Page images
PDF
EPUB
[graphic][subsumed]

ENTRANCE TO THE HOSPITAL OF THE KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN, JERUSALEM.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

CHAPTER XV.

SCRIPTURE ACCOUNT OF BUILDING KING SOLOMON'S TEMPLE

Mt. Moriah-David's preparation for building the Temple and Charge to Solomon.-Solomon builds the Temple-Its Dedication.-Destruction.

"AND God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the Lord beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed it, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the Lord stood by the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.*

And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the Lord stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.

And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray

*On Mount Moriah.

thee, O Lord my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.

Then the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the Lord in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of the Lord.

And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat.

And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshing-floor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.

Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshing-floor, that I may build an altar therein unto the Lord: thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people.

And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: lo, I give thee the oxen also for burnt-offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat-offering; I give it all.

And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the Lord, nor offer burnt-offerings without cost.

So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight.

And David built there an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, and called

[graphic][merged small]
« PreviousContinue »