Doctrine of Life #59
59. What we have said about the law’s promulgation, holiness and power in no. 55 above, may be found in the Word in the following passages:
That Jehovah descended onto Mount Sinai in fire, and that the mountain smoked and quaked then, and that there were thunderings, lightnings, a thick cloud, and the sound of a trumpet, see Exodus 19:16, 18, and Deuteronomy 4:11, 5:19-23.
That before Jehovah descended, the people readied themselves and sanctified themselves for three days, see Exodus 19:10-11, 15.
That bounds were set around the mountain to keep anyone from drawing near and approaching its base, on pain of death, and that not even the priests were to approach, but only Moses, see Exodus 19:12-13, 20-23, 24:1-2.
For the law promulgated from Mount Sinai, see Exodus 20:2-14, Deuteronomy 5:6-21.
That the law was written on two tablets of stone with the finger of God, see Exodus 31:18, 32:15-16, Deuteronomy 9:10.
That when Moses brought those tablets down from the mountain a second time, his face shone, see Exodus 34:29-35.
That the tablets were placed in the Ark, see Exodus 25:16, 40:20, Deuteronomy 10:5 and 1 Kings 8:9.
That on the Ark was set a mercy seat, and placed on this were cherubim of gold, see Exodus 25:17-21.
[2] That the Ark, together with the mercy seat and cherubim, constituted the inmost constituents of the Tabernacle, and that the golden lampstand, the golden altar of incense, and the table overlaid with gold which held the showbread constituted its outer constituents, and the ten curtains of linen, purple and scarlet its outmost constituents, see Exodus 25,26, 40:17-28.
That the place where the Ark was, was called the holy of holies or most holy place, see Exodus 26:33.
That the Israelite people all camped in order by tribes about the place where it resided, and set out in order after it, see Numbers 2.
That a cloud then stood over its abode by day, and fire by night, see Exodus 40:38, Numbers 9:15-16, 14:14, and Deuteronomy 1:33.
That the Lord spoke with Moses from above the Ark between the cherubim, see Exodus 25:22 and Numbers 7:89.
That because of the law it contained, the Ark was called the abode of Jehovah, for whenever the Ark set out Moses said, “Rise up, O Jehovah!” and when it rested, “Return, O Jehovah!” see Numbers 10:35-36, and also 2 Samuel 6:2, Psalms 132:7-8.
That because of the holiness of that law, Aaron was permitted to enter within the veil only with sacrifices and incense, see Leviticus 16:2-14ff.
That David brought the Ark into Zion with sacrifices and jubilation, see 2 Samuel 6:1-19. That Uzzah later died because he touched it, see verses 6 and 7 in that same chapter.
That the Ark was placed in the midst of the Temple in Jerusalem, where it constituted its inner sanctuary, see 1 Kings 6:19ff., 8:3-9.
[3] That because of the Lord’s presence and power in the law contained in the Ark, the Jordan’s waters were parted, and as long as the Ark rested in the midst of it, the people crossed over on dry ground, see Joshua 3:1-17, 4:5-20.
That the Ark’s being carried around caused the walls of Jericho to fall, see Joshua 6:1-20.
That Dagon, the Philistine god, fell down before the Ark, and after that lay at the threshold of the shrine with its head broken off, see 1 Samuel 5:1-4.
That because of the Ark many thousands of the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh were struck, see 1 Samuel 6:19.
1 Kings 6
1
It happened in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Ziv, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of Yahweh.
2
The house which king Solomon built for Yahweh, its length was sixty cubits, and its breadth twenty [cubits], and its height thirty cubits.
3
The porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was its length, according to the breadth of the house; [and] ten cubits was its breadth before the house.
4
For the house he made windows of fixed lattice work.
5
Against the wall of the house he built stories all around, against the walls of the house all around, both of the temple and of the oracle; and he made side rooms all around.
6
The nethermost story was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad; for on the outside he made offsets [in the wall] of the house all around, that [the beams] should not have hold in the walls of the house.
7
The house, when it was in building, was built of stone prepared at the quarry; and there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.
8
The door for the middle side rooms was in the right side of the house: and they went up by winding stairs into the middle [story], and out of the middle into the third.
9
So he built the house, and finished it; and he covered the house with beams and planks of cedar.
10
He built the stories against all the house, each five cubits high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.
11
The word of Yahweh came to Solomon, saying,
12
"Concerning this house which you are building, if you will walk in my statutes, and execute my ordinances, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I establish my word with you, which I spoke to David your father.
13
I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel."
14
So Solomon built the house, and finished it.
15
He built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar: from the floor of the house to the walls of the ceiling, he covered them on the inside with wood; and he covered the floor of the house with boards of fir.
16
He built twenty cubits on the hinder part of the house with boards of cedar from the floor to the walls [of the ceiling]: he built [them] for it within, for an oracle, even for the most holy place.
17
The house, that is, the temple before [the oracle], was forty cubits [long].
18
There was cedar on the house within, carved with buds and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.
19
He prepared an oracle in the midst of the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of Yahweh.
20
Within the oracle was [a space of] twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in its height; and he overlaid it with pure gold: and he covered the altar with cedar.
21
So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he drew chains of gold across before the oracle; and he overlaid it with gold.
22
The whole house he overlaid with gold, until all the house was finished: also the whole altar that belonged to the oracle he overlaid with gold.
23
In the oracle he made two cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits high.
24
Five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing to the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits.
25
The other cherub was ten cubits: both the cherubim were of one measure and one form.
26
The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was it of the other cherub.
27
He set the cherubim within the inner house; and the wings of the cherubim were stretched forth, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.
28
He overlaid the cherubim with gold.
29
He carved all the walls of the house around with carved figures of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, inside and outside.
30
The floor of the house he overlaid with gold, inside and outside.
31
For the entrance of the oracle he made doors of olive wood: the lintel [and] door posts were a fifth part [of the wall].
32
So [he made] two doors of olive wood; and he carved on them carvings of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold; and he spread the gold on the cherubim, and on the palm trees.
33
So also made he for the entrance of the temple door posts of olive wood, out of a fourth part [of the wall];
34
and two doors of fir wood: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.
35
He carved [thereon] cherubim and palm trees and open flowers; and he overlaid them with gold fitted on the engraved work.
36
He built the inner court with three courses of cut stone, and a course of cedar beams.
37
In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of Yahweh laid, in the month Ziv.
38
In the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all its parts, and according to all its fashion. So was he seven years in building it.
