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extant. To this we may add, that the whole tone and conception is not at all in
accordance with, or what we would have expected at, the time of the exile.
(^131) In the Authorized Version, inaccurately, "prayer," '"supplication," "cry;" in the
Hebrew, Tephillah (from the Hithpael of Palal), Teshinnah (from the Hithp. of
Chanan), and Rinnah (from Ranan).
(^132) It would seem almost too great a demand upon our credence, even by "advanced
criticism," that, because these expressions were taken up by the exiles in Babylon, they
originated at that time.
(^133) 2 Chronicles 7:1 does not necessarily imply that there was a second manifestation of
"the glory of Jehovah."
(^134) It is certainly a fact, that this circumstance is not mentioned in the narrative in the
Book of Kings. But from this it is a very long and venturesome step to the conclusion,
that this is an addition or interpolation on the part of the writer or editor of the Books
of Chronicles, the more so as "Kings" and "Chronicles" alternately record or omit other
important events.
(^135) Canon Rawlinson (Speaker's Commentary, 2. p. 533) has shown, by numerous
quotations, that these sacrifices were not out of proportion to others recorded in
antiquity. As to the time necessarily occupied in these sacrifices, we have the historical
notice of Josephus (Jewish War, 6. 9, 3), that on one occasion not fewer than 256,000
Passover lambs were offered, the time occupied being just three hours of an afternoon.
It is also to be borne in mind that the killing and preparing of the sacrifices was not
necessarily the duty of priests or even Levites, the strictly priestly function being only
that of sprinkling the blood. Lastly, we are distinctly informed (1 Kings 8:64) that
supplementary altars - besides the great altar of burnt offering - were used on this
occasion.
(^136) We are expressly told in ver. 62, that these offerings were brought not only by the
king but by all Israel.
(^137) The Feast of Tabernacles lasted seven days and closed on the afternoon of the
eighth with the clausura or solemn dismissal (comp. Leviticus 23:33-39).
(^138) The above would give a new view of the taking of the fortress of Jebus by Joab.
There undoubtedly existed a subterranean watercourse dug through the solid rock on
which Jebus stood on Ophel, leading down to the "En-Rogel," or "Fountain of the
Virgin." It is suggested, that with the connivance of Araunah, Joab undertook the
(^)