Page 241 - Bible History

214 GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE UNDER KINGS
Holy of Holies in the Temple. The Levites brought the Tabernacle and its furnishings from Gabaa.
At the dedication of the Temple, twenty-two thou­ sand oxen and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep were o ered in adoration to God. Solomon gave thanks and, after his prayer, re came down from Heaven to consume the victims.
People from every part of Solomon's kingdom came to the dedication of the Temple. They stayed with him and feasted for fourteen days.
At this time God again spoke to Solomon. He prom­ ised to protect the king and his people as long as they walked in the ways which He pointed out to them.
In building the Temple, the Israelites returned to :07: the command of the law to worship God in one place.
The Temple was to be a bond of union among the tribes, but other factors divided them from one an­ other and brought about disunion.
3. THE NATION FLOURISHES UNDER SOLOMON When the Temple was about half nished, Solomon
began to build his palace. It consisted of four units. There was the "House of the Forest of Libanus," which was a large assembly hall. The furniture in it was all of gold. The ''Throne Building'' contained Solomon's ivory throne overlaid with gold. This throne was made by Solomon himself. The third unit of his palace was the house in which he dined and slept. The fourth unit was the house for his Egyptian wife. In front of the palace, there was a porch or reception hall.
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