God's honour dwelt," referred to this miraculous appearance of the Shechinah in the tabernacle or temple, which the Lord vouchsafed, either stationary or at certain periods. With this Ark of the Covenant, Joshua went round the walls of Jericho, when they miraculously fell down. The Israelites, remembering this, sent for the Ark, without God's permission, from Shiloh; and in consequence, God permitted it to be taken by the Philistines, in the time of Eli and Samuel; they, however, were so afflicted during the time they kept it, that at last they brought it back again. It was lost at the destruction of the Temple, by Nebuchadnezzar; and was one of the things wanting in the second Temple.

THE ALTAR OF INCENSE was a small table of shittim-wood, a cubit square and two high, overlaid with gold, with a carved moulding round the top. Every morning and evening, the Priest burnt incense upon it to the Lord; for which purpose he took a censer filled with the holy fire, from the altar of burnt-offering, into the holy place, where it stood. It was also to be sprinkled with the blood of the sacrifices that were offered for the sins of ignorance *.

*Exodus xxx. 10.

The Golden Candlestick was the richest ornament of the Tabernacle, made of solid gold to the weight of a talent. It contained seven lights; six branching out in pairs from the upright stem, and one on the top; it was equally useful and ornamental in a place that had no windows.

The Shew-bread consisted of twelve loaves of unleavened bread, which were offered, one for each tribe, and placed on a small table of shittim-wood, covered with gold; they were changed for new ones every Sabbath; the old ones belonged to the Priests, and were eaten by them only.

The Altar of Burnt Offerings stood at the east end of the area, or court, fronting the entrance e the tabernacle, at such a distance that the smoke might not injure it. It was made of shittim-wood plated with brass; five cubits square, and thre cubits high*. At each of the four corners was projection, called a horn.

were for tying the victims,

Some have thought the according to the allusie

of the Psalmist, "Bind the sacrifice with cords eve to the horns of the altar." To these corners wer also attached the rings or chains, by which was s

* That in the Temple was of the same fashion, but four times large, and much higher; the Priests ascending to its top by gently rising slope; the use of steps being forbidden. (Exod. xx. 3

pended a square grate, in the cavity of the altar. In this grate, to consume the victims placed upon it, was

The Holy Fire, which was looked upon as sacred, having first descended from heaven *. It was kept constantly burning, and was never to go out +.— Between the Altar and the Tabernacle stood

The Brazen Laver, containing water for the necessary ablutions of the Priests, in the course of their ministry.

THE URIM AND THUMMIM (from two Hebrew words, signifying light and perfection,) was a miraculous ornament, worn on the breast of the High Priest, whenever he went into the Holy Place before the veil, to consult God, on special occasions ‡. There are many conflicting opinions about it; but it is generally agreed, that it enabled him, by some method unknown to us, to collect information as to the Divine will §.

*Levit. ix. 24.

Exod. xxviii. 30.

+ Levit. vi. 13.
§ Num. xxvii. 21.

Ezra ii. 63.

SECTION II.

THE SEPTUAGINT is a translation of the Old Testament into Greek, made by order of Ptolemy Philadelphus, at Alexandria, during the time he was King of Egypt, 270, B. C. It is said by Aristeas, that Ptolemy Philadelphus, having freed all the Jews in his kingdom, and shewn them great favour, desired to have a copy of their Scriptures in Greek ; and for that purpose applied to Eleazer, the High Priest at Jerusalem, who sent him six Elders from each tribe; these seventy-two persons completed the work, and were called in round numbers, the Seventy; hence the name Septuagint. This account was generally credited for the first fifteen centuries; but since the Reformation, there have been many other opinions about it; as, that it had its name from being approved by the Sanhedrim, whose number was Seventy, &c. But whatever may have been the origin of its name, it appears certain that it was made during the time of Ptolemy, and that it was in great esteem among the Jews in Christ's time. Most of the quotations in the New Testament are made from it, except in Matthew's Gospel.

THE VULGATE is a Latin translation of the Bible. The Vulgate of the Old Testament was

translated almost verbatim from the Septuagint; it was of great antiquity, and went by the name of the Latin or Italic version. It was in common use till Jerome's time, who made another and superior translation from the original Hebrew. The Italic version, corrected by the emendations from that of Jerome, is what is now called the Vulgate.

Targums, (see Part I. Page 8.)

The Talmud, (see Note in Part 5, page 454.)

SECTION III.

THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE was a number of Elders, amounting to 120, who continued in regular succession, from the time of Ezra, after the Jews had returned from the Babylonish captivity, until the time of Simon the Just. They were employed in correcting and arranging the Holy Scriptures, and restoring the state of the Jewish Church.Ezra, and the members of this synagogue, completed the sacred collection up to his time; and Simon the Just, with their assistance, added the remainder; viz. Ezra's works, Nehemiah's, and Malachi's. It is generally admitted that Ezra transcribed the Scriptures into the Chaldaic or square letters, which we call Hebrew; as the Jews, from their long residence in Babylon, understood them better than the ancient Hebrew, or Phoenician characters.