The interior of the sacred edifice was, as already intimated, divided into two apartments. The inside dimensions of the outer chamber, called the Holy, was forty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high. This chamber was separated from the inner, called the Holy of Holies, by a partition, a large opening in which was, after the manner of the east, closed by a suspended curtain. This Holy of Holies was at the western extremity of the building, and its internal dimensions formed a cube of twenty cubits. the building was the porch, at the entrance of which stood the two pillars called Jachin and Boaz, which were twenty-three cubits in height. The sacred building was surrounded by three stories of chambers, each of which was five cubits high, making together fifteen cubits; so that what appeared above, of the walls of the main building, afforded ample space for its windows.

At the east end of

The lowest story of the chambers was five cubits, the middle six cubits, and the highest seven cubits wide. This difference of width arose from the circumstance that the walls of the holy house were so thick, that they were made to recede one cubit, so that the successive

shelvings in the wall of the temple afforded a firm support to the beams of the several stories, without the necessity of inserting their ends into the very substance of the wall, which might not have been considered reverent. These observations will be found to render more intelligible the particulars given in 1 Kings vi. 5, 6; and it will be seen from this that, assuming the elevation of the porch as already described, this, with the stories of chambers on each side, rising to half the height of the main building, must have given the structure a general resemblance, in the external view, to a church with a nave and two side aisles, and with a tower or steeple rising in front. This analogy was indeed intended in the original construction of churches. But it will be observed that the parts (stories of chambers) which answered to the aisles of a church, had in the temple no connexion whatever with the interior of the building.

The windows in the wall of the main building, above the uppermost stories of the side chambers, were doubtless of the curious lattice work, still used in the east, even where glass is known, as more favourable than glass to the coolness and ventilation which a warm climate

demands. It is probable that the windows of the temple were, for these purposes, rather tha for light; for the outer chamber of the temple was lighted by the lamps of the golden candlestick, and it is generally understood that the inner temple was strictly an adytum, having no windows. It was to this circumstance that Solomon alludes: "The Lord said that he would dwell in the thick darkness," 1 Kings viii. 12.

The substantial fabric of the temple " was built of stone, made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house while it was in building," 1 Kings vi. 7. The object of this was doubtless to lessen the expense and labour of transporting the stone from the quarries; but the effect was remarkable:—

"No workman steel, no pond'rous axes rung;

Like some tall palm the noiseless fabric sprung."

The structure was, however, wainscoted with cedar wood, which was covered with thin plates of solid gold. The boards within the temple were ornamented with beautiful carvings, repre senting cherubim, palm-trees, and flowers; and being covered with the precious metal, must have had a truly rich effect. The ceiling of

the temple was supported by beams of cedar, and was wholly covered with gold. The partition which separated the Holy from the Holy of Holies, consisted probably not of stone, but of beams and boards of cedar; and it would further appear that the panels consisted of a kind of reticulated work; so that the incense which was daily offered in the outer chamber, might diffuse itself freely into the inner sanctuary, see 1 Kings vi. 21.

The floor of the temple was throughout of cedar, but boarded over with fir. 1 Kings vi. 15. The doors of the Holy of Holies were of olive wood; but the door of the outer chamber had posts of olive wood and valves of fir. Both these doors had folding leaves, which, however, seem to have been usually kept open, the apertures being closed by a suspended curtain. This contrivance is still observed, not only in the mosques and Christian churches of the east, but in the churches of southern Europe, where the doors usually stand open, but the doorways can only be passed by moving aside a heavy curtain. A similar contrivance may be noticed at the law courts in Westminster Hall. The opening for the door of the most holy place appears to have been equal to one-fifth of the

whole area of the partition; and that of the whole temple to one-fourth of the breadth of wall in which it was placed. We may thus understand 1 Kings vi. 31-35, from which we also learn that the door was covered with carved work, overlaid with gold.

In the most holy place, stood the ark only: but in the centre were ten golden candlesticks, the altar of incense, and the table of shewbread.

The temple area was divided into two courts. The inner court, called also the court of the priest, and by Jeremiah the upper court, was that in which stood the temple, and in which the priests officiated. The inclosure of this

appears to have been formed of cedar beams, resting on a foundation of stone, 1 Kings vi. 36; and is described by Josephus as being three cubits high. The outer court was called also the great court, 2 Chron. iv. 9, and "the court of the Lord's house," Jer. xix. 14, xxvi. 2. Both these courts were surrounded by spacious buildings and offices, some of which, however, appear to have been added at a period later than that of Solomon. Notices of some additions occur in 2 Kings xv. 35; Jer. xxvi. 10; xxxvi. 10; and compare Josephus's "Wars of