more light #263
The Design of Solomon’s Temple
by Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer
Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M. of Minnesota
Dear Masonic Student,
Below is an article written by Brother Albert Mackey, which I thought you
would like to see. – Ed
The Design of Solomon’s Temple
When Solomon had matured his design of a. temple to be consecrated to the
Most High, he found it impossible to carry that design into execution without
foreign assistance. The Hebrew nation, constantly struggling for its material
existence, and just rising to the condition of a civilized people, had made
little proficiency in science and architecture, and especially the ornamental
arts. There were few artificers and no architects in Judea. Solomon,
consequently, applied to Hiram, King of Tyre, for assistance, and that monarch
sent him a company of Tyrian architects, under the superintendence of Hiram
Abif, by whom the temple was erected. It was an oblong stone building, 150 feet
in length, and 105 in width. On three sides were corridors, rising above each
other to the height of three stories, and containing rooms, in which were
preserved the holy utensils and treasures. The fourth, or front side was open,
and was ornamented with a portico ten cubits in width, supported by two brazen
pillars – Jachin and Boaz.
The interior was divided into the most holy place, or oracle, 20 cubits long,
which contained the ark of the covenant, and was separated by a curtain, or
veil, from the sanctuary or holy place, in which were the golden candlestick,
the table of the shew bread, and the altar of incense. The walls of both
apartments, and the roof and ceiling of the most holy place, were overlaid with
woodwork, skillfully carved. None but the High-Priest was permitted to enter the
latter, and only the priests, devoted to the temple service, the former.
The temple was surrounded by an inner court, which contained the altar of
burnt offering, the brazen sea and lavers, and such instruments and utensils as
were used in the sacrifices which, as well as the prayers, were offered here.
Colonnades, with brazen gates, separated this court of the priests from the
outer court, which was likewise surrounded by a wall.
This celebrated temple certainly reflected honor on the builders of that age.
It was begun on the 2d day of the month Zif, corresponding with the 21st of
April, in the year of the world 2992, or 1012 years before the Christian era,
and was completed in little more than seven years, on the 8th day of the month
Sul, or the 23rd of October, in the year 2999, during which period no sound of
axe, hammer or other metallic tool was heard, everything having been cut and
prepared in the quarries or on Mount Lebanon, and brought, properly carved,
marked and numbered, to Jerusalem, where they were fitted in by means of wooden
mauls. So of Freemasonry, it has always been the boast that its members perfect
the work of edification by quiet and orderly methods, “without the hammer of
contention, the axe of division, or any tool of mischief.”
The excellency of the Craft in the days of our Grand Master Solomon was so
great, that, although the materials were prepared so far off, when they were put
together at Jerusalem, each piece fitted with such exactness that it appeared
more like the work of the Great Architect of the Universe than of human hands.
The temple retained its pristine splendor but thirty-three years, when it was
plundered by Shishak, King of Egypt. After this period it underwent sundry
profanations and pillages, and was at length utterly destroyed by
Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, A. M. 3416, B. C. 588, and the inhabitants of
Jerusalem carried as captives to Babylon.
back to top |
