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Considerable difficulty attaches to a notice in 1 Kings 6:21, which has been variously
translated and understood. Two interpretations here specially deserve attention. The
first regards the "chains of gold before the Oracle," as chain-work that fastened
together the cedar-planks forming the partition between the Holy and the Most Holy
Place - somewhat like the bars that held together the boards in the Tabernacle. The
other, which to us seems the more likely,^114 represents the partition boards between the
Holy and the Most Holy Place, as not reaching quite to the ceiling, and this "chain-
work" as running along the top of the boarding.
For some opening of this kind seems almost necessary for ventilation, for letting out
the smoke of the incense on the Day of Atonement, and to admit at least a gleam of
light, without which the ministrations of the High-priest on that day, limited though
they were, would have been almost impossible. The only object within the Most Holy
Place was the Ark overshadowed by the Cherubim. It was the same which had stood in
the Tabernacle. But Solomon placed on either side of it (south and north) a gigantic
figure of a Cherub, carved out of oleaster wood, and overlaid with gold. Each was ten
cubits high; and the two, with their outspread wings, which touched over the Mercy-
Seat, ten cubits wide. Thus, the two cherubim with their outspread wings reached
(south and north) from one wall of the Sanctuary to the other (1 Kings 6:23-28). But,
whereas the Mosaic Cherubim looked inwards and downwards towards the Mercy-
Seat, those made by Solomon looked outwards towards the Holy Place, with probably
a slight inclination downwards (2 Chronicles 3:13). Another notice has raised
differences of opinion. From 1 Kings 8:8, we learn that the "staves" by which the Ark
was carried were "drawn forward" ("lengthened," not "drawn out," as in the Authorized
Version), so that their heads were visible from the Holy Place. As these "staves" were
never to be drawn out (Exodus 25:15), and as all view of the interior of the Most Holy
Place was precluded, this could only have been effected (as the Rabbis suggest) by
drawing the staves forward, so that their heads would slightly bulge out on the veil. Of
course this would imply that the staves faced east and west - not, as is generally
supposed, south and north. Nor is there any valid objection to this supposition.
Descending from "the Porch," we stand in the "inner" (1 Kings 6:36) or "Court of the
Priests" (2 Chronicles 4:9). This was paved with great stones, as was also the outer or
"Great Court" (2 Chronicles 4:9) of the people. Within the "inner" or Priests' Court,
facing the entrance to the Sanctuary, was "the altar of burnt-offering" (1 Kings 8:64),
made of brass, and probably filled within with earth and unhewn stones. It was ten
cubits high, and twenty cubits in length and breadth at the base -probably narrowing as
it ascended, like receding buttresses^115 (2 Chronicles 4:1).
Between the altar and the porch stood the colossal "sea of brass," five cubits high, and
thirty cubits in circumference (1 Kings 7:23-26; 2 Chronicles 4:2-5). Its upper rim was
(^)