History

God Himself, through the prophets of the Israelites, calls this Temple built by Solomon their highest comfort, the delight of their eyes, and the desire of their heart. (Ezekiel 24:25.) This was the only temple in the entire land. All sacrifices were brought here, (2 Chronicles 7:12.) and every male in Israel had to gather there three times each year, where so many thousands of Israelites, with united devotion in their psalms and songs of praise, honored and worshiped the one God of heaven and earth with all the strength of their souls. The Queen of the Kingdom of Arabia Commonly known as the Queen of Sheba. came to Jerusalem not only to hear Solomon's wisdom and to observe the beautiful order of his extensive court, but she had also undertaken the long and arduous journey with the intention of seeing for herself the magnificent buildings erected by the wise king—among which the Temple, though she saw it only from the outside, was the most excellent. Inside, every room was covered with thick gold on the floor, ceiling, and walls; and outside, everything was built from the most beautiful and whitest marble. When those traveling to Jerusalem saw the Temple from afar, it appeared to them like a great, bright, and white mountain of snow; however, when the sun shone upon the roof of the Temple, which was covered with highly polished golden plates, it looked as if many burning torches and fiery rays were breaking forth from this white mountain of snow. But the most excellent thing about the entire Temple was that Almighty God revealed His presence in the pillar of cloud and fire within the Holy of Holies.

Since the Lord God had thus chosen this Temple for His dwelling and had confirmed it through many miracles, it is all the more astonishing that shortly thereafter, this House of God was desecrated by the people of the Jews with so many abominable acts of idolatry. In honor of the idol Baal A major Canaanite deity whose worship often competed with the veneration of the Hebrew God., a grove or forest (as was the custom among the heathens) was planted in the Temple, and many vessels belonging to it were placed in the House of the Lord. (2 Kings 23:4.) Certain Baalites Priests or followers of Baal. were also appointed to burn incense to Baal and to all the host of heaven Referring to the sun, moon, and stars.. (verse 5.) By the wicked Queen Athalia, the treasure of the House of the Lord was diverted to the idol worship of this cursed Baal. (2 Chronicles 24:7.) Following the manner of the Persians, horses and chariots were kept in the House of the Lord in honor of the sun. (2 Kings 23:11.) Ahaz, the wicked King of Judah, had all the doors in the House of the Lord closed. Public worship could no longer be held. (2 Chronicles 28:24.) The golden lampstands were extinguished. No incense-