The Temple of Solomon

[...he was] determined to likewise create a model of the Temple, and because he Referring to the Jewish Rabbi from Prague mentioned on the previous page. was well-versed in the TalmudThe central text of Rabbinic Judaism, containing detailed descriptions of the Temple's dimensions and rituals., [the author] conferred original Latin: conferiret with him several times. He also saw the ground plan, as well as the board upon which it was to be founded original Latin: fundiret and the beginning of the building before his departure from here; he testified that it pleased him that his small model had given occasion for an even larger one.

XI. Since that time, work has been carried out on it, and nearly a year was spent until it could be transported original Latin: transportiret to the Orphanage This refers to the Waisenhaus of the Francke Foundations in Halle, a major center of Pietism and education., where it was destined original Latin: destiniret to go.

XII. Efforts are still being made to carry the work further and to add more to it, primarily by including the types original Latin: Typorum; symbolic foreshadowings of Christ, sayings original Latin: Dictorum, and histories of Holy Scripture original Latin: Historiarum Scripturæ Sacræ, so as to make the demonstration original: Demonstration of it useful and edifying to the spectator original Latin: Spectatori.

XIII. For there one sees the place where the sacrifices were killed, where they were slaughtered, and where they were consumed by fire upon the altar; there one perceives the area where Zacharias was struck mute at the Altar of Incense in the Holy Place; where the Pharisee in the Court of the Priests despised the poor tax collector standing at the threshold of the Gate of Nicanor; where the Holy Virgin Mary presented the child JESUS to the LORD; where Judas threw the silver coins into the Temple. One can, as it were, follow Christ at every step, whether He sits in the House of Learning or the Synagogue of the Temple in the midst of the teachers, or disputes with the Jews in the Porch of Solomon, overturns the tables in the chamber of the money changers, and thereafter drives the buyers and sellers out of the Temple in another area.

XIV. Therefore, for all who are eager to understand the Holy Scripture even in the physical circumstances of the place regarding the Temple, seeing such a model—constructed with all possible diligence and effort—can be nothing but useful. In a single hour of observing it, the mind will form a much more vivid and almost unforgettable idea, profiting more than could be achieved from reading the best author original Latin: Autoris over many hours.

XV. In the essential matters original Latin: In substantialibus, we will hopefully not err; many of the most prominent and knowledgeable persons in antiquity original: Antiquität and architecture original: Bau-Kunst from the city and university have inspected the work, and they have not withheld their kind approval original: Approbation from this small building.