he presence of the
representatives of all Israel. The ornate ceremonial and worship which
had long been lavished on the deities of rival nations were now, for
the first time, offered to the God of Israel. The devout Hebrews who
had come together from far and near returned to their respective tribes
filled with admiration,** and their limited knowledge of art doubtless
led them to consider their temple as unique in the world; in fact, it
presented nothing remarkable either in proportion, arrangement, or in
the variety and richness of its ornamentation and furniture. Compared
with the magnificent monuments of Egypt and Chaldaea, the work of Solomon
was what the Hebrew kingdom appears to us among the empires of the
ancient world--a little temple suited to a little people.

* 1 Kings viii. 6-8, and 2 Ghron. v. 7-9.

** 1 Kings vi. 37, 38 states that the foundations were laid
in the IVth year of Solomon's reign, in the month of Ziv,
and that the temple was completed in the month of Bui in the
XIth year; the work occupied seven years. 1 Kings vii. 1
adds that the construction of the palace lasted thirteen
years; it went on for six years after the completion of the
temple. The account of the dedication (1 Kings viii.)
contains a long prayer by Solomon, part of which (vers. 14-
66) is thought by certain critics to be of later date. They
contend that the original words of Solomon are confined to
vers. 12 and 13.

The priests to whose care it was entrusted did not differ much from
those whom David had gathered about him at the outset of the monarchy.
They in no way formed an hereditary caste confined to the limits of
a rigid hierarchy; they admitted into their number--at least up to a
certain point--men of varied extraction, who were either drawn by their
own inclinations to the service of the altar, or had been dedicated to
it by their parents from childhood. He indeed was truly a priest "who
said of his father and mother, 'I have not seen him;' neither did he
acknowledge his brethren, nor knew he his own children." He was content,
after renouncing these, to observe the law of God and keep His covenant,
and to teach Jacob His judgments and Israel His law; he put incense
before the Lord, and whole burnt offerings upon His altar.*

* Those are the expressions used in the Blessing of Moses
(Deut. xxxiii. 8-12); though this text is by some writers
placed