The Temple of Solomon Portrayed, History · Chapter 1

The Temple of Solomon Portrayed · History · Chapter 1

p. 1CHAP. I. The firſt Chapter containes the Proem or Porch to the main Body of this Treatiſe; Wherein, are expoſed to view the famous Preparations for the Structure of Solomon's Temple.

DAvid being anointed King by Samuel the Prophet at Bethlehem, and therefore ſecretly maligned, and afterwards openly proſecuted by Saul, fled in the time of his diſtreſs to the Prophet of God, dwelling then at Najoth in Ramah, and privately reſided with him. Sanctified afflictions,1 Sam. 19, 18.1 Sam 19:18 enhance Spiritual Devotion, which being managed by a divine and a holy Prophet, many times produce, according to the perſon's quality, noble, and heroick deſigns for the glory of God: ſuch a one [probably ſuggeſted by Samuel] was this. Whereupon they conſulted together at Najoth, that when David came to the Kingdom, he ſhould remember his Vow in diſtreſs to build, or at leaſt to prepare all materials for the erecting of a glorious Temple for Gods name in the City of Jeruſalem. We find theſe good men laying heads and hearts cloſe together in the contrivement of all things even to the very Porters that were to watch in the gates of the Temple, and reckoning them up by their Genealogy in their ſeveral Villages.1 Chron. 9.22.1 Chr 9:22 To this Building we read, that Samuel afterwards was a principal Benefactor, and ſet down by name in the firſt Book of Chronicles. Chap. 26.2….Nay we find Saul the ſon of Kiſh not wanting in dedicating ſome Treaſures to this houſe of p. 2God. After them, mention is made of Abner, the Son of Ner, the Captain of King Sau… 's Hoſt, and Joab the Son of Zerviah, Captain of King David's Hoſts (good patterns for Souldiers) nay the chief of the Fathers alſo, and the Captains of thouſands and hundreds, all dedicating ſome of their ſpoils won in Battails, to maintain the houſe of the Lord. But above all, King David bears away the Crown in this ſacred buſineſs, beſtowing vaſt and honourable gifts towards its luſtre and beauty. What this King did, the Scripture doth largely enumerate, and God moſt kindly and favourably accept.

2 Sam. 24.24·2 Sam 24:241. The firſt and main thing he did, yea the groundwork of all, was the Purchaſe of the place, being the Lands and Poſſeſſions of Araunah the Jebuſite; at the particular direction of God himſelf by the mouth of the Prophet Gad. Happy that threſhing-floor that was turned into an Altar to dedicate Firſt-fruits to God. Happy that Husbandman, whoſe common field was turned into holy Incloſure: and happy thoſe Oxen that worn out in honeſt labour, do at laſt dye Martyrs in holy flames; and happy that Jebuſite that's converted into a true Iſraelite. O happy that Mountain! that once being a Fortreſs of the Lame and Blind Idols of the Pagan Canaanites, ſhall become the Temple and Palace-Royal of Jehovah Jiereh, 2 Sam. 5.6, 8.2 Sam 5:62 Sam 5:8the living and the ſeeing God.Gen. 22.14. Iſa. 2.4. Mic. 4.3. 2 Sam. 24.22.Gen 22:14Isa 2:4Mic 4:32 Sam 24:22 Thoſe times are pronounced bleſſed, when Swords ſhall be beaten into Plough-ſhares, and Spears anvilled into Pruning-hooks. But more happy ſure are theſe, when Plough-ſhares ſhall be turned into Fire-pans, Pruning-hooks into Cenſers, when Plough-boot and Cart-boot ſhal be conſecrated Wood, to burn upon Gods Holy Altar.

But did David ſerve God with that which coſt him nothing? No ſure! He paid a ſufficient price, even fifty ſhekels of ſilver: which, together with the ſucceeding ſums, that I may reduce to our Engliſh value; it's neceſſary to preface in a few words, concerning the Hebrew Coins, and their Diviſions. In brief then, 20. Gerahs make a ſhekel; 60 ſhekels, one maneh or pound, 50 manehs or 3000 ſhekels one Talent, one hundred drams or Adarconims are equivalent to 60 ſhekels, or one maneh or pound, if you compare 1 Kin. 10.17. and 2 Chron. 9.16. together. As to the ſhekel, I'le ſpeak a little both to its figure and value; and firſt as to the figure, the chief face of it had inſcribed about the Pot of Manna theſe words foreign Shekel of Iſrael. The ſecond or reverſe, had Aaron's Rod bloſſoming, with theſe words, foreign Jeruſalem the Holy.

For the weight and value, Caſpar Waſerus, and Edward Brerewood, in their Treaties of this nature, tell us, according to their beſt inquiries, that each ſhekel was in value proportionable to 2 s. 6 d. Engliſh, and that it weighed about half an ounce Troy. Hiſt. p. 249.Sir Walter Raleigh ſets a ſhekel at the rate of 2 s. 4 d. But I rely rather upon the learned Treatiſe of Mr. Greaves his Denarius, who with the conſent of the learned Primate of Ireland, Dr. James Ʋſher, Pag. 77.having exactly weighed ſeveral of them,ſtates it according to the Engliſh ſtandard, to be exactly 2 s. 5 d. onelyonly, according to which, one p. 3Hebr. maneh of ſilver will be 7 l. 5 s. of our money. One Talent will be 362 l. 10 s. which is 50 manehs, or 3000 ſhekels.Exod. 38.26.Exod 38:26 For if 603550 men be rated to pay half a ſhekel a piece, then they paid 301775 ſhekels, which is recounted to be one hundred Talents, and 1775 ſhekels.Ver. 25. So that 300000 ſhekels which the 600000 men paid, is equal to one hundred Talents, wherof each Talent contains three thouſand ſhekels: which number of ſhekels contained in one Talent, ſeems alſo probable by the Braſs mentioned, v. 29. whereof there being not found fully 71 Talents, Moſes ſhews there were 70 Talents, and two thouſand four hundred ſhekels, whereas if there had been full three thouſand, it had fill'd up the quantity of another Talent. So that it ſeems there was above two thouſand four hundred ſhekels in one Talent by this verſe, and exactly three thouſand, as appears by the former calculation. One thing more I would ſpeak to, and that is the proportion of gold to ſilver; which according to Plato, Julius Pollux, Bodinus, Bornitius, Villalpandus, Brerewood, and generally all learned Authors is accounted to be duodecupla, or twelve times as much in value as the like quantity of ſilver: Which although it hath now and then a little vatied, according to the Standards of Princes, or the ſcarcity of metals; yet a twelfth-fold proportion is the generally received Opinion and Cuſtome of moſt Nations; according to which, we ſhall rate our gold in theſe preparation-Offerings for the Temple.

So then, according to this valuation of a ſhekel, King David paid fifty ſhekels of ſilver for the threſhing floor of Araunah, li. s. d. 6 0 2i. e. according to 2 s. 5 d. the ſhekel. 6 l.—0 s.—2 d. Now whereas it's ſaid he paid ſix hundred ſhekels of gold, we are to underſtand it of the whole Mountain of Moriah to build the Temple thereon;1 Chron. 21.25.1 Chr 21:25 which according to twelve-fold proportion is 870 l. of our money.li . s . d . 870 0 0 For it is not Adarconim but foreign ſhekels in the Hebr. text: Now ſix hundred ſhekels of ſilver at 2 s. 5 d. the ſhekels ariſe to 72 l. 10 s. which increaſed by 12. gives the ſum forementioned. This then is the firſt thing which King David did, to buy the place,1 Chron. 28.11, 12, 13.1 Chr 28:111 Chr 28:121 Chr 28:13 which at two payments came to 876 l. 0 s. 2 d. the whole.

2. The ſecond thing that David performed, was the model of the Temple, and all its Buildings, received from God, and given to his Son Solomon, being the pattern of the Porch, Houſes, Treaſuries, Upper-Chambers, inner Parlors, the place of the Mercy-Seat, of the Courts of the Houſe, the Chambers round about; the Treaſuries of the houſe of God, and the Treaſuries of the dedicate things. Of the Courſes of the Prieſts, the Veſſels and the work of the ſervice in the houſe of the Lord.

3. Thirdly, he furniſhed his ſon with many rare and coſtly materials:1 Chron. 22.14.1 Chr 22:14 whereof for metals he firſt dedicated a hundred thouſand Talents of gold: Now one hundred thouſand Talents of ſilver [according to the forementioned rate of a ſhekel at 2 s. 5 d.] ariſe to 36250000 li. of our money. Which being twelve times increaſed, according to the proportion of ſilver to gold, will give the ſum to be 435000000 li. of our Sterling money.4350000000 l. All this gold was for the Inſtruments of gold, the Candleſticks, Lamps, Tables,1 Chron. 28.14, 15, 16, 17; 18. 1 Chron. 22.14.1 Chr 28:141 Chr 28:151 Chr 28:161 Chr 28:171 Chr 181 Chr 22:14 Fleſh-hooks, Bowls, Cups, and Baſons; as alſo for the Altar of Incenſe, and the Chariot of Cherubims. He ſet apart moreover a thouſand thouſand Talents, or a million of ſilver, which ariſes to 362500000 li. of our money wherewithall to make the inſtruments of ſilver, even for Candleſticks, Lamps, Tables, and Baſons. Beſides this, he provided Braſs in abundance,362500000. C. 28. v. 15, 17. 1 Chron. 22.3. 1 Chron. 18.8. Ver. 10, 11.1 Chr 22:31 Chr 18:8 even without weight: ſome whereof was brought from Tibhath and Cun the Cities of Haderezer, King of Zobah, and therewith Solomon made the Brazen Sea, and the Pillars and the Veſſels of Braſs. He dedicated alſo Veſſels of gold, ſilver, and braſs, that were ſent him as a Preſent from the King of Hamath, and thoſe Treaſures alſo, which he brought from Edom, Moab, Ammon, the Philistines, and the Land of Amalek.

p. 41 Chron. 22.3, 14.1 Chr 22:31 Chr 22:14Moreover he gave Iron in abundance, and that without weight, for the Nails, Doors of the Gates, and their joynts.

As to precious ſtones, we find him to have prepared Onyx ſtones, and ſtones to be ſet, and gliſtering ſtones, and of divers colours; nay, all manner of precious ſtones,1 Chron. 29.2. C. 22.2.1 Chr 29:2 and Marble ſtones in abundance, and hewn ſtones wrought by Maſons, that were ſtrangers in Iſrael.

C. 22.4. 2 Chron. 7.6.2 Chr 7:6He provided alſo Cedar-trees in abundance.

He gave alſo many Inſtruments of Muſick, which he had made for the Levites therewith to praiſe the Lord.

4. Fourthly, he appointed the Orders and Offices of the Prieſts and Levites in their courſes of ſervice for ſacrifice and ſinging, together with the ſtations of the Porters in their Watches at the ſeveral Gates of the Temple.2 Chron. c. 23. & 24. & 25.2 Chr 23

5. Fifthly, and laſtly, Beſides all this, out of his affection to the houſe of his God,2 Chron. 29.42 Chr 29:4 he gave even of his own proper goods three thouſand Talents of the gold of Ophir: which in ſum reſults, according to the former ſtated proportions to 13050000 li. of our Coin.13050000. li. Beſides this, he gave ſeven thouſand Talents of refined ſilver, to over-lay the Walls of the Houſe withall, which is equivalent to the ſum of 2537500 li. of our money.2537500 li.

After this grand maſs of Metals, and other Treaſures given by himſelf alone, He calls out to others to lend their helping hand, ſaying: And who then is willing to conſecrate his ſervice this day to the Lord? 1 Chron. 29.5, 6.1 Chr 29:51 Chr 29:6Then the chief of the Fathers, the Princes of the Tribes of Iſrael, and the Captains of thouſands and hundreds, with the Rulers over the King's Work, offered willingly this enſuing ſum:21750000 li. Firſt, five thouſand Talents of Gold, that is, 21750000 l. and above that, ten thouſand drams of the ſame metal. Each dram being the hundreth part of the maneh, or Hebr. pound: which is uſually ſo among moſt Nations, and may be cleared to be ſo among the Hebrews (I ſuppoſe) from theſe two places compared. The firſt whereof ſays, that Solomon made three hundred ſhields of beaten gold, and that three pound of gold went to one ſhield.1 King. 10.17. 2 Chron. 9.16.1 Kgs 10:172 Chr 9:16 The word is foreign three manehs. The other place ſayes, he made three hundred ſhields, and that three hundred (Shekels, we ſay) went to one ſhield. In the Hebr. it's onelyonly ſaid, that three hundred of gold went to one ſhield: Whereby we learn, that one maneh, and an hundred of ſome one ſort of the Hebr. Weights were equal, which could not be ſhekels: For in Ezekiel it's expreſly recited,Ezek. 45, 12.Ezek 45:12 there went but ſixty ſhekels to a maneh: Therefore it remains moſt probable they were theſe drams, one hundred whereof were in one Hebr. pound, equiponderant to ſixty ſhekels, which in ſilver is 7 li. 5 s. of ours. The hundreth part whereof is 1 s. 5 d. q. & ⅗ of our money. Now according to the twelvefold proportion of ſilver to gold, a dram of gold is 17 s. 5 d. ob. q. ⅕. I know the learned Brerewood doth count it by a round number of 15 s. being near in value to the Adarconims in the text. But it is to be conſidered, that Ezra, or who elſe, that wrought the Book of Chronicles, while in the Captivity, uſing the Aurei Darici, or theſe Adarconims of the Perſian Empire, might make uſe of them, to expreſs the Hebrew drams of gold, as being the neareſt piece in value. Though it's evident enough, that it's neither an Hebrew word originally, nor a coin uſed by Solomon, who lived ſome hundreds of years before Darius, whoſe ſtamp and rate it bare. Now that one Adarconim fell in ſo jump with the hundreth part of the Hebr. pound, is but a naked conjecture. Wherefore according to the proved diviſion of a li. into one hundred pieces, we have adventured to take it in the Rate aſſigned.

p. 5According to which the Princes added to their former ſum 13986 li.—13 s.—4 d. of our money, in valuable proportion to their drams of gold.13986—13—4. After that we read of an addition of ten thouſand Talents of ſilver, that is,3625000 li. 3625000 li. of ours. Moreover they added of Braſs eighteen thouſand Talents, and one hundred thouſand Talents of Iron, beſides precious ſtones. Theſe two inferiour Metals I ſhall not ſtand to reckon according to the u…uall proportion of their value to ſilver. For if we lay together the ſeverall ſums of gold and ſilver, I think we have a bag big enough to build the Temple Walls of maſſie ſilver, and Veſſels of maſſie gold, as a learned man thinks,Brerewood de numm…s, cap. 6. and therefore ſuſpects the Talent of gold not to have been of ſuch a quantity, as uſually ſtated. I confeſs there is one place which much favours this Conjecture, and that is concerning the Crown of the King, or, as ſome apprehend, of Molech the God, of the Ammonites, which weighed a Talent of gold, with the precious ſtones taken from him at Rabbah, and ſet upon King David's head: which had it weighed three thouſand ſhekels,2 Sam. 12.3▪2 Sam 12:3 or fifty Hebr. manehs or pounds, or one hundred and twenty five pound of our Troy weight, reckoning three thouſand ſhekels to the Talent; and each ſhekel to avoid prolixity and trouble at 2 s. 6 d. or our half Troy ounce, it would have proved a weight for a Crown not imaginable, and would have almoſt cruſht the Conqueror under this triumphant Ornament into his grave. Yet herein the learned Scotchman, Mr. John Weemſe, in his Obſervations Natural and Moral, p. 141. offers his Solution, by a Conjecture that the Crown was firſt broken, and purged by fire, and then made up into a convenient form into a leſs quantity, and fitted for the victorious Temples of David. But I rather adhere to the conceit of Dr. Rivet, upon Exod. 25. who expounds it of the value of a Talent of gold, and not of the weight, by reaſon of the precious ſtones that were in it. But however this be anſwered, (with ſome fair and probable interpretations of Villalpandus, and others, to ſecure this place, which I cannot now fully inſiſt upon) ſeeing it's generally agreed upon, that the Talent was of this quantity and value fore-ſtated, we ſhall not be Niggards in theſe ſacred Expences; but draw up all the ſums in Battalia together, and ſee what a Volley of Shot they will pay towards the diſcharge of Temple-Expences, wherein we ſhall account each ſhekel of ſilver at 2 s. 5 d. each Talent at 362 l. 10 s. and for gold, each dram at 17 s. 5 d. ob. q. ⅕. and each ſhekel of gold at 2 l. 9 s. and each Talent at 4350 li. of our current money.

Hereby you may perceive that K. David, and his Princes together, gave 108000 Talents, 600 ſhekels, and 10000 drams of Gold, and 1017000 Talents, and fifty ſhekels of ſilver to this Work: which in our money amounts to eight hundred & thirty eight millions, four hundred ſeventy ſeven thouſand, three hundred and ſixty two pounds, thirteen ſhillings, and ſix pence, all depoſited in the hands of Shelomith, a famous Lord Treaſurer, the 6th in a direct Line from Moſes, being the Son of Zichri, Joram, Jeſhajah, Rehabiah, Eliezer the ſon of Moſes. Nay, ſo magnifique a ſum it was, that Dr. Donne, ſometime Dean of Pauls, in his Encoenia, or Dedication Sermon for Lincolns-Inne Chappel, conjectures, that if all the Chriſtian Kings that are,1 Chron. 26.25. Exod. 18.4.1 Chr 26:25Exod 18:4 would ſend in all they have at once to any one ſervice, it would not equal this Royal-Sum of David and his Princes.

A noble ſum indeed! yet David modeſtly and humbly acknowledges all that he gave,1 Chron. 22.14.1 Chr 22:14 to be but of his poverty; which we muſt underſtand, as reflecting upon his many troubles and warres, much waſting his Treaſury. But he adds a very divine paſſage,1 Chron. 29.14.1 Chr 29:14 ſaying, It was all of Gods own, and rejoyces that he and his people had hearts to offer ſo willingly.

After all this, David being forbidden to build, yet went as far as he durſt, having ſet Maſons to work in hewing of ſtones, and provided cunning Gravers,1 Chron. 22.2.1 Chr 22:2 and men skilful in Works, both of Metal and Embroidery: the like whereof Solomon deſires the King of Tyre to ſend him. All which being done,2 Chron. 2.7.2 Chr 2:7 David falls aſleep in the Arms of the great Shepheard of Iſrael, and leaves the management and perfecting of all to his Son.

In the laſt place, we come to Solomon furniſhed with ſo vaſt a purſe, the nerve of Peace as well as War, to empty upon ſo glorious a Work, as the building of an Habitation for the God of Iſrael: and yet notwithſtanding, let us ſee what ſtately preparations he made. Stately, indeed, if ſome ſay true,2 Chron. 5.1.2 Chr 5:1 that he uſed not one mite of his Fathers Treaſures that were thus dedicated to God. Becauſe it is written, ſay they, That he brought all (which his Father had dedicated) into Gods Treaſury, as a Reſerve for extraordinary Emergencies and Reparations. But if theſe Suggeſters had remembred the fore-going Story, which tells us, that ſuch gold, and ſuch ſilver of David's gifts were laid out by weight upon ſuch and ſuch Ornaments and Utenſils,1 Chron. 28.1 Chr 28 they would never have troubled their Readers with ſuch a needleſs help to the advancement of Solomon's magnificence; appearing ſplendid enough, and according to the rate of his vaſt and Royal Revenues: which (if Villalpandus hit right, in his comparing and caſting it up,) far exceeded the Annual Incomes of the richeſt of the Roman Emperors. But as to this King in the firſt place, for Gold, we find him ſupplyed by Hiram with ſixſcore Talents of that metal,1 King. 9.11, 14.1 Kgs 9:111 Kgs 9:14 amounting, according to former proportions, to 522000 li. of our money: which ſome may conceive to have been employed in the Temple, though it doth not clearly ſo appear, but that it p. 7was a help to him in the building of all his ſtately Structures,Ver. 15. both Sacred and Civil. To which purpoſe, he had beſides laid a great Tax upon his own people.

In the next place, we read of his providing ſtones of ſeveral ſorts and ſizes,1 King. 5.17.1 Kgs 5:17 under the name of great ſtones, coſtly ſtones, and hewed ſtones: which you may lay together, if you pleaſe, as great coſtly hewn ſtones, for the Foundation of the houſe of God.

As to Timber, we read of three ſorts onelyonly,1 King. 5.8, 10.1 Kgs 5:81 Kgs 5:10 Cedars and Firre in one place, and of Almug-trees in another: ſome whereof were brought in ſhips from Ophir, to make Pillars in the Temple, as we tranſlate it: But concerning the uſe thereof we ſhall find a more full diſcuſſion in the 2d Chapter, where we ſpeak of the Weſtgate Shallecheth in the Outward Court, and of Solomon's ſtately aſcent to the houſe of the Lord; which was beautified and ſtrengthened with Pillars or Rails of Almug-trees. Some whereof he uſed for the Harps and Pſalteries of the Singers. The like of theſe Trees from Ophir were never ſeen before, nor ſince in the City Jeruſalem. Some quantity of theſe kind of Trees, he received out of the Foreſt of Lebanon.2 Chron. 2.8. C. 2. v. 7, 14.2 Chr 2:8

Other things he provided, as Purple, and Crimſon, and Blue, and fine Linnen, together with cunning Artificers to weave them for the Vailes of the Temple and Veſtments of the Prieſts.

All theſe materials being thus prepared to his hands, this mighty King undergoes the charge of all the Workmanſhip, and gathers a magnificent Army of skilful and induſtrious perſons to manage the buſineſs:183601. 1 King. 5.15. 80000. 70000. 3300. v. 16. 2 Chron, 2.2, 17, 18. 3600.1 Kgs 5:15 which aroſe to a ſum of an hundred eighty three thouſand, and ſix hundred men and one. Fourſcore thouſand whereof were hewers in the Mountains: Threeſcore and ten thouſand were bearers of burdens: and three thouſand three hundred Officers, as 'tis related in the Books of Kings: but there were three thouſand, ſix hundred, as we read in Chronicles. To ſolve it, Poſſibly three hundred at a ſecond Review might be added to the number of Officers, for the greater care of the buſineſs.2 Chron. 8.10.2 Chr 8:10 There being fifty Head-Officers, and at firſt but two hundred and fifty Officers next inferiour to them among three thouſand three hundred; and after review, there were three hundred added more: ſo that then there were fifty ſupream-Officers,1 King. 9.23.1 Kgs 9:23 five hundred and fifty of the next rate and employment, and three thouſand under-Officers, which makes the full ſum of three thouſand ſix hundred. All which, with their Workmen, were but ſtrangers in Iſrael, not Natives:1 King. 9.21. 2 Chron. 2.17.1 Kgs 9:212 Chr 2:17 or rather ſtrangers in bloud, though neighbors in habitation, being remnants of the Canaanites not yet deſtroyed, their number being in full 153600. Beſides theſe, he employed thirty thouſand men of Iſrael to work in Lebanon by courſes, ten thouſand in every monethmonth,1 King. 5.13.1 Kgs 5:13 and each third number reſted two moneths at home; over whom, the King placed Adoniram as chief Officer: which being joyned to the former number of ſtrangers, makes up the whole ſum at firſt mentioned even 183601.

Moreover, we read of a vaſt number of men ſent to him from his Father-in-Law Vafres, the King of Aegypt: ſo ſayes Eupolemus in Euſebius, who recites alſo a like vaſt number of the Tyrians. Scripture mentions nothing of the former: But as to the latter, that King Hiram, 1 King. 5.6: 2 Chron. 2.81 Kgs 5:62 Chr 2:8upon Solomon's Requeſt, did aſſiſt him with the help of his Subjects, is clear, though not to the number: Which ſurely was conſiderable, if we poll the men by their bellies, and if all the ſpecified quantity of Proviſion was diſpenſed onelyonly to theſe Workmen; which ſeems to be ſo in one place, which ſayes,2 Chron. 2, 10.2 Chr 2:10 That theſe meaſures were allowed for the Hewers, viz. Twenty Thouſand Meaſures of Wheat, and as much of Barley; Twenty Thouſand Baths of Wine, and as much of Oyl: Although another place tells us, it was allowed as an Annual p. 8Penſion for King Hiram's Houſhold foreign for his Houſe: which may be admitted by a metonymy to ſignifie theſe his ſervants,1 King. 5.11.1 Kgs 5:11 as by the parallel place, it ſeems to be ſo interpreted: Now, though the King might take a taſte poſſibly, yet certainly the quantities in general were imployed to the Work-mens content. The word here for Meaſures is foreign Corim, now a Core is equal to a Homer: and uſually as a Homer contains ten Ephahs in dry,Ezek. 45.11. & ver. 14.Ezek 45:11 ſo doth a Core, becauſe of equal capacity. The quantity of the Bath we have endeavoured in the fith Chapter of this Treatiſe to find out, according to the proportion of an Omer to ſeven Attick Coryla's laid down by Joſephus, whom we ſhall endeavour (God lending life and opportunity) to examine in another Tract, as to Meaſures: onelyonly at preſent, this ſuppoſition being granted for true and exact, then doth the Bath, and the Ephah its Symmetrical Veſſel, contain 52 pounds or pints, and ½ or ſix Gallons, one Pottle and ½ pint. Now becauſe of the hard Work in the Mountains, we will allow theſe proportions to the men in Wine. There being ſpent 616 Tun, and 16 Gallons of Wine upon them, and as much of Oyl, and double as much of Wheat and Barley in a year; we cannot, in conſcience, allow leſs then a pint of Wine in a day for a poor Labouring-man to encourage him: which being of the Red-wine of Paleſtine, mixt with water, would be a good refreſhment. So that there being 1241984 pints of Wine in Twenty Thouſand Baths, they will ſerve 3402 men fully throughout the Julian year of 365 days, and ſomewhat more then a Tun of Wine over, viz. 254 pints for the chief Officer. But if you make enquiry, by the quantity of Corn, allowing a pound of Wheat; and a pound of Barley to each man, generally drinking Water, but ſometimes encouraged with Wine and Oyl, which is more probable: Then the number by this computation will prove to be ten times as many; to wit, 34022. A company not much above the number of Solomon's own ſervants, which was thirty thouſand, as you heard before. We read in Herodotus a choenix of corn allowed to each perſon in Xerxes his Army for a day, in his Polymnia, p. 446. Edit. Steph. 1618. that is, two pound and a quarter, as learned Agricola rates it in his ſecond Book, de Menſuris Graecis, p. 120. and Moſes alſo allowed an Homer of Manna for each man in a day in the Wilderneſs; that is, above a pottle of that food a day,Exod. 16.13.Exod 16:13 as you may ſee, Cap. 14. Now although I read in††Bibl. Hiſt. l. 2. Diodorus Siculus, that Semiramis drew together two hundred Myriads, or 20 hundred thouſand men to build the famous City of Babylon, a number almoſt 14 times as many as theſe Builders of Solomon, both of his own, and Hiram's Subjects put together, which were but 217623 perſons: Yet we muſt conſider, She built a City of moſt vaſt extent and compaſs, viz. of 365 ſtadia; that is, of 45 miles,… and ⅝ of a mile, according to the laxe and ordinary proportion of 8 ſtadia to a mile: whereas this Temple was but about half a mile in circuit, as we ſhall ſee hereafter. Beſides, we muſt remember the vaſtneſs of the Walls, and the 250 Towers upon them round about that City, together with all the Buildings within it. Moreover, we find that City to have been finiſht in a year, whereas this was 7 years and a half before it came to its perfection; all which time this number of men was employed. That I may let paſs Diodorus his report of her ambitious mind, calling her foreign, that ſhe endeavoured to out-vye all her Predeceſſors. To conclude, I might ſuſpect the Author's Relation, as being of a thing far diſtant from his age and much relying upon Cteſias in that matter, a Writer whom Ariſtotle himſelf in his Hiſtory of Living Creatures, lib. 2. cap. 17. gives the Lye in plain Greek, without a Complement. Whereas Solomon's builders are reckoned up in thoſe ſacred Pages, which know not what a Lye means; and far exceed the number of thoſe that Chaeops imployed in building the portentuous p. 9Pyramid which was ten Myriads, or one hundred thouſand men by the teſtimony of Herodotus, l. 2. To proceed, the Timber fetcht out of the Mountains of Lebanon by theſe Labourers, was brought by Sea, in flotes,1 King. 5.9. 2 Chron. 2.16. Quareſm. de terra Sancta, l. 4. c. 1. 1 King. 7.14. 1 Chron. 2.14. & 4.11.1 Kgs 5:92 Chr 2:161 Kgs 7:141 Chr 2:141 Chr 4:11 to Joppa the Sea-port of Judea, and thence to Jeruſalem by Land, which was about 40 miles of Italian meaſure diſtant from Joppa as one Author places it. Moreover, Hiram King of Tyre (being moved thereto by King Solomon in a Letter) ſent to Jeruſalem his own Name-ſake, one Hiram, a rare Artificer, skilful in all manner of curious Works; as Caſting, Graving, Poliſhing: &c. who accordingly made the two Brazen Pillars, the Molten Sea, the ten Lavers, and the ſeveral Inſtruments of the Houſe of God. At laſt, when all was finiſht and compleated,1 King. 9.11, 12, 13.1 Kgs 9:111 Kgs 9:121 Kgs 9:13 King Solomon gave to King Hiram twenty Cities in the Land of Galilee, as a Preſent: But they pleaſed him not.

One Proemial Enquity more we ſhall crave leave to exhibite, before we come to the main Deſign, and that is the exact diſtance (as far as may be deduced out of Authors) of this famous City Jeruſalem (wherein the Temple was built) from London the Metropolis of England; That we may know whereabouts in the World our Diſcourſe lies. To this purpoſe, it's neceſſary, firſt, to know (if poſſible) the exact Poſition of Jeruſalem under the Heavens. Mr. Selden, a man that hath made many uſeful Collections tells us out of a Rabbi, De anno Civili, cap. 13. Edit. Bertii; lib. 5. c. 16.that for Longitude Jeruſalem lay in 66 gr. and ½ from the firſt Meridian, and for Latitude in 32 gr. Ptolomy acquaints us, that the Longitude was 66 gr. and the Latitude 31 gr. 40 minutes; and moreover that London hath 20 gr. 0 min. of Longitude, and 54 gr. 0 min. of Latitude. But we ſhall rather follow more modern Obſervations, and particularly that of Kepler, in his Rudolphin Tables, who ſets Jeruſalem in the Lat. of 32. 10. and London at 51. 32. and their difference in Longitude to be three hours, and four minutes: or rather as Longomontanus, his Scholar, at 3 hou, 6 min. So that if London lye in 24 gr. 20. from the firſt Meridian in the Azores, then Jeruſalem will lye in 70 gr. and 50′ of Longitude from the ſame place.

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Whoſe complement is 39 gr. 5 min. the exact diſtance of Jeruſalem from London raiſed from this computation. Now that we may convert theſe degrees and minutes into miles: the Queſtion will be, how many miles on the Surface of the Earth anſwer to a degree in the Heavens? The common, though falſe Vote, will give in an account of 60 miles of Italian meaſure to a degree: Which ſome would ſeem to maintain and confirm by the dictate of the Learned Ptolomy in his Geography, lib. 1. cap. 11. & lib. 7. cap. 5. who ſayes, that one degree of ſuch a Circle, which contains 360 in its circumference, does foreign; that is, take up five hundred Stadia or Furlongs upon the Periphery or Exteriour Surface of the Earth. But Snellius in his Eratoſthenes Batavus, lib. 2. cap. 3. pag. 138. labours to prove out of Hero, and others, that five Alexandrian feet (which probably were uſed by Ptolomy, an Inhabitant of Aegypt) were equal to ſix Roman; and conſequently▪ that the Aegyptian ſtadia were larger then either Graecian or Roman: and thence would infer, that the quantity of a degree upon Earth, was much larger then ſixty Italian miles, according to the mind of Ptolomy. Martianus Capella ſpeaking to this purpoſe, ſayes, that by Ptolomies account, every degree takes up five hundred ſtadia, that is, ſayes he, ſixty two miles, and five hundred paces, each ſtadium being equal to one hundred and twenty five paces, lib. 6. pag. 198. Edit. Grotii. If any deſire to peruſe the ſeveral Opinions of the Ancients, concerning this matter, he may find them recited by Clavius upon Sacroboſco, cap. 1. in the Section,Pag. 104. Edit. Londin. 8. lib. 2. cap. 13. Sea-mans Practice, ch. 2. de ambitu terrae. But to proceed to more certainty, if we conſult Gaſſendus the late Aſtronomy-Profeſſor at Paris, we ſhall find him abundantly larger, even to the allowance of ſeventy three Italian miles to one degree. To which account, Mr. Norwood, a late learned Improver of his Mathematicall Knowledge towards the advancement of the Art of Navigation, doth very near agree in a little Tract of his: Wherein he relates his Obſervation of the Altitude of the Pole taken at the two prime Cities of this Nation, London and York, in two Summer-Solſtices by a large Inſtrument. The difference of the two Altitudes he afterwards comparing with the meaſured diſtance of thoſe places, performed by great and induſtrious pains and diligence along the High-ways, lying betwixt them, in the year, 1635. having allowed for Obliquities, aſcents and deſcents, found a degree in the Heavens to be co-extended with 69 miles, 4 furlongs, and 14 Poles of Engliſh Statute-meaſure, upon Earth. Now foraſmuch, as an Italian mile conſiſts of five thouſand feet; whereas the Engliſh contains five thouſand, two hundred, and eighty, (not troubling our ſelves at preſent with the inconſiderable difference of an Engliſh foot from the Roman; it being but 66 parts longer then the Roman in ſuch an aſſumed quantity, as takes up two thouſand ſuch like parts (whereof more in the next Chapter) if we reduce the ſeventy three Italian miles into feet by five thouſand, we find a degree in the Heavens to take up on the ſurface of the Earth 365000 Italian feet,Gaſſend. Epicur. Philoſoph. Part 1. p. 243. Edit. 1649. according to Gaſſendus and Snellius. Again, if we reduce the Engliſh quantity of miles, furlongs, and poles into feet, the Product will be 367191 feet anſwerable to a degree: Whence it is apparent, that the difference is but ſmall, wherein the Engliſh Obſervation exceeds the other, viz. but three furlongs, twelve pole, and thirteen feet; that is, not half a mile in all: As to which, if we adjoyn Gaſſendus p. 11his Proxime to his 73. which he uſes, we may even count them coincident. Our induſtrious Countrey-man, in his next Chapter, moſt ingenuouſly acknowledges his Experiment not to be performed with that nice exactneſs and curioſity; which might be uſed,Mr. Greaves in his Roman foot, p. 31. according to the Rules he ther… layes down; it being a thing worthy the attempt of ſome noble perſon to perform; nothing unbeſeeming a Prince, who in the Eaſtern parts did once undertake it: But our Obſervations and Experiments are now come to greater maturity, for the encouragement of ſo worthy a Work: eſpecially ſince the uſeful Invention of Logarithms hath been brought to light for more compendious Calculation. But as to our purpoſe, I ſhall mention one Opinion more concerning the former buſineſs, and that is of the incomparably learned in the Mathematicks, Mr. Oughtred, the great Ornament of our Nation, now deceaſed; who in his Appendix concerning Navigation, Pag. 21.at the end of his Book, called, The Circles of Proportion, Cap. 3. Probl. 3allows onelyonly 66 of our Engliſh miles, and ſomewhat more to a Degree. Now then according to the vulgar account of 60 gr. to a mile, Mr. Wingate in his uſe of the Logarithms, ſetting Jeruſalem's Latitude at 32 gr. 0 min. London's at 51 gr. 50 min. and the difference of Longitude at 47 gr. 0 min. hath calculated their diſtance to be 2355 miles. If any be pleaſed with Mr. Oughtred's quantity of 66 miles, he ſhall find 39 gr. 5 min. the diſtance before found, betwixt Jeruſalem and London, in degrees and minutes, to be reſolved into 2579 miles, and ½. But according to Mr. Norwood's proportion of 69 miles, 4 Furl. and 14. Pole to a degree: he that compares them in account with 39 gr. 5 min. will find 2717 miles, 7 Furlongs, 30 Poles, and ½ to be the diſtance of theſe two Cities inquired after. OnelyOnly two Suppoſitions muſt be admitted in this Calculation: Firſt, that the Longitude and Latitude of Jeruſalem is exactly ſtated: Secondly, that the Earth is ſmooth and plain in its Surface or Convexity. For the diſtance will be much augmented to the Travellers ſweaty brows, in climbing the Alpine Mountains, and ſliding down the many ſteep Declivities, which he ſhall meet with, in his way: beſides the many impediments, by reaſon of the Rivers, Seas, and High-ways, in their various Obliquities, according to the different Cuſtoms of divers Nations.

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p. 12To the Tangent of DA.C. or AD. B. 10, 2587359. which is 61 gr. 8 min. 20″.

So that Jeruſalem lies from London SE and by E, 4 degrees, 53′. 20″. Eaſterly. But becauſe Rumbes are Heliſpherical lines, therefore I ſhall rather proceed according to the method propoſed by Mr. Norwood, for ſayling by a great Circle, Probl. 6. pag. 13. Whereby we find (though I ſhall omit the Tranſcription of its Calculation) that the diſtance of Jeruſalem from London, in the Arch of a great Circle ariſes to 38 gr. 49 min. whereby we ſee the difference from the former Calculation producing 39 gr. 5 min. is but 16 minutes. We find moreover by this laſt method, that the Angle of Jeruſalems Poſition lyes from the South part of the Meridian 46 gr. 2 min. 52″. So that it lies from London South-Eaſt, and 1 gr. 2′. 52″. more towards the fifth point of the Compaſs, viz. of SE and by E, which is the moſt exact place of its Situation, reſpecting the Metropolis of England. It bears then we ſee from London towards a point in the Compaſs, which lies betwixt the South-Eaſt, and the Eaſt South-Eaſt in a direct Line of Poſition, being the Segment of ſuch a Circle, which is equivalent to any of the greater Circles of the Sphere. According to which, ſome devout Architects (perhaps reſpecting the Mother-Church of all Nations at Jeruſalem) have built many of our Churches not full Eaſt and Weſt, but looking towards a Point between the full Eaſt, and the South-Eaſt. But as to the moſt preciſe determination of its diſtance and poſition, if ſome curious Artiſt, reſiding among our Conſuls in the Levantine Countries had formerly, or ſhould hereafter exquiſitely obſerve a Lunar Eclipſe at Jeruſalem, which might be viſible, and alſo obſerved at London the very ſame time, we might obtain a more punctual deciſion of this Inquiſition, upon which we have inſiſted. But leaſt the ſituation of Jeruſalem, as to the Altitude of the Pole there, and its diſtance from the firſt Meridian ſhould not prove (by ſome Eclipſes perhaps to be obſerved hereafter at the ſame time in both places by the mutual conſent of ſome able Aſtronomers reſident in each) to have been exactly ſtated by fore-cited Authors: We ſhall adde its bearing and diſtance from ſome famous Towns in the ſame Countrey, and ſo conclude.

In the firſt place, not being fully ſatisfied about the direct Poſition of Joppa (the Port-Town of Judea) before-cited, out of Quareſmius, to be 40 miles from Jeruſalem: I obſerved out of Ptolomy (who being a neer Neighbour in Aegypt, might poſſibly himſelf have made Obſervations in Syria) that the Longitude of Joppa, from the Canaries, is reckoned at 65 gr. 40 min. and its Latitude from the Aequator at 32 gr. 6 min. According to theſe Data, having calculated by the former method, I found it to be neer about 27 minutes diſtant from Jeruſalem in a direct line: which being reſolved into miles (by Mr. Oughtred's allowance of 66 to a degree) brings forth their diſtance to be of Engliſh miles 29 42/60. or 7/10, or which is all one 3696 feet, that is, almoſt ¾ of a mile. But ſeeing the Engliſh miles exceed the Italian by 280 feet in each mile, there will ariſe 31 miles, and 1816 feet of Italian meaſure for their diſtance: If there were no Hills, nor Windings in the common-high-ways, according to the ſuppoſed ſtating of Joppa's Situation by Ptolomy.

p. 13But according to Gaſſendus and Norwood (which I rather adhere to) allowing 73 Italian miles to a degree, the 27 minutes diſtance will produce 32 51/60 miles upon Earth in a ſtraight line. To which agrees the modern Obſervation of one Timberlake, an Engliſh Traveller, in the Deſcription of his Pilgrimage to the Holy-Land, ſetting it juſt at 32 miles diſtance. Brocardus the Monk (I know) ſayes, it was eight Leagues from Jeruſalem; Pag. 33. Edit. Colon. 1624.which, at 4 to a mile, makes 32 miles: Although I confeſs in the Preface to his Book, a League is ſaid to be an eaſie hours travel. But I rather ſuſpect an errour in the Copy becauſe the ſame Author pag. 45. tells us, that Rama was ten leagues from Jeruſalem, and in the ſame Rode that Rama was▪ three from Joppa: which, by three to a League, makes 39 miles. To which account Breidenbachius, ſometimes Dean of Mentz in Germany, doth aſſent in the recital of his Travels in thoſe parts, that Joppa was ten miles,Edit. Mentz. An. 1486. pag. 36, 38, 82, 83. or three leagues from Rama, and that Rama was thirty long miles, or ten leagues from Jeruſalem. Whereby, as alſo by Moryſon's Travels in Turkie, giving in the ſame diſtances, it appears to be the common account of the Countrey. I have ſpoken the more of Joppa, becauſe thence was brought the Timber of Mount-Lebanon all by Land: which though diſtant in a direct line, but about 33 Italian miles; yet might be 40 miles, according to the crooked Windings, and the great Hills that were in the way, according to the Obſervations of modern Travellers, both of our own Nation, and Forreigners. A tedious way to bring all the Timber of the Temple through: But the noble Heart, and large Purſe of Solomon, thought nothing too much for the Houſe of his God.

Now as to other Towns round about Jeruſalem, St. Hierom in his ſmall Tract of Hebrew places, ſayes, That Bethel was 12 miles, Anathoth 3, Bethlehem ſix. Concerning this Bethlehem, our Saviours Birth-place, Juſtin Martyr (who was born in Palestine, as he himſelf atteſts in the beginning of his ſecond Apology) ſayes, that Bethlehem was but 35 ſtadia from Jeruſalem. Bethſur, twenty; Bethany, two; and Rama, in Benjamin, Antiq. l. 8. c. 2. Pag. 62. Edit. p. 58. Sylburg. Edit. Bertij in folio, p. 12. Aelia, or Jeruſalem. 20. Eleutheropolis, 24. Aſcalon. Ptolom. Geogr. lib. 8. Aſiae Tab. 4.ſix miles from Jeruſalem. Which laſt, Joſephus ſayes was 40 ſtadia. The ſame Father placeth Hebron 22 miles from Jeruſalem, and Beerſheba in the outmoſt Border of Judea, twenty miles South of Hebron. I might proceed to calculate the diſtance of Samaria, Tyre, (where Origen was buried, according to Breidenbachius) Damaſcus, Jericho, Nazareth, and the reſt, if I intended a Geographical Deſcription. But I ſhall onelyonly adde one more, and that is the famous place in St. Hierom, called, Eleutheropolis, long ſought for by ſome: Which appears out of Antonines Itinierary, to lye twenty miles from Jeruſalem, South-Weſterly in the High-way to Aſcalon, and that it lay 24 miles North Eaſt of Aſcalon; and furthermore 18 miles South of Dioſpolis, or Lidda.

To conclude, Jeruſalem was the Head-City of Paleſtine (a Province of Aſia the Great) bounded on the Weſt by the Mediterranean Sea. The longeſt day at Jeruſalem was fourteen hours, and ⅛, or 7 minutes, 30 ſeconds, according to Ptolomy: But if any will ſtate it exactlier; they may, according to the ſuppoſed Latitude, calculate it more preciſely.

Having now finiſht this inquiry of our Cities Situation, we ſhall conclude with a Petition for favour, at the hand of every courteous Perſon, for ſo long detention in this previous Diſcourſe, and draw towards a period of this firſt Chapter.

In this City thus ſituated, ſtood the Mountain Moriah, Nicol. Fuller, Miſcel. ſacr. l. 2. c. 14.whoſe ſignifications, with ſundry Obſervations annexed, may be learned out of an excellent Critick of our own Nation.

p. 14On this Mountain ſtood our famous Temple, which we are about to deſcribe, whoſe Eaſtern-Gate and Wall, faced Mount-Olivet. The Holy of Holies, within this Temple, ſtood Weſtward; partly to imply, that the Worſhippers of the great and living God ſhould not worſhip the Sun, according to the Superſtitious Cuſtomes of the Eaſtern Heathens:Procopius Gazaeus, in Reg. lib. 1. cap. 6. pag. 192. Edit. Menri. But the omnipotent God, and Creator of that Sun, who appointed his Temple to be ſo ſituated, in oppoſition to Pagan Idolatry; which is one reaſon of many of the Jewiſh Rites and Ceremonies, if Gulielmus Pariſienſis may be Judge. Partly alſo it was thus ſituated, to denote the motion of Gods preſence into Europe, and the Weſtern parts of the World: Or laſtly, as others think, to have a reſpect to Mount-Calvary, the place of our Lords ſuffering; whoſe body was typified by the Temple; and his meritorious death, by all the Temple-ſacrifices. Having thus finiſhed, what was purpoſed by way of Preface, it reſts, that we now proceed to the main Body of this Treatiſe in the Nine Chapters following.

Place here the Figure of the view of the Temple-Building, and its Courts.