230 FROM THE ART OF BUILDING TO THE ART OF THINKING
Temple, Jachin and Boaz: "where (was) the noble art or science found
when it was lost." This is the meaning it gives them: "For ye present ye
sons of God have received strength inwardly, for ye time to come God
will stablisch so with his spirit of grace yt they shall never wholly depart
from him."*
The Legend of Hiram and the Initiatory MythThe legend of Hiram is particularly significant with regard to the sacred
scope of the masonic ritual. For the masons, who made him both their
master and model, Hiram was a mythical figure who was the brilliant
builder of the Temple. Haloed by glory and talent, he is a synthesis of
two biblical figures: Huram or Hiram Abi, and Adoram, Adonhiram,
or Adoniram.
According to the Kings III (5:13, 14, 15), King Solomon fetched
Hiram out of Tyre.
He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was
a man of Tyre, a worker in brass; and he was filled with wisdom,
and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And
he came to King Solomon and wrought all his work. For he cast
two brass pillars... that of the right was Jachin, and that on the
left, Boaz.According to the Chronicles II (2:14 and 4:11), Huram Abi was
sent by King Hiram of Tyre to Solomon.
He was the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father
was a man of Tyre, skillful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass,
in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen,
and in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving... And
Huram made the pots, and the shovels, and the basons. And
Huram finished the work he was to make for King Solomon for- This explanation conforms to the etymology of these two names. Jachin means "he
will establish" and Boaz means "in strength."