This was expressive of Christ's continual intercession.

On the north side of the Temple were placed the golden tables, on which the Shew-bread was set. It is conceived by some Jewish writers they were placed thus. The Mosaic table was in the middle, and the tables made by Solomon were placed, five on the one side of it, and five on the other. Though others think it was not so: but that five of the tables were put on one side of the house, and five on the other. If it was either way placed, there was a most plentiful supply of bread for the priests to feed on once a week, and it was symbolical of Christ the bread of everlasting life.

On the South side of the Tabernacle, or Temple, stood the golden candlesticks, each of which had been curiously adorned, having seven branches for lamps; five of these candlesticks stood, as some think, on the right hand of the Mosaic one, and five on the left of it, that being in the middle. Though others think, five were on the North side, and five on the South. Be this as it may, there was a great effusion of light expressive of Christ, who is the light of everlasting life.

The Temple was to the South-east of Jerusalem in a large court, surrounded

with an high wall, somewhat like our churches surrounded with a church.. yard. The Sanctuary, or Holy Place, was forty cubits in length, twenty in breadth, and thirty in height. The cubit is commonly reckoned half a yard, or eighteen inches. Some think the sacred cubit to be double the common one. In

the second Temple was a court, which was a perfect square, of five hundred cubits on every side, two thousand cubits in the circumference. This was divided into two parts, called the outer and the inner courts. The inner court was for the Priests and Levites. And the outward court was for the clean Israelites, such as were free from common ceremonial uncleanness and pollution. The court immediately before the Temple, and which is called the inner court, and the court of the priests, where they ministered, was divided from the court of the people; which was so low that they might see what was doing in it by the Priests and Levites there. They ascended from the one to the other by stairs, or steps of stone, twelve in number. The porch was a kind of magnificent steeple. It was twenty cubits from north to south, and ten from east to west, and one hundred and twenty in height. On each side of its entrance was a pillar about eighteen. cubits high, adorned with chapiters, and

about two hundred figures of pomegranates.

In the inner court were the following sacred worshipping utensils.

1st. The Altar of Burnt-offering. This was thirty-six and an half feet square, and eighteen feet and a quarter high. It was called Ariel, the Lord's Lion. It was also called Hazel, the Lord's mountain. It bore both titles. It was called the Lord's Lion; because the holy fire which came down from Heaven couched on it like a lion, say the Jewish Rabbies. It was called the Lord's Lion on the Mountain, and the Lord's mountain, in reference to Christ the lion of the tribe of Judah, who defends his church and people from all their enemies.

2d. The Brazen Sea, supported with twelve cherubic figures so placed, that the form of the or or bull was the outside. Hence we read of its being placed on twelve oxen.

On

3d. Ten bases of brass sculptured with cherubim and flowers of lilies. these bases were placed ten lavers.

4th. The ten marble tables, whereon the sacrifices were cut in pieces, and prepared for the altar.

5th. There were rings, where the victims were tied down to be slain.

6th. The desk and places where the Isa. xxix. 1. Ezekiel xliii. 15. See the Margin.

Singers, Musicians, and Trumpeters stood to perform their services.

7th. There were also flesh hooks, on which the offerings when cut into their several parts were hung, and on them were put the butchering instruments, and bowls, and vials used in the daily ministrations; which were also hung up, as may be easily conceived, for that purpose.

Solomon's Temple stood about four hundred and sixteen years, when it was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar.

About seventy years after it was rebuilt with less splendour and glory by the captives who returned from Babylon.

It had stood as thus rebuilt about five hundred years, when it was rebuilt with far greater magnificence by Herod the Great. And a new court for the Gentiles was added. But in little more than eighty years after it was finally destroyed by the Romans. A. D. 72.

In A. D. 66, our Lord brought the Romans upon the Jews, who destroyed one million and an half, say some, or, as others, two millions of them, agreeable to the predictions of Moses, and our Lord'.

This dreadful war continued seven years. It ended A. D. 73. And JeruDeut. xxviii. and Matt. xxiv.

salem was taken in the beginning of September, A. D. 70, says Mr. Blayney in his Dissertation on Daniel ix. 20-27, page 58. Thus literally in the midst of the week he caused the sacrifice and oblation to cease for ever'.

The inner court was paved, and underneath it were springs, from whence water was conveyed by pipes for the service of the Brazen Sea, and Lavers, and other things. Hence the allusion in the vision of the holy waters, which are said to come down from the right side of the house, on the south side of the altar. The water came into the Temple from Etham, a spring shut up, and a fountain sealed.

A great number of Priests and Levites were engaged in the Temple service; some in killing the sacrificial animals; others in flaying them; others in cutting them up; others in washing them and their dissected parts; and others in bringing the pieces to the altar. In all of which a spiritual mind beheld a solemn exhibition of Christ in the whole process of his sufferings both of body and soul and of him, as the one everlastingly efficacious sacrifice for sin. Not less than one thousand Priests and Levites were employed at one time in the Temple service and worship.

• Verse 27.

t Ezek. xlvii. 1, &c.