also throughout the world. Even when it lay in ruins, Daniel, in the
land of captivity, opened his window toward its site when he prayed; and
the front of every synagogue looked toward it. It stood on Mount Moriah,
which was originally outside the wall of the city, east of Mount Zion.
In order to give room for all its courts, the surface of the hill was
increased by building out from its sides on successive platforms,
supported by immense substructions of brick and stone, so that the
entire mountain is honeycombed with artificial caves.
There were three successive Temples. 1. _Solomon's Temple_ dedicated
about 950 B.C. The accounts of this building are so meager, and the text
is so uncertain, that it is impossible to construct its plan with any
satisfaction. A conjectural ground plan is given on page 71. This temple
stood until 587 B.C., when it was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. 2. After
a period of desolation of 50 years, _Zerubbabel's Temple_ was begun, 536
B.C., and finished 20 years after. Still less is known of its
architecture; but it was probably on the same general plan as Solomon's,
though less magnificent. It passed through many sieges, was desecrated
by enemies, and reconsecrated by the Jews, but stood until 30 years
before the birth of Christ. 3. _Herod's Temple_ was a restoration,
enlargement, and improvement upon Zerubbabel's. It was built by Herod
the Great, in sections, taking down the old and building the new part by
part, so that it occupied many years, and was not completed until after
Herod's death, and less than ten years before its final destruction.
This was the Temple standing in the time of Christ, and referred to in
the allusions of the New Testament. It was destroyed by the Romans under
Titus, A.D. 70, and was never rebuilt by the Jews, though its
restoration was more than once attempted. Its site is now occupied by
the Mohammedan "Dome of the Rock," often, but erroneously, called the
Mosque of Omar.
[Illustration: THE DOME OF THE ROCK.]
The Temple of Herod is the one usually described in works on the
subject. The authorities are: 1. The Scriptures, from which we gather
references to this Temple, and analogies from the description of the
Tabernacle, of which the Temple was an enlarged copy. 2. The description
given by Josephus, which was written 20 years after its fall, and gives
general impressions rather than accurate details. 3. The tract Middoth
"measures," in the Talmud, which gives precise measurements, but not
complete information. 4. The allusions in ancient Jewish literature, of
more or less value and authority. 5. The results of recent explorations
under the Temple area, which are very valuable. Different investigators
have come to very different conclusions concerning the Temple and its
courts. We present in this description those of Dr. James Strong, in
McClintock & Strong's Cyclopedia, from which our diagram is taken, by
permission. From the uncertainty of many dimensions, and especially the
difference of opinion with regard to the length of the Jewish cubit, in
which all the ancient measurements are given, most of our figures must
be regarded as general estimates, rather than precise statements.
The Temple consisted of a building called "the House of God," surrounded
by a number of open courts, the outer ones including the inner. On the
north of it was the Tower of Antonia; east, Valley of the Kedron;
south, Ophel; west, Valley of the Tyropoeon; and beyond, Mount Zion.
I. =The Court of the Gentiles= was the largest, and the first entered by
a visitor from without. It was so named because it was the only part of
the building in which foreigners were allowed; hence not regarded as
sacred by the Jews. Speaking roughly, it was an open square, of about
1,000 feet on each side; more precisely, a quadrangle, whose inside
measurements were 990 feet on the north, 1,000 on the east, 910 on the
south, 1,060 on the west. On two sides there was a covered corridor;
Solomon's Porch on the east, Herod's Porch on the south. It was entered
on the north, east and south, by a single gate in each wall: north, the
Gate Tedi, a staircase leading up to the Tower Antonia, from which Paul
made his speech to the Jewish mob (Acts 22); east, the Gate Shushan,
directly opposite to the altar, and leading to the Valley of the Kedron;
south, the Gate Huldah, a subterranean passage through the floor of the
court, which was here much higher than the ground outside the wall;
west, four gates: the southern, near the angle of the wall, the Gate
Shalleketh, or Kiponos, opening to a bridge over the Tyropoeon; next,
Gate Parbar; then, the South Gate of Asuppim; and near the northern
corner of the wall, the North Gate of Asuppim. On the floor of this
court was a market for the sale of sacrificial meats, with "tables of
the money changers"; twice broken up by Jesus in his ministry. (John
2:14-16; Matt. 21:12, 13.) [Notice, in this account: 1. Name. 2.
Dimensions. 3. Porches. 4. Gates. 5. Market.]
[Illustration: SECTION THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE TEMPLE FROM EAST TO
WEST.]
II. =The Sacred Enclosure= was an elevated section in the northwestern
part of the Court of the Gentiles, containing the sacred buildings. It
was called by the Jews the _Chel_ (pronounced _Kel_). It stood 8 feet
higher than the level of the surrounding court; and its outside
measurement was 630 feet on the north and south, by 300 east and west.
Its outer wall was a lattice wrought in stone, called Soreg,
"interwoven," 4-1/2 feet high, containing inscriptions in many
languages, warning all foreigners not to enter it, under penalty of
death. A fragment of this wall, with its inscription, was recently
discovered in Jerusalem. Within this wall was a corridor 24 feet wide,
containing an ascent of steps 8 feet high; and above them the inner
wall, which was like that of a castle, very thick, from 40 to 60 feet
high, and more than once used as a fortress by the Jews. Through both
the outer lattice and the inner wall were nine gates, four each on the
north and south; one on the east, opposite to the altar; but none on the
west. Though most of the worshipers came from that side, the rear of the
Temple stood toward it, and the front faced the east. The Chel, then,
was a terrace of 24 feet, between two walls, an outer lattice and an
inner castle. Paul was arrested under a false report of his having led
Gentiles into this Sacred Enclosure. (Acts 21:28, 29.)
[Illustration: PLAN OF THE SACRED ENCLOSURE (HEROD'S TEMPLE).]
III. =The Court of the Women=, often called "The Treasury," occupied a
square in the eastern end of the Sacred Enclosure. Passing through the
thick wall, the Jewish visitor (for none other was allowed to enter)
found himself in an open court, about 240 feet square, surrounded by
high walls, and 3 feet higher than the platform of the Chel. To this led
four gates, or rather doors, in the middle of the wall on each side;
that on the east, probably, being the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3:2), and
that on the west the Gate of Nicanor, because the head of Nicanor, a
Syrian enemy of the Jews, had once been hung upon it. In each corner of
the court was a room, open overhead, 60 feet square. That in the
southeast was used for the ceremonies of the Nazarite's vow, and was the
one where Paul was seized by the Jews (Acts 21:26); in the northeast,
for the preparation of wood for the altar; in the northwest, for the
ceremonies of cleansing for lepers; in the southwest, for the storage of
sacrificial oil. Between these rooms were galleried cloisters, of which
the upper story was set apart for women, who were not allowed to
penetrate further into the Temple, but from the gallery over the Gate of
Nicanor could witness the sacrifices. Around the wall were fastened 13
treasure-chests, for gifts of the worshipers, from which came the name
"Treasury." (Mark 12:41, 42; John 8:20.) Under the floor of this court
was a subterranean passage from the Tower of Antonia, by which soldiers
were sent to quell riots among the Jews, the opening being by the Gate
Beautiful, over which was a guard-room. Through this passage the
soldiers came who rescued Paul from the Jewish mob. (Acts 21:31, 32.)
Under the steps leading up to the Gate Nicanor were two rooms in which
musical instruments were stored for use at the festivals. [Review. 1.
Names. 2. Dimensions. 3. Doors. 4. Rooms. 5. Galleries. 6.
Treasure-chests. 7. Underground passage. 8. Music-rooms. 9. Scripture
allusions.]
IV. =The Court of Israel=, or Court of the Men, occupied the western end
of the Sacred Enclosure, and was a narrow corridor surrounding the Court
of the Priests. It was 10 feet higher than the Court of the Women; 320
feet east and west, by 240 north and south. The width of the corridor on
the north and south was 16 feet, and on the east and west 24 feet. It
was the place where the men of Israel stood to view the sacrifices. On
the outside of it rose the high inner wall of the Sacred Enclosure; on
the inside, a low balustrade sufficed to separate it from the space set
apart for the priests. Three gates led up to it on the north; as many on
the south; and one, the Gate of Nicanor, on the east. In the wall on the
north were chambers used severally for treasuries, guard, the storage of
salt, the storage of hides and of earthenware. On the south, at its
eastern corner, was the session-room of the Sanhedrim, called the Hall
Gazith, and beyond it rooms in the wall for guard, storage, etc. In the
Hall Gazith, the elders sat on seats of stone arranged in semicircular
form. [Review. 1. Name. 2. Location. 3. Dimensions. 4. Purpose. 5.
Walls. 6. Gates. 7. Rooms.]
V. =The Court of the Priests= was a raised platform within the Court of
Israel, and standing 3 feet above it. It was about 275 feet long, by 200
feet wide. It was mainly occupied by the House of God, in front of which
stood the great Altar of Burnt Offering, built upon the stone which now
rises under the Dome of the Rock. The altar was a rude structure of
rough stone, whitewashed, and 15 feet high. From its southwestern corner
an underground drain passed beneath all the courts to the brook Kedron.
Opposite, also, to the southwestern corner, was the Laver, supplying
water for the services and washings. Around the altar were marble tables
for various uses in the sacrifices, and in the pavement were rings for
securing the animals to be slain. [Review. 1. Name. 2. Dimensions. 3.
Altar. 4. Drain. 5. Laver. 6. Tables, rings, etc.]
VI. =The House of God=, or Temple Proper, occupied more than half the
space in the Court of the Priests. Its floor was 8 feet above the level
of the surrounding court; and it had four parts. 1. The Porch, or
Vestibule, extended across the front: it was 120 feet high, and
consisted of several stories. Its roof was steep, and covered with
golden spikes to keep birds from settling upon and defiling it. It was
built of marble, and richly ornamented. 2. The Chambers were on each
side of the house, but separate from it, and not attached to its wall.
They were three stories high, and entered from the north and south by
winding stairs. Their use was to furnish homes for the priests during
their two weeks of service each year. 3. The Holy Place was 30 feet wide
and 60 feet long, double the dimensions of the same room in the
Tabernacle. It was entered from the vestibule by double doors plated
with gold; and both floor and ceiling were covered with gold. On the
right side of one entering was the Table, on which 12 loaves of
unleavened bread were kept standing; on the left was the Lamp-stand,
generally called (but incorrectly) the Golden Candlestick, for it held
seven lamps, not candles; and at its further end was the golden Altar of
Incense, lighted each day by coals from the Altar of Burnt Offering. In
this room Zacharias received the promise of the birth of John the
Baptist. (Luke 1.) 4. The Holy of Holies was a cube, each dimension
being 30 feet. It was separated from the Holy Place by a vail, said to
be 8 inches thick (but probably consisting of two vails 8 inches apart),
which was rent from top to bottom at the hour of the Saviour's death on
the cross. (Mark 15:38.) In the first Temple this room contained the Ark
of the Covenant; but in the second and third Temples the place of the
lost ark was taken by a marble stone, upon which the high priest laid
the censer on the Day of Atonement, the only day in the year when the
Holy of Holies was entered. The Roman conqueror, Pompey, insisted upon
entering it, expecting to see some object of worship, and perhaps
treasure, but was surprised to find nothing within the vail. [Review. 1.
Porch. 2. Chambers. 3. Holy Place and contents. 4. Holy of Holies.]
OUTLINE FOR TEACHING AND REVIEW.
I. Let the teacher relate the history of the
Temple, with its three periods of building, under
Solomon, Zerubbabel and Herod, and review the
class on the names and events.
II. Draw the elevations of the several courts and
buildings, showing how they successively rose one
above another, and, as each is indicated, give its
name, and its elevation above the preceding. 1.
Court of Gentiles. 2. Sacred Enclosure, 8 feet
elevation. 3. Court of Women, 3 feet higher. 4.
Court of Israel, 10 feet. 5. Court of the Priests,
3 feet. 6. House of God, 8 feet.
III. Draw next the ground plan of the six
departments as given, and describe each, following
the order given in the description above.
Frequently review the class upon the names,
dimensions and facts.
IV. Number the Scripture references given in the
description, write them on slips of paper,
distribute to the class, and call for them in
connection with the parts of the Temple to which
they refer. At the close call upon the class to
name the Scripture incidents connected with each
department.
LESSONS IN THE GEOGRAPHY OF PALESTINE.
MORE than two-thirds of the events of Bible history are associated with
the land of Palestine, and a knowledge of that country and its principal
places is needed by every Sunday School scholar and Bible student. Any
Superintendent who will take ten minutes of the Sunday School session
for the purpose or teaching Bible Geography, can in less than three
months give to his school a sufficient knowledge of Palestine for the
general needs of Bible study. The requisites are: a blackboard; some
crayons (of various colors, if possible to obtain them); a clear idea on
the part of the instructor of what he proposes to teach; precise
statements of the things taught, in as few words as possible; giving
nothing except the important facts which are to be remembered; and
frequent reviews, from the beginning, of all the facts acquired. The
lessons here given have been taught many times in Sunday Schools and
children's classes at Assemblies, and are now published in the hope that
they may be made generally useful.
[Illustration: LESSON I.]
LESSON I. LINES AND WATERS.
I. Draw in presence of the class, in white chalk, the =two lines=, one
representing the Coast Line, the other, the Jordan Line. Notice that the
cape on the Coast Line is one-third the distance from the top of the
map; that the second of the three lakes is directly opposite to the
cape; and that the distance between the second and third lakes is just
six times that between the first and the second. The teacher may draw
the lines in advance of the lesson, with a soapstone slate pencil, which
will make a faint mark, not distinguishable at a distance, but seen by
the teacher, and easily traced in presence of the class with white
crayon. Let the class repeat the names of the two lines. 1. Coast Line.
2. Jordan Line.
II. Locate the different =Bodies of Water=, indicating their names by
initial letters. 1. The Mediterranean Sea, on the west, called in the
Bible "the Great Sea." 2. The river Jordan, flowing from north to south.
3. Lake Merom, on the north. 4. The Sea of Galilee. 5. The Dead Sea,
into which the Jordan flows. Show the class that this sea lies so low,
that, if a canal were cut to the Mediterranean, the ocean would run in,
instead of the Dead Sea running out. Drill the class on: 1. Lines. 2.
Bodies of Water.
LESSON II. NAMES AND DISTANCES.
Draw the same map as in Lesson I., but omit the lettering, and review
the Lines and Waters.
I. State and drill upon the =Names= by which the land has been known in
different times. 1. In the earliest ages it was called _Canaan_, because
its best-known people were the Canaanites. 2. After the Israelites
conquered it, it was known as the _Land of Israel_. 3. In the time of
Christ it was generally called _Judæa_ because the Jews were its
inhabitants. 4. Its name is now _Palestine_. [Write an initial or
syllable of each name, and recall it from the class.]
II. Give the =Distances=. 1. Begin with the country best known, and
state first the distance from America to Palestine, 7,800 miles. [Write
on the board A. P. 7,800.] 2. The Coast Line, from a point opposite the
source of the Jordan to a point opposite the lower end of the Dead Sea,
180 miles. [Write C. L. 180.] 3. The Jordan Line, from its source to the
lower end of the Dead Sea, 180 miles. [J. L. 180.] 4. From the Jordan to
the Mediterranean, on the north, 30 miles. [J. M. 30.] 5. From the Dead
Sea, at its southern end, to the Mediterranean, 90 miles. [D. S. M. 90.]
6. The most northern town in Palestine was Dan [mark D. on the map]; the
most southern was Beersheba [mark B.]. Hence, to show the extent of the
land, they said "from Dan to Beersheba," which was 150 miles in a
straight line. [Write D. B. 150.] 7. Palestine, between the Jordan and
the sea, includes about 6,600 square miles, which is a little smaller
than Massachusetts. [Write S. M. 6,600.] Review the facts already given
from the beginning. 1. Lines. 2. Waters. 3. Distances.
[Illustration: LESSON II.]
[Illustration: LESSON III.]
LESSON III. NATURAL DIVISIONS.
Draw, as before, the outline of the map, and review all the facts
already taught. 1. Lines. 2. Waters. 3. Names. 4. Distances. Test the
memory of the class on these without giving the initials.
There are four Natural Divisions to Palestine; that is, four sections in
the country, lying parallel with each other. Indicate them on the map in
brown chalk, not making them very prominent.
1. We find the =Sea-Coast Plain= [S. C. P.] extending along the Coast
from north to south, narrow at the north, and wider at the south.
2. Further inland, we come to the =Mountain Region= [M. R.], the
backbone of the country, a section of hills and mountains, and the home
of the Israelitish people.
3. Passing over the mountains, we find the =Jordan Valley=, a deep
gorge, and deeper the further we travel southward, until, at the Dead
Sea, it is more than 1,300 feet lower than the Mediterranean.
4. Still further eastward, we climb the steep mountains again, and reach
the =Eastern Table-Land=, a lofty plain sloping gradually to the great
desert beyond it.
Review, as before. 1. Lines. 2. Waters. 3. Names. 4. Distances. 5.
Natural Divisions.
LESSON IV. MOUNTAINS.
[Illustration: LESSON IV.]
Review, as usual, from the beginning, before commencing the advance
lesson. The events of the Bible are often associated with =Mountains=,
of which there are many in Palestine. We select eight of the most
important, group them in pairs, and state with each the fact which gives
it interest.
On the north of the country, near the source of the Jordan, we find two
mountains, nearly opposite to each other. 1. _Mount Hermon_, on the
east, the highest mountain in Palestine, and the place where the Saviour
was transfigured. 2. _Mount Lebanon_, on the west, famous for its
cedars.
Next, we find two mountains nearly in line with the Sea of Galilee, one
directly west and the other southwest of it. 3. _Mount Carmel_, by the
Mediterranean, where Elijah called down fire from heaven upon the altar.
4. _Mount Gilboa_, where King Saul fell in battle with the Philistines.
In the centre of the country we find two mountains, where Joshua read
the law to the Israelites. 5. On the north, _Mount Ebal_, the mount of
cursing. 6. On the south, _Mount Gerizim_, the mount of blessing.
In the south, directly in line with the northern end of the Dead Sea,
are two mountains. 7. On the west, _Mount Olivet_, or the Mount of
Olives, where Jesus ascended. 8. On the east, _Mount Nebo_, where Moses
died.
With each of these mountains the event associated might be briefly
related. At the close, review as before. 1. Lines. 2. Waters. 3. Names.
4. Distances. 5. Divisions. 6. Mountains. Be sure that the class can
name the event with each mountain.
LESSON V. PLACES.
This lesson may well be divided into from two to four sections,
according to the time which can be given to it. Draw the map, as usual,
from the beginning; and, as each subject is presented upon it, review
the pupils, until all their past lessons are clearly fixed in mind. 1.
Lines. 2. Waters. 3. Names. 4. Distances. 5. Natural Divisions. 6.
Mountains. See that with each mountain, as it is located, the event
connected with it is named.
We have now to fix the most important =Places= in Palestine. We locate
them by their arrangement in the Natural Divisions, and name an event
for which each place is remembered.
I. =Places in the Sea-Coast Plain.= [These may constitute one lesson, if
desired.] 1. _Gaza_, where Samson pulled down the idol temple upon the
Philistines and himself. This lies on the Mediterranean, directly in
line west of the middle point of the Dead Sea. 2. _Joppa_, the seaport
of Palestine, from which the prophet Jonah started on his voyage. This
lies nearly half way between Gaza and Mount Carmel. 3. _Cæsarea_, where
Paul made his defense before King Agrippa, and was a prisoner for two
years. This is a little more than half way between Joppa and Mount
Carmel. 4. _Tyre_, the city which sent ships to all lands; a little
further north of Mount Carmel than Cæsarea is south of it. As each place
is named, locate it on the board, and mark it by an initial letter.
II. Another lesson may include the most important =Places in the
Mountain Region=. 1. _Beersheba_, the home of Abraham; opposite the
lower bay of the Dead Sea. 2. _Hebron_, where the patriarchs were
buried; opposite the middle of the Dead Sea, and in line with Gaza. 3.
_Bethlehem_, where David and Jesus were born, 6 miles south of
Jerusalem. 4. _Jerusalem_, the capital of Palestine, where David
reigned, and where Jesus was crucified; directly in line with the
northern end of the Dead Sea. 5. _Bethel_, 10 miles north of Jerusalem,
where Jacob saw the vision of the heavenly ladder. 6. _Shechem_, between
the twin mountains of Ebal and Gerizim, where Jesus talked with the
woman of Samaria. 7. _Nazareth_, where Jesus spent his boyhood; directly
in line with the southern end of the Sea of Galilee.
[Illustration: LESSON V.]
III. =Places in the Jordan Valley.= Two of these are near the northern
end of the Dead Sea. 1. _Jericho_, west of the Jordan, where the walls
fell down before the Israelites. 2. _Bethabara_, east of the Jordan,
where Jesus was baptized. Two more are near the northern shore of the
Sea of Galilee. 3. _Capernaum_, where Jesus lived during his ministry,
and wrought many miracles; on the northwestern shore of the sea. 4.
_Bethsaida_, where Jesus fed the five thousand with five loaves; on the
north of the sea. 5. The last is at the source of the river Jordan,
_Dan_, the most northerly town in Palestine.
[Illustration: LESSON VI.]
IV. =Places in the Eastern Table-Land.= There are not many in this
section, because few events of Bible history took place there. 1.
_Machærus_, where John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded; opposite
the northern part of the Dead Sea. 2. _Penuel_, on the brook Jabbok,
where Jacob wrestled with the angel. This is about midway between the
Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee. 3. _Mahanaim_, where David wept over
Absalom's death. This is about half way between Penuel and the Sea of
Galilee. 4. _Cæsarea Philippi_, at the foot of Mount Hermon, where Jesus
taught his disciples.
It may be desirable not to give these places in a single lesson, but to
divide it into two, or even four sections, and give one at a session. In
that case, with each lesson all the places already located should be
reviewed, together with the events associated with them. If the places
can be marked upon the board in bright red chalk, they will be
prominent.
LESSON VI. PROVINCES.
Review from the beginning, as usual. 1. Lines. 2. Waters. 3. Names. 4.
Distances. 5. Natural Divisions. 6. Mountains. 7. Places.