A Pisgah-sight of Palestine and the confines thereof with the history of the Old and New Testament acted thereon / by Thomas Fuller ...

CHAP. VII. Of the Chambers about the Temple.

§ 1. ALthough it be repeated thrice in onek 1.1 verse,* 1.2 that chambers were built round about, yet because in the same place, mention onely is made of the Temple and Oracle, we conceive with learned Ribera, that

the east end where the Porch stood, was clear, and un-chambered, having no other buildings about it, to hinder the prospect thereof. Nor, let any be moved, because that the chambers are said to be built 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉l 1.3 upon the wall, as if they were founded on the wall of the temple, supra being there taken for juxta, or contra, upon; or hard by, or over against, as our trans∣lation rendreth it. Thus it is in the originall,m 1.4 Upon the waters of Baby∣lon we sat down and wept, that is, by the waters; as these chambers were built hard by, or leaning to the wall of the Temple.

§ 2. Three rows there were of these chambers. In the lowest,* 1.5 each chambern 1.6 was five; in the middle, six; in the third, and highest story, seven cubits broad; and each of them equallyo 1.7 five cubits in height, go∣ing up from the first to the middle, thence to the highest story with win∣ding staires. The beams of these chambers did not lye in, butp 1.8 rest on the wall of the Temple, the reduction or abatement whereof, narrowing in, the higher it went, afforded fit stays for that purpose. It seems, the beams were not mortised into the walls of the Temple, because the in∣tireness of that building was not to be wounded with holes, and per∣forations, which in process of time might fret in, and indent into the structure it self. Speciall care therefore was taken, to preserve the whole∣ness and prevent all fractions in this fabrick, in some relation to the Temple of Christs body, whereof a bone was not to be broken.

§ 3. It is not expressed in Scripture,* 1.9 for what use these chambers were principally intended. Some conceive them designed for galleries, or walking-places; which to me seems too much presumption, for any to take their pleasure so near the holy place. Others will have them used for Dormitories, for such Priests to lodge in, who were in ordinary at∣tendance about the Temple. For my own part, I conceive them imploy∣ed for Repositories, wherein the holy vestments, and vessels were safely laid up, together with those of the Tabernacle, which (though not used) were here carefully preserved. For, first, the vessels of Moses his making were not aliened, or diverted to any profane service; such sacriledge be∣ing unsupposable in that age. Secondly, they were not altered, or melted by Solomon (of moe and lesser, so to make fewer, and greater Utensils for the Temple) because, the making, as well as the matter; the shape, as well as the substance of all the Tabernacle-vessels were of livine institution. Thirdly, they were not imployed in Gods service, because (some few excepted, whereof hereafter) being calculated for the Meridian of the Ta∣bernacle a less fabrick, thus fel out to be too short, and smal in proportion to the Temple, as in the Vail was formerly observed. Seeing therfore they were neither aliened, altered, nor used, it remaineth they were carefully kept in these chambers, intimated in the text,q 1.10 where after the finishing of the Temple, the Levites are said to bring up into it, all the vessels of the Ta∣bernacle. Thus graces acquired or infused into a Christian in this life, are not lost, forfeited, or cast away after death; but, preserved▪ perfected, and swallowed up in glory.

§ 4. As for the mysticall meaning of these chambers;* 1.11 Bede,r 1.12 no doubt, thought he hit the very mark, when finding therein the three conditi∣ons of life all belonging to Gods Church. In the ground-chamber, such as live in mariage; in the middle-chamber, such as contain; but, in the excelsis or third-story, such as have attained to the sublimity of perpe∣tuall virginity. Rupertus, in the lowest chamber, lodgeth those of practi∣call lives with Noah; in the middle, those of mixt lives with Iob; and in the highest, such as spend their days with Daniel in holy speculations. But is not this rather lusus, then allusio, sporting with, then expounding of Scrip∣tures? Thus when the gates of the Oracle are madef 1.13 five-square, Ribera therein reads our conquest over the five senses; and when those of the door of the Temple are said to be four-square, therein saith he is denoted the quaternion of Evangelists. After this rate, Hiram (though, no doubt, dexterous in his art) could not so soon fit a pillar with a fashion, as a Frier can fit that fashion with a mystery. If made three-square, then the Trinity of Persons; four-square, the cardinall vertues; five-square, the Pentateuch of Moses; six-square, the Petitions in the Lords prayer; seven-square, their Sacraments; eight-square, the Beatitudes; nine-square, the orders of Angels; ten-square, the Commandements; eleven-square the morall vertues; twelve-square, the articles of the Creed are therein con∣tained. In a word, for matter of numbers, fancy is never at a loss, like a begger never out of his way, but hath some haunts where to repose it self. But, such as in expounding of Scripture reap more then God did sow there, never eat what they reap thence, because such grainless huskes, when seriously threshed out, vanish all into chaffe.

§ 5. For the rest, we refer the reader unto our Map, wherein he may observe a double Alphabet for his direction. One of Roman letters, presenting onely such things in the building of the Temple, as are infallibly foun∣ded on the words of the text. The other of Italian, relating to such addi∣tions, which, to compleat this fabrick, are taken out of Traditions, Rab∣bins, Fathers, and learned mens conjectures. We thought it unfit, to con∣found these together in the same character, being so distanced in their own natures. The Apostle Saint Paul varies his phrase, when delivering his prudentiall advises, from his style, when enjoyning, what he had from divine inspiration. In the former, To the restt 1.14 speak I, not the Lord: In the latter,u 1.15 I command, yet not I, but the Lord. It had therefore been impu∣dent presumption in us, not to have observed a difference in this our de∣scription, betwixt immediate divine dictates, and humane (probable, but fallible) collections.

Here the Map of Solomons Courts is to be inserted.

[illustration]

Notes

• k 1.1

  1 King. 6 5.
• * 1.2

  Chambers how round about.
• l 1.3

  Ibidem.
• m 1.4

  Psal. 137. 1.
• * 1.5

  Their dimen∣••ions.
• n 1.6

  1 King. 6. 6.
• o 1.7

  lbid. ver. 10.
• p 1.8

  1 King. 6. 6.
• * 1.9

  The vessels of the Tabernacle kept in these chambers.
• q 1.10

  2 Chr. 5. 5.
• * 1.11

  Fancy runs riot when spurred with supersti∣tion.
• r 1.12

  Lib. 7^•.
• f 1.13

  1 King. 6. 31
• t 1.14

  1 Cor. 7. 12.
• u 1.15

  Ibid. ver. 10.