s which
the king sent to God, that all may see how great a regard the king had
for God; for the king allowed a vast deal of expenses for these vessels,
and came often to the workmen, and viewed their works, and suffered
nothing of carelessness or negligence to be any damage to their
operations. And I will relate how rich they were as well as I am able,
although perhaps the nature of this history may not require such a
description; but I imagine I shall thereby recommend the elegant taste
and magnanimity of this king to those that read this history.

8. And first I will describe what belongs to the table. It was indeed in
the king's mind to make this table vastly large in its dimensions; but
then he gave orders that they should learn what was the magnitude of the
table which was already at Jerusalem, and how large it was, and whether
there was a possibility of making one larger than it. And when he was
informed how large that was which was already there, and that nothing
hindered but a larger might be made, he said that he was willing to have
one made that should be five times as large as the present table;
but his fear was, that it might be then useless in their sacred
ministrations by its too great largeness; for he desired that the gifts
he presented them should not only be there for show, but should be
useful also in their sacred ministrations. According to which reasoning,
that the former table was made of so moderate a size for use, and not
for want of gold, he resolved that he would not exceed the former table
in largeness; but would make it exceed it in the variety and elegancy
of its materials. And as he was sagacious in observing the nature of all
things, and in having a just notion of what was new and surprising, and
where there was no sculptures, he would invent such as were proper by
his own skill, and would show them to the workmen, he commanded that
such sculptures should now be made, and that those which were delineated
should be most accurately formed by a constant regard to their
delineation.

9. When therefore the workmen had undertaken to make the table, they
framed it in length two cubits [and a half], in breadth one cubit, and
in height one cubit and a half; and the entire structure of the work
was of gold. They withal made a crown of a hand-breadth round it, with
wave-work wreathed about it, and with an engraving which imitated a
cord, and was admirably turned on its three parts; for as they were