Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/296

 The porch  before  the  Temple  was  twenty  cubits  in  length, and ten  cubits  in  breadth. The inner  walls  were  lined  with  planks of cedar,  on  which  were  carved  cherubim  and  palm-trees  and divers flowers,  all  standing  out,  as  it  were,  from  the  wall,  so  skilfully were  they  carved. All the  furniture  was  of  the  purest  gold. The walls  and  floor  of  the  Holy  of  Holies  were  covered  with plates of  fine  gold,  fastened  by  nails  of  gold.

When, after  seven  years,  Solomon  had  finished  the  Temple, he assembled  all  the  ancients  of  Israel  with  the  princes  of  the tribes, to  carry  the  Ark  of  the  Covenant  in  triumph  to  the  Temple. And all  the  people  marched  before  the  Ark  in  an  ecstasy  of  joy and religious  fervour,  making  peace-offerings  to  the  Lord  at  every step they  took. The Levites  played  on  the  harp  and  cymbal  and many other  instruments  of  music,  while  a hundred  and  twenty priests sounded  the  trumpet.

And the  multitude  sang  in  one  grand  chorus:  “Praise  the Lord, for  He  is  good,  and  His  mercy  endureth  for  ever.”  Then the Ark  having  arrived  at  the  gates  of  the  Temple,  only  the priests who  carried  it  entered  in,  and  they  brought  it  to  the  Holy of Holies,  and  the  cherubim  shaded  it  with  their  wings. And the majesty  of  God  in  the  form  of  a cloud  filled  the  Temple, so that  the  priest  could  not  stand  to  minister,  because  of  the dazzling glory  thereof.

Then Solomon,  arrayed  in  his  richest  robes,  fell  on  his  face before the  altar  of  holocausts,  and  stretching  out  his  hands  he said:  “Lord  God  of  Israel,  there  is  no  God  like  Thee  in  heaven or on  earth. If heaven  and  the  heaven  of  heavens  cannot  contain Thee, how  much  less  this  house  which  I have  built! O Lord my God,  hear  the  hymn  and  the  prayer  which  Thy  servant  prayeth before Thee  this  day,  that  Thy  eyes  may  be  open  upon  this  house night and  day,  that  Thou  mayest  hearken  to  the  prayer  which Thy servant  prayeth  in  this  place  to  Thee. Mayest Thou  hearken to Thy  people  when  they  pray  in  this  place. Mayest Thou  hear them and  show  them  mercy.”