194 THE

But what is the best knowledge, the
best wisdom? The knowledge of
God and of heavenly things. All

 

TEMPLE.

Solomon now began to think of
David’s command, and prepared to
build the temple of God. He wrote

earthly wisdom must soon end; but | to Hiram, the king of Tyre, to tell
holy, heavenly wisdom will last for | him what he wished todo. Solomon

ever. If we ask God for this, He
will teach us more and more of it,
while we live; and at last, take us

to heaven, where we shall know and |

see things which we cannot under-
stand here.
What books did Solomon write ?
He wrote the book of Proverbs, and
the book of Ecclesiastes, and the

Song of Solomon, and many beauti- | the place thou shalt choose.”

ful Psalms. He wrote much for
young people.
them to love and serve God. Solo-
mon told the young people, that
riches and pleasures could not make
them happy ; he said, “ All is vanity
and vexation of spirit ;” and then he
advised them to begin to serve the
Lord, before it should be too late.
He said, “Remember now thy Crea-
tor in the days of thy youth;” for
he knew how happy they would be
if God was their father and their
friend.

 

He wanted to teach |

 

 

 

asked Hiram to send him cedar
trees from Lebanon, to build the
house of the Lord. Then Hiram
sent to Solomon, saying, “I will do
all thy wish, and give thee cedar
trees and fir trees from the forest in
Lebanon. My servants shall cut
them down, and bring them to the
sea; and I will send them by sea to -
Then
Solomon began the work directly.
He sent many of his servants to
Lebanon, to help Hiram’s servants
to cut down thetrees. Then all the
wood was carried to the sea, and
floated down to Joppa; and there
Solomon sent his people to take the
wood, and bring it safely to Jeru-
salem. Hiram and Solomon were
great friends, and they helped one
another to work for God’s service
and glory. ‘Those are the best
friends who try to help one another
to serve God.

PN IN,

 

CAXX VIL.

y HE JEMPLE.

HE temple which Solomon
made was avery beautiful
t’a)"| building. It was made of
n=] cedar wood, wonderfully

carved, and overlaid with
gold. Within the house was the
oracle, the holy place, like the holy
of holies in the tabernacle, where
the ark was to be placed. The
oracle was divided from the other
part of the house by doors, beauti-

  

 

fully carved, and overlaid with gold,
and a thick veil of red, and purple,
and blue, hung before the oracle.
Inside the oracle, Solomon put
beautiful golden cherubim, like the
cherubim in the tabernacle. He
made too an altar of brass, and a
great basin or sea, with the figures
of twelve oxen round the basin ; and
ten tables, and ten lavers, and ten
golden candlesticks. ‘These things