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SECTION XL.

THE DEDICATION OF SOLOMON'S TEMPLE.

From 1 Kings, Chap. vii, viii.

THUS all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished; and Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated; and the silver and the gold, and all the instruments put he among the treasures of the house of GOD.

Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.

Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king in the feast, which was in the seventh month.

And all the elders of Israel came; and the Levites took up the ark.

And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, these did the priests and the Levites bring up.

Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled unto him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, which could not be told or numbered for multitude.

And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims.

For the cherubims spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubimns covered the ark and the staves thereof above.

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And they drew out the staves of the ark, that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen without. And there it is unto this day.

There was nothing in the ark save the two tableswhich Moses put therein at Horeb, when the LORD fmade a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.

And all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course: Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed "in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:

It came even to pass, when the priests that were come out of the Holy Place, and as the trumpeters and singers: were as one,' to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lift up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals, and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For He is goot; for His mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was led with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;

So that the priests could not stand to minister by reaon of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the House of God.

ANNOTATIONS AND REFLECTIONS.

David conducted the ARK to JERUSALEM with every estimony of respect that it was in his power to shew; but the magnificence of the present solemnity far exceeded that of the former.. David had himself provided for this Ey appointing the number and offices of the attendants un the temple service..

When

When David assembled the princes, &c. a little before his death, the Levites amounted to 38,000: 24,000 were to forward the work of the HOUSE of the LORD; 6,000 were officers and judges; 4,000 were the guards of the TEMPLE; and 4,000 were to praise the LORD with musical instruments; and, as more would be wanted after the Temple was built, instead of waiting till they were thirty years old, they were for the future to enter on their employments at twenty. David directed that the priests and Levites should be divided into twenty-four courses by lot; each course to give a weekly attendance at the 'Temple in their turns. The men who were skilful in singing, amounted at that time to 288: 12 of these were tostand with cymbals, and psalteries, and harps, on common days, every morning and evening, to praise the LORD, and to be joined by at least 166 of their brethren, who played upon various musical instruments.

On the great festivals all the singers attended, to sing and play successively, and at least 4,000 musicians. We find, that the whole body of priests and Levites were assembled at the dedication of the Temple.

What a grand and solemn service must this have been! especially with the addition of David's psalms, which were given to the chief musician to be set to music, and sung in order to commemorate the signal mercies of Gop to David and his people: and also to preserve the prephecies contained in them, which were inspired by the HOLY SPIRIT. Singing these divine hymns made a very delightful part of public worship, and served at once to publish David's gratitude, and to excite the same sentiment in the minds of the people. Many of the psalms were so particularly applicable tothe dedication of the Templè, that they assist the imagination in forming an idea of that

*1 Chron. xxiii, 3, 4, 5.

solemnity,..

solemnity, and of the reverence, and holy transports, which must have filled the hearts of those who assisted at it.

It is likely, that on taking up the Ark, they made use of the usual form of words..

Let GoD arise, and let His enemies be scattered; let them also that hate Him, flee before Him, &c...

When they approached the temple, we may suppose they sang as follows:

*

O come, let ut sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms.

For the LORD is a great GOD, and a great king above all gods.

In His hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is His also.

The sea is His, and He made it: and His hands formed the dry land.

O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

For He is our GOD, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand: to-day if ye will hear His voice,

Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

When your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My work.

Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, for they have not known My ways.

Unto whom I sware in my wrath, that they should not enter into My rest.

* Psalm xcY.

When

When they reached the gates, it is likely the following psalm* was sung:

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing.

Know ye that the LORD He is GOD; it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into His eourts with praise; be thankful unto Him, and bless His

name.

For the LORD is good; his Mercy is everlasting: and His truth endureth to all generations.

we may

As soon as they had deposited the ark, ima gine, that the whole choir of musicians brake forth into joyful strains, like the following t:

Osing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD all the earth.

Sing unto the LORD, bless His name: shew forth His salvation from day to day.

Declare His glory among the heathen, His wonders among all people.

For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: He is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.

Honour and majesty are before him : strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.

Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.

* Psalmr.c.

+Psalms xevi, and cxxxvi.

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