2 Chronicles 3 – The
building is located at the place David designated, “on the threshing floor of Araunah
the Jebusite” (3:1) on Mt. Moriah. It is started on the 2nd day of
the 2nd month [mid-spring] of the 4th year of his reign.
The measurements are all given in “cubits of the old standard”—60 by 20 [90
feet long and 30 feet wide]. The vestibule 20 cubits long and 120 cubits high.
It is overlaid with pure gold. The nave [main room] is lined
with cypress and covered with fine gold.
The house is adorned with precious stones. Cherubim are carved on the
walls. “The total wingspan of the two cherubim standing side by side was 30
feet. One wing of the first figure was 7 and ½ feet long, and it touched the
Temple wall” (3:10-11).
The curtains are made of blue and purple and crimson fabric
and fine linen with cherubim worked (embroidered) in (3:14). In front of the Temple there are two pillars 27
feet high with a capital of 7.5 feet on top. Chains are set on top of the
pillars and pomegranates are on the chains.
The pillars—one to the right and one to the left of the temple are named
Jakin and Boaz.
2 Chronicles 4 – The
altar is made of bronze—30 feet long, 30 feet wide and 15 feet high (4:1). “Then he cast a great round basin, 15 feet
across from rim to rim, called the Sea. It was 7 ½ feet deep and about 45 feet
in circumference. It was encircled just below its rim by two rows of figures
that resembled oxen”(4:2-3). It is encircled with panels and stands on 12 oxen,
three facing north, three south, etc. Their faces face outward. There are ten
basins to wash in, five on each side and ten tables. The doors to the court of the priests are
overlaid with bronze. The Sea is at the southeast corner of the house.
Huram-abi also makes pots, shovels and basins. Solomon makes
all the things that were in the temple—the golden altar, tables for the bread
of the Presence (4:19) lampstands, lamps of gold, flowers, lamps, tongs,
snuffers, basins, ladles, and firepans. The doors to the holy of holies and the
doors of the nave of the temple were also of gold.
Augustine (354-439)
On the Profit or Benefit of Believing
12 - Wherefore I
would that they would tell me, in what kind they place the, supposed, error of
the Catholic Church. If in the first [some falsity
that the reader is supposed to believe is true even though the writer knew it
was not true], it is altogether a grave charge; but it needs not a
far-fetched defense: for it is enough to
deny that we so understand, as the persons, who inveigh against us, suppose [it
is enough or an adequate defense if we say we do not accept the falsity as
truth]. If in the second [when both writer and reader accept something as
truth that is not true], the charge is not less grave but they shall be refuted
by the same saying [that the interpretation put
forward is simply not true and can be shown to be not true]. If in the
third, it is no charge at all [because no harm comes
from the falsity – it is interpreted in a way that makes the end of it all not
a problem].
Proceed, and next consider the Scriptures themselves. For
what objection do they raise against the books of (what is called) the Old
Testament? Is it that they are good, but
are understood by us in an ill [incorrect] sense? But they themselves do
not receive them. Or is it that they are neither good, nor are well understood?
But our defense above is enough to drive them from this position. Or is it this that they will say, although
they are understood by you in a good sense, yet they are evil? What is this
other than to acquit living adversaries, with whom they have to do, and to
accuse men long ago dead, with whom they have no strife?
I indeed believe that
both those men profitably delivered to memory all things, and that they were great
and divine. And that that Law was published, and framed by the command and
will of God: and of this, although I have but very slight knowledge of books of
that kind, yet I can easily persuade any, if there apply to me a mind fair and
no way obstinate: and this I will do, when you shall grant to me your ears and
mind well disposed: this however when it shall be in my power: but now is it
not enough for me, however that matter may stand, not to have been deceived?
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