The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 167

I. IN ITS STRUCTURE. The temple, we have seen, WI\S a reproduction, on an enlarged scale, and in a more permanent form, of the tabernacle. And the tabernacle wns fashioned after a heavenly pattern (Exod. xxv. 40; xxvi. 80; xxvii. 8; Heb. viii. 5). Thrice was Moses admonished to make it" according to the fashion which was showed him in the mount." It has been well said that earth is "But the shadow of heaven, and things therein Axe to e.ach other like." But this is true in a specie.I sense of the earthly and heavenly temples. Their resemblance is recognized in the very language used of the temple. " Heaven thy dwelling-place" is constantly found in close connexion with " this house" (eh. viii. SO, 34, 39, 43). The same word-Zebul-used of the temple in eh. viii. 13 is used of heaven in Isa. lxiii. 15. Compare also ver. 13, "a settled place for thee to dwell in," &c., with vers. 30, 39, 43, &c. (Heb.) The same word-Haycal-again, used of the temple in eh. vi. 5, 33; vii. 50; 2 Kings xxiv. 13, is elsewhere used of heaven (Psa. ri. 4; niii. 7; xxix. 9, &c.) But can we trace the resemblance? Co.n we suggest any points of contact? Let us try, premising, :fhst, that a" general ane.Iogy is all that we can look for" (Alford on Rev. viii. 3). 1. The temple was tripartite (see eh. vi Introduction). It was composed of porch, holy place, and oracle (the side chambers were hardly integral parts of the structure; see note on eh. vi. 6). Now it is remarkable that though the Jewish fathers spoke of "seven heavens "-some held that there were two-Holy Scripture speaks of three, and three only. When St. Paul would describe the very dwelling-place of Deity, he calls it" the third heaven" (2 Cor. xii. 2). What are the three heavens- whether atmospheric (nubiferum), sidereal (astrijerum), and angelic (angeliferum), or what-it does not concern us to say; it is enough for our purpose that there are three. And three, it must be remembered, is the number and signature of God. 2. All the temple was God's dwelling-place. It is a mistake to suppose that the oracle was the abode of God, the holy place the abode of the people. In the temple the people had no place. It was the "house of the great God" (Ezra v. 8) ; a palace for God, and not for man (1 Chron. xxix. 1). "As the whole house, so also each compartment . . . is called' the dwelling-place'" (Biihr). Again, the holy place, as well as the entire sanctuary, is called the palace (eh. vi. 5 with 2 Kings xxiv. 13). The primary design of the temple, as of the tabernacle, was to afford a. habitation for the ark and for Him whose covenant it contained. 3. But the inner temple was God's shrine. In the holy of holies, He was revealed. He dwelt "between the cherubim" (Exod. xxv. 22; 1 Sam. iv. 4; 2 Rings rix. 15, &c.) The word Shechinah, which is used to denote the Presence, is derived from shachan, "he dw11lt." So it is in heaven. Heaven is God's throne (Isa. lxvi. 1; Acts vii 49) ; but there is a "heaven of heavens," where He is revealed. True " the heaven and heaven of heavens" cannot contain Him, any more than the holy and the holy of holies, but in each He has His special habi- tation. Here again temple and temple not built with hands are alike. 4. The temple blazed with gold and gems. It was "exceeding magnifical '' as the palace of the Godhead. Everything was appropriate to a great king. "Pure gold," "gold of Uphaz," cedar, olive wood, all was "for glory and beauty" (Exod. :...-.:viii. 2). Compare the description of heaven in Rev. xxi. 9 sqq. Like a jo.sper stone (ver. 11) ; pure gold (vers. 18, 21) ; precious stones (vers. 19, 20) ; twelve pearls (ver. 21). II. IN ITS FURNITURE. Observe : the furniture and appointments outside the house, in the court of the priests-brazen altar, molten sea, lavers, &c.-have no counterparts in heaven. They are "of the earth, earthy." In the holy place were the altar of incense, the table of shewbread, the ten candlesticks, &o. (eh. vii. 48-50). In the most holy place were the mercy-seat, the cherubim of glory, the ark, the golden censer, &c. And heaven has its golden altar (Rev. vi. 9; viii. fS; ix. 13), its incense (Rev. viii. 3, 4), its seven lamps (Rev. iv. 5; cf. Exod. xxvii. .23, Z11ch iv. 2). And for the table of shewbread, see Rev. xxii. 2. Or if it be said Oll, Vlll, 1-66,] THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 167