The Temple of Solomon Portrayed, History · Chapter 7

The Temple of Solomon Portrayed · History · Chapter 7

p. 136CHAP. VII. Of the Encoenia, or Solemn Dedication of the Temple.

HEre it is requiſite, for the diſcharge of our duty, as to this Chapter, that we firſt ſet down the circumſtance of time, wherein this ſtately Work was performed: Wherein to avoid all Conteſts, at preſent, We ſhall follow the renowned, pious, and learned Primate of Ireland, in His fore-cited Annals, pag. 58. who places it in the Three Thouſand, Seven Hundred, and Tenth Year of the Julian Period, and the Three Thouſand and firſt Year of the World, and ſhews, that it was co-incident with a Year of Jubilee: and in the ſeventh MonethMonth of that year called Ethanim. 2 Chron. 5.3.2 Chr 5:3The firſt day whereof (according to his Calculation, though it's greatly diſputed to the contrary) did exactly concur with the 230 October of that Julian Year. The Temple was finiſhed in all its parts in ſeven years, and about ſix moneths. For it was firſt founded in the ſecond day of the ſecond monethmonth, 2993. But the Dedication was prorogued to the 8th Year, becauſe of the ſolemnity of the Year of Jubilee, ſayes our Reverend Author.So Pe…avius de Doctr. Temp. lib. 13. p. 537. 1 King. 6.38.1 Kgs 6:38 Solomon is ſaid indeed to be but ſeven years in erecting this Building and all its Appurtenances, that is, ſeven compleat years, though there were ſeveral moneths over. We ſhall then, according to His mind preſent this Seaſon in a ſilent Scheme: onelyonly let's remember, it was the 2758 Judaical Year, the Julian Cycle of the Moon five, and the Judaical three, the Cycle of the Sun that year was 14, the Dominical Letter D. Therefore the Neomenia Tizri, or firſt day, or New Moon of Tizri, called Ethanim in thoſe dayes, muſt be Feriâ Sexta, or Friday, Octob. 23. according to Him.

There are great Wranglings among Chronologers in this particular. Calviſius places the 23 day of Ethanim, on the 5th of October, being Monday, as he ſays, A. M. 2940. Scaliger, An. P. J. 3703. the New Moon of Ethanim, October 12. and ſo his Scholar Helvicus. But a late Learned Author caſts the New Moon upon Octob. 5. The firſt day of the Dedication, Octob. 11. and the departure of the People, Octob. 27. It would take up more time, then is neceſſary to imploy on this Deſign, if we ſhould ſpend many Lines upon the Reconcilement of various Authors, that treat upon this Point: To which purpoſe, it were very neceſſary to enquire anxiouſly into the exact Julian Year wherein this dedication fell out, a & fterward to calculate the New Moon of Niſan out of the beſt Tables, and then to aſſure the Reader, by the falling out of the New Moon, before or after the Equinoxe, whether it was a common or intercalated year. Nay, to be moſt exact, to deduce the Moons Conjunction, out of the Tables for the monethmonth of Ethanim it ſelf, and then add to that time of the preciſe Synod,††Lang. de annis Chriſti l. 1. c. 10. & Selden de anno Civili Judaeorum, cap. 13. 27 hours, and ½ for to give the Moon a viſible Phaſis; according to which day of its firſt appearance, the Jewiſh New Moons were vulgarly celebrated. If I ſhould perform this at preſent, it would ſwell this Treatiſe too much, for which it is not of any great moment to inſiſt; and therefore we ſhall proceed briefly to deſcribe the pompous Solemnity of this Dedication.

In the firſt place we read, that King Solomon, for this rare Feſtival, aſſembled the Elders, the Heads of the Tribes,2 Chro. 5.2. 1 Kin. 8.65.2 Chr 5:21 Kgs 8:65 and the chief of the Fathers of Iſrael, and a mighty Congregation of all the Nation, from the entring in of Hamath, to the River of Egypt.

p. 1382 Chro. 7.7.2 Chr 7:7After this, Solomon hallowed the middle of the Court, becauſe the Brazen Altar would have proved inſufficient to contain the multitudes of the intended Offerings.

The Elders of Iſrael being aſſembled, waited upon the King at Mount Zion, where the Ark of God's Covenant was yet reſident, which the Prieſts took up upon their ſhoulders:1 Kin. 8.3, 4.1 Kgs 8:31 Kgs 8:4 The Levites, mean while, according to their ſeveral deſigned Ranks, carryed the Tabernacle of Boards and Curtains wherein the Ark ſtood, with all the Holy Veſſels of Moſes.

2 Chro. 5.2.2 Chr 5:2Thus in a pompous Holy Proceſſion they walked leiſurely from the City of David, the Ark being brought up to the ſacred Mountain: the King and all the Congregation ſacrificed before it Sheep and Oxen without number.Ver. 6.

Ver. 7.Then the Prieſts conveyed the Ark of the Covenant into the Oracle, or moſt Holy Place, and ſet it under the Wings of the Golden Cherubims, which being done, and the Prieſts returned out of that myſterious place, one hundred and twenty of them with ſilver Trumpets (for Moſes his were of ſilver) ſounded in the Court, and near to them the Singers, Aſaph, 1 Chron. 6.33. Ver. 12.1 Chr 6:33Hëman the Grand-ſon of Samuel the Prophet, and Jeduthun, with their Sons and Brethren, being arrayed in White Linnen, and accommodated with Cymbals, Pſalteries, and Harps, ſtood at the Eaſt End of the Altar, lift up their Voices, and ſung this Verſe: For He is good; For His Mercy endureth for ever. While this admirable Conſort of Vocal, Pneumatical and Organical Muſick,2 Chron. 5.13.2 Chr 5:13 made a joyful ſound throughout the Temple, its Courts, and the Neighbouring City; Behold a Cloud of Glory filled the Houſe of God, with ſuch bright and ſhining Beams, that the Prieſts could not ſtand to miniſter by reaſon of its Radiant Majeſty.

Immediatly upon this, King Solomon ſtanding upon his Brazen Scaffold before the Altar and looking towards the Cloud of Glory, thus beſpake the Divine Majeſty,2 Chron. 6.1, 2. Ver. 3, 4, &c.2 Chr 6:12 Chr 6:2 The Lord hath ſaid, that He would dwell in the thick Darkneſs: But I have built an Houſe of Habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling for ever. Then the King turns his face to all the people as they ſtood, makes a ſhort, but elegant and pithy Oration, and gives them His Royal Bleſſing.

After this, He turns His face Weſt, again, to the Temple, and the Altar, directing His Eyes ſtedfaſtly towards that Divine Glory, and falling down devoutly upon His Knees,2 Chron. 6.12, &c. 2 Chron. 7.1,2 Chr 6:122 Chr 7:1 and ſpreading out His Hands toward Heaven, He powrs out a large and Heavenly Prayer before the Majeſty of God, riding upon the Chariot of the Cherubims.

At the concluſion thereof, miraculous Fire deſcends from Heaven, conſuming the Burnt-Offering, and the Sacrifices, while the Glory of the-Lord filled the Houſe with ſuch Orient Splendour, that the Prieſts could by no means enter.

Now when all the Children of Iſrael ſaw the Fire from Heaven, and the Glory of GOD upon the Houſe, they bowed themſelves with their Faces to the Ground upon the Payement, worſhipped and praiſed the Lord (with one Voyce) ſaying, For He is good; for His Mercy endureth for ever.

p. 139Then the King offered His ſtately Sacrifice to the Lord of two and twenty thouſand Oxen, and a hundred and twenty thouſand Sheep.

Thus the King and all the People dedicated the Houſe of the Lord throughout ſeven days: After which followed the ſeven days of the Feaſt of Tabernacles; together with an eighth, being the ſolemn Aſſembly, the 22 day of the monethmonth.

The 23 followed, which was the Sabbath,; and that being concluded, on the Evening of the 23 day, Solomon ſent away the people to their Tents,2 Chron. 7.10. Lev. 23.40, & 42.2 Chr 7:10Lev 23:40Lev 23:42 (which were made, during this Feaſt, according to the Law, of Willows, and Palms) glad and merry in heart, for the goodneſs which the Lord had ſhewed to David, to Solomon His Son, and to His People Iſrael. After which night, having ſlept ſweetly, on the firſt day of the Week, every one takes up his Journey to his own Habitation, according to their various diſtances from the Holy Temple.