Chron. 5.14. 'tis ſaid the glory of God filled the houſe, which intimated that the brightneſs of his glory was ſuch that if it were not clouded over, no mortal eyes could behold it. It ſeems the cloud was ſuch, and ſo amazing that the Prieſts could not continue to miniſter in the Sanctuary where the cloud was; and by this viſible ſign of his preſence the Lord did ſanctifie to himſelf this place, [ſee Exod. 40.34.] and ſhewed his approbation of all that was done. Solomon ſtanding upon a Brazen Scaffold made for him in the outward Court, right before the door of the Prieſts Court through which he might look, and apprehending this cloud to be a manifeſtation of Gods gracious preſence and acceptance of the houſe he had built for his ſervice, in a rapture of joy he brake out into theſe words: The Lord (ſaid he) is pleaſed to dwell in thick darkneſs, [Levit. 16.2.] and by a cloud he hath uſually teſtified his preſence among his people, as when he led the Iſraelites by a cloud, Exod. 13.21. In a cloud he appeared at the giving of the Law, Exod. 19.16. In a cloud he appeared that covered and filled the Tabernacle as ſoon as it was reared up by Moſes, Exod. 40.34. and therefore doubtleſs in this cloud the Lord doth now appear unto us, and teſtifies his favourable acceptance of our ſervice in building this houſe for his name. Then directing his ſpeech to God, he ſaid, O Lord I have built a Temple for thee to manifeſt thy gracious preſence in; an houſe not to be removed as the Tabernacle was, but a ſetled place for thee to abide in(c)Officium Templi non eſt praſtare Deo habitationem, ſed hominibus directionem ad ſoli…m divinum ſempiteru… quod in c…lo eſt. Cajet. to be there ready on all occaſions to reſolve us in ſuch caſes as we ſhall humbly propound unto thee, and to hear ſuch prayers as we ſhall make unto thee, and to grant ſuch bleſſings as we ſhall humbly crave of thee, and to accept ſuch ſacrifices and ſervices as we ſhall there offer up and preſent unto thee. And (O Lord) I pray thee accept this houſe for thine, and ever manifeſt thy gracious preſence therein as long as this diſpenſation (we are now under) ſhall laſt, and till the truth of this type ſhall be exhibited. Then the King turned his face to the people ſtanding about him and bleſſed them, and ſaid, Bleſſed and praiſed be the Lord God of Iſrael who ſpake to David my Father that I ſhould build a Temple for his great name, and hath by his good hand upon me enabled me to do it. The Lord alſo ſaid, ſince the day that I brought forth my people Iſrael out of Egypt, I choſe no City out of all their Tribes in which I appointed an houſe to be built that my name might be there in a peculiar manner worſhipped. But having choſen David to be King over my people, it was in his heart to build an houſe for my name. And thereupon I ſaid to him, whereas it was in thine heart to build an houſe to my name, I like it well that it was in thine heart to do it. Nevertheleſs thou ſhalt not build this houſe for me, but thy Son that ſhall come out of thy loins he ſhall build it. And the Lord hath now graciouſly performed the word that he ſpake▪ and I am riſen up in my fathers room to ſit on the Throne of Iſrael, and have built an houſe for the Lord, as he promiſed I ſhould do, and an abiding place for the Ark, wherein are the two Tables of the Law which the Lord gave as a Covenant to his people, requiring obedience on their part, and promiſing many bleſſings on his part to the obedient.
Then Solomon turned his face towards the Altar of Burnt-offering, and towards the moſt holy place, and having ſtood a while he then kneeled down, and ſpreading forth his hands towards heaven, poured forth this Divine Prayer, ſaying, O Lord God of Iſrael there is no God like thee in heaven above, or in earth beneath, who keepeſt Covenant and ſheweſt mercy to thy ſervants that walk before thee in the integrity of their hearts. Thou haſt kept thy word, and performed thy promiſe to thy ſervant David in raiſing me his Son up to build a Temple for thee; perform alſo I pray thee unto my father what thou didſt further promiſe him*2 Sam. 7.13., to wit, that there ſhall not fail a man lineally deſcended from him to ſit upon the Throne of Iſrael, and to reign in thy ſight, provided his children take heed to their way to walk before thee with that integrity that he did. Now let thy word (I pray thee) be verified and fulfilled which thou ſpakeſt to my father concerning this matter. But why do I ſpeak of my building an houſe for thee? Will God indeed dwell on earth? Behold thou art an infinite and immenſe being: Thou canſt not be contained within any compaſs or ſpace. The Heaven, and Heaven of Heavens cannot contain thee, much leſs this houſe that I have builded. But though thou canſt not be contained within this houſe, yet I pray thee have regard to the prayer and humble ſupplication of me thy poor ſervant which I make to thee in behalf of this houſe, namely that the eyes of thy favour and providence may be open towards it day and night, ſeeing thou haſt ſaid of it that thy name†Deut. 12.11. ſhall be there call'd upon and worſhipped. I humbly beſeech thee therefore when ever either my ſelf or any of thy people ſhall pray unto thee in this place, or towards it(a)V. 30. Verſus hunc locum, quaſi respiciens ad promiſſionem praeſentiae tuae in hoc loco exemplum in Daniele, cap. 6. v. 10., that then thou wouldſt pleaſe to hear in Heaven thy dwelling place, (where thy glory is moſt eminently manifeſted) and when thou heareſt be pleaſed to forgive and pardon our tranſgreſſions againſt thee. For there is no comfort in obtaining any other mercy, if our ſins be not forgiven. Particularly I humbly requeſt of thee that if any man be charged that he hath treſpaſſed againſt his neighbour, and he be brought before thine Altar(b)Tacto Altare jurare mos omnium prope Gentium. Intrepidi quicunque altaria tangunt. Juv. in the Court of this houſe to clear himſelf by Oath (ſufficient proof by witneſſes being wanting) that thou wouldſt pleaſe to deal with him according to innocence or guiltineſs, puniſhing him if he be faulty, and bringing his wicked way upon his own head, but juſtifying and acquitting him if he be innocent. Or if thy people be ſmitten before their enemies in the field becauſe they have ſinned againſt thee, and ſhall turn again to thee, and confeſs thy name, to wit, thy juſtice (in ſuffering their enemies to prevail againſt them) and ſhall acknowledg thy mercy and power, and ſo ſeek to thee for pardon and help, and ſhall make ſupplication to thee turning their faces towards this houſe, then hear thou in heaven and forgive their ſin, and bring them again into the land which thou gaveſt to their fathers. Or when the heaven is ſhut up and there is no rain (becauſe thy people have ſinned againſt thee) if they ſhall pray towards this place, and confeſs thy juſtice in puniſhing of them, and turn from their ſin, then hear thou in heaven and forgive their ſin, and teach them the good way(c)V. 36. Et oſtende eis viam bonam. wherein they ſhould walk, and then give rain upon the land which thou haſt given thy people for an inheritance. Or if any of theſe great judgments fall upon the land, to wit, famine, peſtilence, and blaſting, or if there be any plague or ſickneſs upon thy people, what prayer and ſupplication ſhall be made by any man ſingly, or by all thy people jointly, who ſhall know every man the plague(d)2 Chron. 6.29. When every one ſhall know his own ſore and his own grief: Grief is put for that which ſhould cauſe grief, viz. Sin. of his own heart, (to wit the ſins for which he is puniſhed) and ſhall ſpread forth his hands towards this houſe, then hear thou in heaven and forgive, and do what in thy infinite wiſdom ſeemeth good, and give to every man according to his ways, (not his former ſins but his preſent repentance) whoſe heart thou ſeeſt to be ſincere and upright. For thou, and thou only (O Lord) knoweſt the hearts of all the children of men. And I humbly beſeech thee to deal thus mercifully with thy people that they may fear thee, and walk in thy ways all the days of their lives. Moreover if a ſtranger (that is not of thy people Iſrael) who hears of thy wondrous works and righteous Laws, and this holy houſe, ſhall come from his own Countrey to teſtifie his high eſteem of thy great name, and to worſhip and praiſe thee, and ſhall pray towards this houſe(a)Or in this houſe, viz. in the Court of the Gentiles., then hear thou in heaven, and grant all that he ſhall pray unto thee for, which is agreeable to thy holy will, that all the people of the earth may know thy name, and learn to fear thee as do thy people Iſrael, and that they may know that thy name is called upon in this houſe that I have built, to wit, that it is call'd the Temple of the Lord, and the houſe of God, and is ſo in reality, by thy hearing the prayers that are here made unto thee. Furthermore, if thy people ſhall go out to battel againſt their enemies, and ſhall pray unto thee, and ſeek thy favour and help in that enterprize looking towards this City, and this houſe (which I have built for thy great name) then hear thou in heaven their prayer and ſupplication, and maintain their juſt and righteous cauſe, by giving them good ſucceſs. But if they by their ſins provoke thee, (for there is no man that ſinneth not) ſo that thou giveſt them up into the hands of their enemies and they carry them away captive, (either further off, or nearer hand) however if they ſhall bethink themſelves in the land whither they are carried captive, and ſhall repent and make ſupplication to thee, ſaying, we have ſinned and done perverſly, we have committed wickedneſs, (and ſo ſhall return unto thee with all their heart, and all their ſoul), and ſhall pray unto thee looking towards this land, this City and this houſe, then hear thou in heaven their prayer and ſupplication, and maintain their cauſe, taking part with thy people that repent, and pray unto thee againſt the unjuſt oppreſſion of their enemies, and then turn thou (O Lord) the hearts of their enemies towards them, that they may have pity and compaſſion on them. For remember (O Lord) they are thy people, and thine inheritance(b)This people were to God as a mans inheritance is to him, which he hath bought and made his own for ever. See D…ut. 32.9., which thou broughteſt forth out of Egypt, even out of an iron furnace(c)Deut. 4.20., And furthermore, let the eyes(d)2 Chron. 6.40. of thy favour be upon me thy poor ſervant, and upon this thy people, and let thine ears be attentive unto the ſupplications we ſhall make unto thee, and hearken to us in all that we ſhall pray unto thee for, according to thy will. For thou didſt ſeparate us unto thy ſelf from among all the Nations of the earth to be thy peculiar people and inheritance, as thou ſpakeſt by thy ſervant Moſes.
Solomon having ended this his devout prayer roſe up from his knees, and ſtanding with his face toward the Temple, he repeated part of the 132 Pſalm, ſaying, Ariſe, O Lord, and take poſſeſſion of this houſe which I have built for thee as a reſting place and fixt habitation, and not an ambulatory and moving one, as the Tabernacle was. And let thy Ark (whereon thou doſt manifeſt thy glory(e)Pſal. 78.61. He delivereth his ſtrength into captivity, and his glory into the enemies hands., ſtrength and power for the good of thy people) be here ſetled and conſtantly abide. Let thy Prieſts (O Lord God) be clothed and adorned with ſuch graces as may bring ſalvation to themſelves(f)Pſal. 132.9. This clauſe is thus expreſſed, Let thy Prieſts be clothed with righteouſneſs., and may enable them to be inſtrumental in the ſaving of others; and let thy Saints rejoice in thy goodneſs and favour manifeſted unto them. O Lord God hear me (I pray thee) and turn not away the face of thine anointed with ſhame and confuſion by denying me my requeſt, but remember the promiſes thy mercy moved thee to make to David my Father, and to his poſterity.
Solomon having ended his prayers, the Sacrifices were brought in and laid upon the Altar, and immediately fire came down from Heaven, and conſumed them, and the glory of the Lord (probably covered with a cloud) filled the houſe, and ſuch an orient ſplendour ſhone through it that the Prieſts could by no means enter into the Temple. The people ſeeing the fire came down from Heaven, and the glory of the Lord upon the houſe, they bowed themſelves with their faces to the ground and worſhipped, and praiſed God, and ſang (as 'tis probable) the 136 Pſalm (as the Singers had done before) the burthen or foot whereof was, For he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever.
Then Solomon turned his face and bleſſed all the Congregation of Iſrael again, as he had done at the beginning, and ſaid, Bleſſed be the Lord God who hath given reſt to his people Iſrael as he promiſed of old. And indeed he hath not failed of performing any of his gracious promiſes which he made to his people by the miniſtry of his ſervant Moſes. Now therefore the Lord our God be with us as he was with our Fathers, and let him not leave us nor forſake us; but let him incline our hearts to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments*Viz. The Moral, Ceremonial, and Judicial Laws., ſtatutes and judgments which he commanded our Fathers. And let my words wherewith I have made ſupplication to the Lord this day be in his mind and memory continually that he may maintain the cauſe of me his ſervant, and the cauſe of his people Iſrael at all times as the matter ſhall require, and as it ſhall appear juſt and equal to him, that all the people of the earth may know that the Lord he is the only true God from whom all bleſſings come, and that there is no other God beſides him. Let your heart therefore be upright and ſincere before the Lord, and walk in his ſtatutes, and keep his commandments as now you do.
Then the King, the Princes and people offered abundance of Peace-offerings(a)They were call'd Peace-offerings, becauſe God having beſtowed ſome benefit upon them, ſeemed to be appeaſed towards them, and they were offered as a kind of retribution, and to return thanks to God for it. And in offering the ſame they alſo teſtified their hope that God was reconciled towards them. to the Lord, and kept this feaſt of Dedication ſeven days. During which time they offered unto the Lord two and twenty thouſand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thouſand ſheep. By a multitude of Sacrifices the pious Jews were wont to teſtifie their zealous and grateful affection towards God; and we never read of any Sacrifice like this. And thus Solomon, the Princes and people by their joint prayers, praiſes and ſacrifices dedicated the houſe of God, and ſet it apart for his worſhip and ſervice. And they rejoiced before the Lord ſeven days, and ſeven, that is, they kept the firſt ſeven days as the Feaſt of Dedication, and the next ſeven as the Feaſt of Tabernacles. And the day after Solomon diſmiſſed the people to their own homes, and they bleſſed the King, and prayed unto the Lord for him, and went home with joyful and glad hearts, rejoicing in the goodneſs which the Lord had manifeſted to the houſe of David, and to Solomon, and to all the people of Iſrael.
1 King. Ch. 8. whole Chapter.
1 Chron. Ch. 5. whole Chapter.
1 Chron. Ch. 6. whole Chapter.
2 Chron. Ch. 7. from v. 1, to 11.
SECT. III.
SHortly after *Some read, 1 King. 9.1. And it came to paſs when Solomon had finiſhed the building of the houſe of the Lord (and afterwards finiſhed the Kings houſe, and, all his deſire which he was pleaſed to do) that the Lord appeared to him the ſecond time, &c.Solomon had made that devout prayer before mentioned, the Lord (as it ſeems) appeared to him in a dream(b)Ch. 6.11. We read that the word of the Lord came to Solomon, but that was by ſome meſſenger or Prophet ſent unto him, but this was the ſecond time that the Lord appeared to him in a Viſion. as he had done before at Gibeon, 1 King. 3.4, 5. and the Lord ſaid, I have heard thy prayer and thy ſupplication which thou haſt made before me, and I have hallowed this houſe, and ſet it apart to thoſe holy uſes which thou didſt intend it for, and it ſhall be called by my name as long as it ſhall laſt, and mine eyes and mine heart ſhall be there perpetually; I will always be ready to take notice of the prayers there made, and the ſervices there performed, and will graciouſly accept them. And if I ſhall ſhut up heaven at any time ſo that there be no rain, or ſend the locuſts or peſtilence among my people, (that are called by my name) if they ſhall humble themſelves and pray, and ſeek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear in heaven and forgive their ſin and heal their land. And if thou wilt walk before me in integrity and uprightneſs as thy Father David did, and keep my ſtatutes and judgments, then I will eſtabliſh the Throne of thy Kingdom for ever, that is, thou and thy poſterity ſhall continue time after time to be Kings over Iſrael, ſo as no other ſtock but thine ſhall ſit on that Throne ſo long as the Kingdom of Judah ſhall remain, as I promiſed and covenanted with David thy Father. See Ch. 8.25. But if thou or thy poſterity fail on your part to perform the conditions annext to my promiſe, and ſhall turn away obſtinately and totally from following after me, and ſhall renounce me and my ſervice, and will not keep my commandments and ſtatutes which I have made known unto you, and ſet before you to walk in, but ſhall go and ſerve other Gods, and worſhip them, then will I cut off†Thus was the Kingdom of Iſrael dealt with 2 King. 17.20. Iſrael from the land which I have given them as a rotten branch, and pluck them up by the roots; and this houſe which I have hallowed for my name will I caſt out of my ſight, out of my favour and protection, and Iſrael ſhall be a proverb and a by-word(c)As in the time of the Babyloniſh Captivity the Jews were a ſcorn to all Nations, but much more ſince the laſt deſtruction of their City and Temple by the Romans, and ſo their great glory was turn'd into vile contempt. among the people. And as for this houſe which is now ſo high in all external glory, every one that paſſeth by ſhall be aſtoniſhed at the deſtruction of it, and ſhall hiſs at it in ſcorn, and ſhall ask why hath the Lord done thus unto this land, and this houſe, and they ſhall receive this anſwer, becauſe the inhabitants thereof have forſaken the Lord their God who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have betaken themſelves to the worſhip of other Gods, whoſe worſhip they pertinaciouſly hold faſt, and will not depart from it. Therefore the Lord brought upon them all theſe great evils. 1 King. 9. fr. v. 2, to 11. 2 Chron. 7. fr. v. 11. to the end.