of the pillars was eighteen cubits and their circumference twelve
cubits； but there was cast with each of their chapiters lily…work
that stood upon the pillar； and it was elevated five cubits；
round about which there was net…work interwoven with small palms；
made of brass； and covered the lily…work。 To this also were hung
two hundred pomegranates； in two rows。 The one of these pillars
he set at the entrance of the porch on the right hand； and called
it Jachin （9） and the other at the left hand； and called it Booz。
5。 Solomon also cast a brazen sea； whose figure was that of a
hemisphere。 This brazen vessel was called a sea for its
largeness； for the laver was ten feet in diameter； and cast of
the thickness of a palm。 Its middle part rested on a short pillar
that had ten spirals round it； and that pillar was ten cubits in
diameter。 There stood round about it twelve oxen； that looked to
the four winds of heaven； three to each wind； having their hinder
parts depressed； that so the hemispherical vessel might rest upon
them； which itself was also depressed round about inwardly。 Now
this sea contained three thousand baths。
6。 He also made ten brazen bases for so many quadrangular lavers；
the length of every one of these bases was five cubits； and the
breadth four cubits； and the height six cubits。 This vessel was
partly turned； and was thus contrived： There were four small
quadrangular pillars that stood one at each corner； these had the
sides of the base fitted to them on each quarter； they were
parted into three parts； every interval had a border fitted to
support ＇the laver＇； upon which was engraven； in one place a
lion； and in another place a bull； and an eagle。 The small
pillars had the same animals engraven that were engraven on the
sides。 The whole work was elevated； and stood upon four wheels；
which were also cast； which had also naves and felloes； and were
a foot and a half in diameter。 Any one who saw the spokes of the
wheels； how exactly they were turned； and united to the sides of
the bases； and with what harmony they agreed to the felloes；
would wonder at them。 However； their structure was this： Certain
shoulders of hands stretched out held the corners above； upon
which rested a short spiral pillar； that lay under the hollow
part of the laver； resting upon the fore part of the eagle and
the lion； which were adapted to them； insomuch that those who
viewed them would think they were of one piece： between these
were engravings of palm trees。 This was the construction of the
ten bases。 He also made ten large round brass vessels； which were
the lavers themselves； each of which contained forty baths； （10）
for it had its height four cubits； and its edges were as much
distant from each other。 He also placed these lavers upon the ten
bases that were called Mechonoth； and he set five of the lavers
on the left side of the temple （11） which was that side towards
the north wind； and as many on the right side； towards the south；
but looking towards the east； the same ＇eastern＇ way he also set
the sea Now he appointed the sea to be for washing the hands and
the feet of the priests； when they entered into the temple and
were to ascend the altar； but the lavers to cleanse the entrails
of the beasts that were to be burnt…offerings； with their feet
also。
7。 He also made a brazen altar； whose length was twenty cubits；
and its breadth the same； and its height ten； for the
burnt…offerings。 He also made all its vessels of brass； the pots；
and the shovels； and the basons； and besides these； the snuffers
and the tongs； and all its other vessels； he made of brass； and
such brass as was in splendor and beauty like gold。 The king also
dedicated a great number of tables； but one that was large and
made of gold； upon which they set the loaves of God； and he made
ten thousand more that resembled them； but were done after
another manner； upon which lay the vials and the cups； those of
gold were twenty thousand； those of silver were forty thousand。
He also made ten thousand candlesticks； according to the command
of Moses； one of which he dedicated for the temple； that it might
burn in the day time； according to the law； and one table with
loaves upon it； on the north side of the temple； over against the
candlestick； for this he set on the south side； but the golden
altar stood between them。 All these vessels were contained in
that part of the holy house； which was forty cubits long； and
were before the veil of that most secret place wherein the ark
was to be set。
8。 The king also made pouring vessels； in number eighty thousand；
and a hundred thousand golden vials； and twice as many silver
vials： of golden dishes； in order therein to offer kneaded fine
flour at the altar； there were eighty thousand； and twice as many
of silver。 Of large basons also； wherein they mixed fine flour
with oil； sixty thousand of gold； and twice as many of silver。 Of
the measures like those which Moses called the Hin and the
Assaron； （a tenth deal；） there were twenty thousand of gold； and
twice as many of silver。 The golden censers； in which they
carried the incense to the altar； were twenty thousand； the other
censers； in which they carried fire from the great altar to the
little altar； within the temple； were fifty thousand。 The
sacerdotal garments which belonged to the high priest； with the
long robes； and the oracle； and the precious stones； were a
thousand。 But the crown upon which Moses wrote ＇the name of
God＇；＇was only one； and hath remained to this very day。 He also
made ten thousand sacerdotal garments of fine linen； with purple
girdles for every priest； and two hundred thousand trumpets；
according to the command of Moses； also two hundred thousand
garments of fine linen for the singers； that were Levites。 And he
made musical instruments； and such as were invented for singing
of hymns； called ；Nablee and Cindree； ＇psalteries and harps；＇
which were made of electrum； ＇the finest brass；＇ forty thousand。
9。 Solomon made all these things for the honor of God； with great
variety and magnificence； sparing no cost； but using all possible
liberality in adorning the temple； and these things he dedicated
to the treasures of God。 He also placed a partition round about
the temple； which in our tongue we call Gison； but it is called
Thrigcos by the Greeks； and he raised it up to the height of
three cubits； and it was for the exclusion of the multitude from
coming into the temple； and showing that it was a place that was
free and open only for the priests。 He also built beyond this
court a temple； whose figure was that of a quadrangle； and
erected for it great and broad cloisters； this was entered into
by very high gates； each of which had its front exposed to one of
the ＇four＇ winds； and were shut by golden doors。 Into this temple
all the people entered that were distinguished from the rest by
being pure and observant of the laws。 But he made that temple
which was beyond this a wonderful one indeed； and such as exceeds
all description in words； nay； if I may so say； is hardly
believed upon sight； for when he had filled up great valleys with
earth； which； on account of their immense depth； could not be
looked on； when you bended down to see them； without pain； and
had elevated the ground four hundred cubits； he made it to be on
a level with the top of the mountain； on which the temple was
built； and by this means the outmost temple； which was exposed to
the air； was even with the temple itself。 He encompassed this
also with a building of a double row of cloisters； which stood on
high upon pillars of native stone； while the roofs were of cedar；
and were polished in a manner proper for such high roofs； but he
made all the doors of this temple of silver。
CHAPTER 4。
How Solomon Removed The Ark Into The Temple How He Made
Supplication To God； And Offered Public Sacrifices To Him。
1。 When king Solomon had finished these works； these large and
beautiful buildings； and had laid up his donations in the temple；
and all this in the interval of seven years； and had given a
demonstration of his riches and alacrity therein； insomuch that
any one who saw it would have thought it must have been an
immense time ere it could have been finished； and would be
surprised that so much should be finished in so short a time；
short； I mean； if compared with the greatness of the work： he
also wrote to the rulers and elders of the Hebrews； and ordered
all the people to gather themselves together to Jerusalem； both
to see the temple which he had built； and to remove the ark of
God into it； and when this invitation of the whole body of the
people to come to Jerusalem was every where carried abroad； it
was the seventh month before they came together； which month is
by our countrymen called Thisri； but by the Macedonians
Hyperberetoets。 The feast of tabernacles happened to fall at the
same time； which was celebrated by the Hebrews as a most holy and
most eminent feast。 So they carried the ark and the tabernacle
which Moses had pitched； and all the vessels that were for
ministration； to the sacrifices of God； and removed them to the
temple。 （13） The king himself； and all the people and the
Levites； went before； rendering the ground moist with sacrifices；
and drink…offerings； and the blood of a great number of
oblations； and burning an immense quantity of incense； and this
till the very air itself every where round about was so full of
these odors； that it met； in a most agreeable manner； persons at
a great distance； and was an indication of God's presence； and；
as men's opinion was； of his habitation with them in this newly
built and consecrated place； for they did not grow weary； either
of singing hymns or of dancing； until they came to the temple；
and in this manner did they carry the ark。 But when they should
transfer it into the most secret place； the rest of the multitude
went away； and only those priests that carried it set it between
the two cherubims； which embracing it with their wings； （for so
were they framed by the artificer；） they covered it； as under a
tent； or a cupola。 Now the ark contained nothing else but those
two tables of stone that p