THE I. CHAPTER. Relating the order or station of the Tempel or Camp of the Israelites rownde about the Tabernacle.

THe wonderfull Armie of the Israe­lites entring into Egipt with sea­venty soules onely,Deuteron. 10:22. by the power­full Commaund,Genes. 15.13. which God re­vealed to (theyr first father) Abra­ham; this generation sojourned, there 210 yea­res, untill the 430 yeares were fulfilled,Exod. 12:40. from [Page 2] that time which God foretold Abraham. That blessed people of God,Exod. 12.37. did there, in that short time increasse to 60000 men of the age from 20 to 60 yeares,Exod. 12.38. but if all the women, and all the persons as wel men as women, which were un­der 20 and above 60 yeares of Age, should bee thereunto adjoind, the same would then bee found to bee twoe Millions, and foure hundred thousand people besides the Egiptians, who went away with them (as the holy Scripture sayth) and theyre innumerable Cattle, which they tooke with them; some, others are of opi­nion that there were in this greate Campe or host 876 millions 9 hundred and 96 thousand persons.

Num. 10.11.After the first yeare of theyre departure, the worke of the Tabernacle was made ready or finished, at which time God caused them to bee devided into twelve parts,Num. 2.2. each with theyr severall Standard or Banner, in the which each of thier Armes or ensigne, was wrought, like as thier father Jacob had blessed each Child or Tribe,Genes 49.3. also the color of each Standard or [Page 3] Flagge agreed with the colour of the Stones (in the breastplate of Aaron the Highpriest) upon which its owne Tribes name was written and These twelve Tribes were devided into foure parts, each part had three Banners or En­signes. Three stood on the Eastside, three on the West, three on the South, and three on the Northside; all these twelve Tribes encom­passed the Tabernacle:1. Chron. 5:2. the Prince Jehuda (as Captaine, and Leader of his brethren) stood on the East, between Isachar, and Zabulon: Ruben stood with Simeon and Gad towards the South: Ephraim placed himselfe towards the West with Menasse and Benjamin: Dan towards the North with Asser and Naphthali. These twelve Tribes thus placed in order, fouresquare, doe take up 12 miles in compasse, or 24 thousand paces: the fouresquare thwart over, each of these twelve Tribes, tooke up by it selfe a foursquare place of 4000 paces, be­tweene the one and other tribe were 2000 pa­ces, betweene the saids Campe, or host tho­rough all the foure sides, and betweene the [Page 4] building of the Tabernacle, were 8000 paces. The outermost 4000 of the 8000 served for the feeding of theyre Cattle,Num. 3.35. the 2000 inner­most paces towards the East served for the who­le householding or familyes of Moses and Aa­ron, and the other 2000 paces, of the three re­maining sides, round about, served for the whole housekeeping of the Children of Levi, Gerson, Kohath, Merari; Those of Kohath sett themselves in three partitions (according to theyre three families or generations) towards the South as the Cheife, the twoe divisions of Gerson were towards the North, according to theyre family, alsoe the twoe families of Merari were in twoe divisions towards the West; then there remained in the heart or very midle of this hoast or Campe 4000 paces in the which the above mentioned Tabernacle was placed,Exod 26.18. the foremostpart towards the East, 30 cubits long, 10 cubits broad, 10 cubits high, encom­passed with an outermost Court round about raised with Bases or Sockets and Pillars,Exod. 27.9, the Curtaines hung on the Pillars, to take up the [Page 5] place or space of the outermost Court, that ou­termost Court was 100 cubits long, 50 broad, 5 high, it was so placed, as that against the East in that outmost Court, an empty or voyd space of 50 cubits remained, each of the three sides round about 20 cubits, the middelmost space was taken up with the building of the Taber­nacle; And this is the whole space of the hoste, where they pitched or rested.

By the Gate of the outmost Court of the Ta­bernacle was an overflowing fountaine which with its springing abundantly refreshed the whole hoste, where it lay, even as by the migh­ty hand of God Manna rained downe from heaven, where the hoste pitched or rested,Exod. 16.4. first of all thir water encompassed the building of the Tabernacle round about, by certaine dig­ged Channels or Trenches made by the Com­maund of the Rulers of the Tribes;Num. 21.19. in these flow foure rivers out of theyre foure Corners, that water encompasseth the hoste of the Levi­tes, and did likewise separare theyr familyes one from another, and did make certaine pitts [Page 6] betweene them, and the twelve Tribes of Israel, from thence flowed that water by the Southside towards the East, and sprung to the hoste of the Israelites, and encompassed them round about without, and devided the place or station of each Tribe, one from another, to the end, that each one might know and discerne, his owne Tribe.

When this hoste would proceede theyre in­tended journey, hee that led or conducted the same was God all sufficient the Lord of hoste,Num. 10.2. who had revealed to Moses, that the people should depart:Exod 40.36. By the Children of Aaron the Highpriest were twoe silver Trumpetts blowne, thereby to warne or raise the people,Deut. 31.15. then let God his royal Standard (like a pillar) arise from the holy Cloud, which by day covered the Ta­bernacle and by night with its shining beames or glance imprinted the Tabernacle with his wonderfull fire and glory, this went before them,Deut. 1.33. betweene heaven and earth, as a Guide to show them the way which they must goe, the beames of that divine fire within the Pillar, en­lightened [Page 7] them in the darke night, to the end that they should not wander out of theyr way, and by day the said pillar covered the whole hoste, and did likewise preserve them from the heate of the Sunne, from wicked enemyes,Num. 10.34. and devouring beasts.

The Tribe of Judah with his twoe Brethren Isachar, and Zabulon followed 2000 paces be­hind the holy Standard, which went before them: at the same distance followed them, the twoe Companies of Levites, Gerson, and Me­rari, they carryed the basements, or sockets, pil­lars, boards, coverings, curtaines, cordes, and pinnes, of the Tabernacle, and all the appurte­nances or necessaryes thereof, the same were all carryed on six wagons or carriages, which were given by the Cheiftaines of the Tribes, to the consecration of the Tabernacle: those wa­gons were drawne by twelve Kine or Heifers then alsoe followed the families of the Levites,Num. 7.3. with all theyre necessaries.

After these followed Ruben with his twoe Brethren Simeon and Gad; Afterwards fol­lowed [Page 8] in the middle of the whole hoste Moses and Aaron, with theyr children (amongst the children of Kohath) conducting the Arke of the Covenant with the other golden Instruments which must bee borne or carryed upon the shoulders of the abovenamed Kohathites, after the same were covered with the Covernigs, al­though in the beginning of theyre Journey (when they were departed form Mount Sinai) the Arke was in the same manner before the Hoste,Num. 10.33. untill they had passed the River Jordan. In the third place folloved Ephraim, with his Companion tribes Manasse and Benjamin: and at last followed Dan with his adjoined Tribes Asser, and Naphthali, under whome were the weake of the hoste, alsoe the Companies of Egiptians, who went with them.

Deut. 1.19.In this manner travailed that wonderfull host thorough wilde and unpathed, unknowne wayes, the space of fortie yeares, without suffer­nig any lack of any necessaries;Deut. 29.4. this did the mighty hand of God.Deut. 2.7. This host did, there, fortie and twoe severall times take up severall [Page 9] resting places in some for twoe dayes space; in some one day, alone,Num 33.3. or from the evening till the morning, and some, some mouthes, and some, certaine yeares,Num. 9.20. for they rested 19 yaares in Kades, which was one of theyre resting places.

II. CHAPTER. Concerning Moses his Tabernacle.

THe worke of the holy Tabernacle was in such a holy estimation,Exo. 36.2. that all those who were permitted to worke thereon, from amongst the Israelites, were thereunto qualifyed, and incited by the Spirit of God.

The Materialls which were used in this buil­ding, were gold, silver, brasse, woll,Exo. 35.3. dyed shy-colour, purple, scarlet (according to offerings) silke, pure Linnen, rich goates haire, Ramskins dyed red, curious spotted Badgers skins, shit­tim wood, pure and cleare oile of olives, the principall Aromatical druggs, and precious stones, all in very greate quantities, in soe much [Page 10] that the gold alone amounted to 29 Talents, 739 Sheckles, (as the holy Scripture sayth) which beeing reduced and compared to and with the weight of our pounds at sixteene oun­ces each pound, and halfe an ounce for each sheckle,Exod. 24.38. and 3000 sheckles for each Talent, which make 93 pounds and 12 ounces, doe amount unto 2741 pound and 9 ounces weight; the value whereof beeing accounted at 12300 ducats for each Talent make together 368918 Spanish duckats, and reduced into Hollands gilders (each gilder beeing about two shillings English money) make one Million one hundred and six thousand 745 gilders, (each duckat beeing three gilders.) The Talents of silver (as the Scripture sayth) were one hundred, and one thousand 730 shikles, beeing reduced into the same pounds, doeth amount unto 9429 pounds, and one ounce, the value thereof beeing calcu­lated, at one thousand and twelve ducats for each Talent, doth make one hundred and one thousand 783 duckats, and in gilders doeth make three hundred, five thousand, 315 gilders, [Page 11] 15 stivers, 3 pennings, and all together, aswel gold als silver, doeth amount unto 460700 du­cats, and in gilders doeth make 14 tunns of gold 12 thousand 104 gilders 15 stivers, three pen­nings Hollands money, each tunne of gold beeing at least 10000 pounds starling, and each gilder 2 shillings sterling.

The principall persons who were indewed by God, and made this worke were Besaleel and Aholiab, and the workemen (whose number is unknouwne) did with diligence fully finish the said worke in the space of six monthes.

The Vessels or instruments, with which the holy Tabernacle was served, were of gold and silver, whereof wee hereafter shall discourse.

The Levites who served the Tabernacle were 8580 persons from thirty to fiftie yeares, who were devided into three Companyes, according to Levies three sonnes, Gerson, Kohath, Mera­ri, the Kohathites were 2750, these, when the host tooke theyr journey, carryed (as the cheife) with golden handbars upon theyre shoulders, the most holy and precious instruments, namely [Page 12] the Arke of the Covenant, The golden Table, the golden Candlesticke, with the seaven Lamps, the Altar of Incense, the greate Brasse Altar of Burnt offrings: when they were first covered with theyr coverings, the Gersonites were 2630, they conducted on twoe wagons or Carriages (which they had of the abovenamed six wagons) the Curtaines of the Tabernacle, the Courtaines of the Court round about, the coverings, cords, brasse pots with all the appur­tenantes. The Merarites were 3200, they con­ducted the other foure wagons or carriages, in the which were 48 gilded boards: for the buil­ding of the Tabernacle were nine gilded Co­lumns or Pillars, and one hundred silver bases or Sockets, which belonged thereunto, with the 36 Columnes or Pillars of the Court of the Ta­bernacle, and theyre brasse Bases or Sockets, upon which the pillars were raised.

Concerning the Priests, who served the Ta­bernacle, they were not more then foure, namely Moses, Aaron, and his twoe Sonnes Eleazar and Ithamar, as the principall persons in the Congre­gation.

The place where in the Tabernacle was rai­sed was in the heart or middelmost place of the hoste of the Levites, which was encompassed by the host of the Israelites, where they pitched, but the host was separated from the Levites 400 paces.

The manner how the Tabernacle was reared or raised, and againe taken down is a most sweete and curious speculation but because that matter doeth require much writeing wee referre the reader to the treatise of the Tabernacle of Mo­ses, which wee haue published, where you shall finde all the same at large.

III. CHAPTER. Concerning the Glorious Temple of Salomon.

IN stead of the holy Tabernacle,Num. 2.15. king Salomon did in Jerusalem, on the very top of Mount Moria (where Abraham offered up his Sonne unto God) build the holy Temple which was fully finished in [Page 14] the 487 yeare after Israels departure out of Egipt. [...]. Chron. 3:1. About the said Temple did worke sea­ven yeares long 163600 persons, of the which were 3300 Maister workemen, and 300 Com­maunders over them all (according to others the number was 4100900) king Salomon did frame this building, according to the order, Com­maund and draught,1. King. 6.1. and 5.15. which his father David (ac­cording to the Commaund of the Prophet Sa­muel) had given him.1. Chron. 28.11. Hee prepared for that building an infinite Number of all kinde of Ma­terialls, the gold alone was 108000 Talents and ten thousand drachmas, which beeing accounted at 93 pounds and 12 ounces weight for each Ta­lent, will weigh a hundred thousand and 25 thousand and 78 pound, and for every talent 12300 ducats, will amount unto 1328 Millions and 410000 and 220 ducats, and in gilders 5977 (Holland) millions 846 thousand 123 gil­ders, at 4 gilders and a halfe each duckat accor­ding to theyr valuation in Holland and those Lands.1. Chron. 22.14. This gold beeing computed into tuns of gold (each tun of gold at 1000 pound starling [Page 15] at least) doe arise to 59 thousand, 766 tuns of gold and 46123 gilders.

The silver which hee prepared thereunto was a thousand times a thousand and 17000 ta­lents, which accounted by our pounds at 18 pieces or reals of eight to each pound, and 93 pounds and 13 ounces weight for each talent doe arise to 95 millions 343 thousand 753 pounds weight, which beeing accounted at the rate of 1012 ducats for each talent, doe make a thousand and 29 millions, 700 and 12 thousand and 500 duckats as above, making in gilders foure thousand, six hundred, 33 millions, sea­ven hundred and six thousand 250 gilders, this maketh 46000 and 337 tuns of gold and 250 gilders, the whole quantity of gold and silver beeing now valued, doeth make ten thousand, six hundred and seaventy millions, 518 thou­sand 750 gilders. In weight it is 26 thousand 367 lasts, and 828 pounds accounting 4000 pound weight to each last, in soe much that to carry this gold and silver over the seas there must bee a thousand ships, each ship of the burthen [Page 16] of 26 lasts: or else 53 East-India ships, each ship of five hundred lasts burthen, beeing reduced into tuns of gold, you shal find it to bee, one hun­dred and six thousand, one hundred and fifteene tuns of gold, and 52372 gilders.

1. Chron. 22.14.You must note, that this gold and silver was prepared alone by King David, besides that which King Salomon added thereunto, out of his treasuries (by commaund of his father) which in comparison of his greate treasure and glory, should bee at least as much more which beeing added to the former, would fully lade one hun­dred and six greate East-India ships, in soe much that the Scripture sayth that gold and silver (in Salomons time) was accounted as stones,Josep. Anti. Jo. of Jew. Wars. L. 6. 6. and elsewhere, that silver was that time not at all esteemed.

1. King. 10.27. and 11.21.The forme of the Temple was just fouresquare, made of very large white marbre, very pre­tious, yea some say, soe large, that out of one a faire house might bee built: the mount or hill, whereon the Temple stood (by the neate and forace whitenesse and wel compactnesse of [Page 17] that building) did afarre of seeme to bee a sno­wy hil, and the glittering gould beweene,Mid. 2 1. Jo. Jew. Wars. 6. 6. did shine and reflect as the dazeling Sun; the greate­neste of the building was foure Stadium, or fur­longs in compasse; within the Portalls it was 500 cubits, the height was 300 cubits, in some places 400, maketh 800 foote high,Midot. 2.4. each foote of 12 inches round about environed with very deepe dales, to seperate the Temple from the Citie: this piece of worke was divided into three principal parts, namely the Court of the Hea­thens or People was the outermost part, 500 cubits foursquare, and encompassed with foure admirable and stately Portals, each resting upon three rowes of Pillars, of the fashion of leafe worke, each Pillar, hewen out of one marble stone, alone, was 25 cubits or 50 foote high: by the opening of the windowes at the 4 Galleryes or Walkes, were the Railes of pure Silver, and the five doores of the Gates were covered, or drawne over with silver plates.

The second parte was within the 4 Galleries placed against the North,Abarb. 1. King 6. in twoe outermost [Page 18] Courts,Jew. Wars. 6. 6. Josep. 6. 6. Antiqui. 1. 15. 14. Midot. 1. 3. and 5. 1. the Court of the Israelites towards the east 135 cubits foursquare, the Court of the Priests towards the West, in which the sacrifices were offered, was broad 135 cubits, and 187 cubits long, round about within and without encompassed with certaine Halls or Chambers, in which the three Principalities assembled, and alsoe therein to performe all the services of the Temple, in the midle of the Outmost Court, was the Pallace of the Lord God, covered with massy gold plates within, and over the roofe, the length was 100 cubits, and likewise as broad, 120 cubits high; it had three principal parts, the Entrance, the Sanctuary, and the Holy of Holies, or most holy place, cituate toward the West; the Halls or Chambers of the Treasures of the Temple round about, were 38 Cham­bers; The hidden Sollerings or Chambers, in which were layd up all the materialls of the Ta­bernacle which were packt up, the same tooke up one third part, and under the Temple in the Cellars were the Bathes, wherein the Priests bathed themselves: the persons which watched [Page 19] every night were 240,Midot. 1. 3. divided into 24 bands or Companyes, each Company at leaste ten men, three Companyes of Preistes and 21 Levites, which were devided and placed at all the Cor­nets, gates, and Courts of the Temple round about. Concerning the other appendences of this building soe wonderfull, soe precious, and so holy, I referre you to the Treatise concerning the Pourtraicture of the Temple, where I have layd forth every thing most plaine.

III. CHAPTER. Concerning the Vessels and Instruments of the Temple.

THe wonderfull greate multitude of holy Vessels used in the service of the holy Temple of God, doeth take up abun­dance of gold and silver, the golden Vessels were 340 thousand, the silver were 470 thou­sand, making together 810 thousand, the prin­cipall were for Ornament to the holy Temple,Jem. Wars. 6. 6. and of the Tabernacle at theyre sett times: but [Page 20] the most glorious were for the Arke of the Co­venant, that was wholly covered with Gold, with the twoe golden Cherubims: the Arke was twoe cubits and a halfe longe, and the breath thereof one cubit and a halfe, and soe much was alsoe the hight thereof, and did weigh with the Cherubims 200 pound weight of pure Gold, besides the Boards the 10 Golden Tables, upon which the shewbread was placed, were each of them twoe cubits long, one cubit broad, and one cubit and a halfe high, after the fashion of Moses, and contained one hundred pounds in weight.Midot 2.5. Antiq. 8.2. The 10 golden Candlesticks (by each whereof were 7 golden Lamps) the height of each was three cubits, the breadth above twoe cubits, (after the manner of Moses) the gold of each weighed 100 pound weight: the Altar of Incense or sweete perfume was alsoe 100 pounds weigt in gold, which was in height twoe cu­bits, and one cubit fouresquare: the Altar of burnt offerings was brasse, twenty cubits fouresquare, the height 10 cubits, did weigh 7000 Aro­bas (each Aroba containing 25 pounds weight.) [Page 21] The ten brasse Lavers with theyre arriages,Midot 2. 5. and. 5. 1. or ba­ses on which they were placed or sett, were each foure cubits fouresquare, and three cubits high, one Base weighed 2000 Talents, each Talent of 93 pounds and upwards; the brasen sea, out of which the Priest cleansed or purified them­selves, was 10 cubits large fouresquare, five cubits high, the Compasse thereof was thirtie cubits, the mettle or brasse thereof weighed 1000 and 800 Arobas, (as above mentioned.) But with the 12 Bullocks (whereon the sea stood) weighed 32500 Arobas, so that the holy Scripture sayth, that the abundance of mettle or brasse was not to bee numbred.

V. CHAPTER. Of the Garments of the Priests.

TWoe several sorts of Garments were the Priests wont to use, when they served in the holy Temple: the one used by the Common Priests in generall, which consisted of 4 peeces or parcells: the first was a very pure [Page 22] linnen paire of breeches or drawers, which reached from the loines to below the knees which was worne to cover theyr nakednesse: the Breeches upon the naked body, was threfore close as a purse when it is shutt, which was drawn together with strings about the Loines: the second peece was a certaine dubble shirt woven after the manner of Checkerworke, which opened alongst the shoulders, soe much that the head could goe thorough, which ope­nings were afterward closed together with loopes, thereby to keepe the breast with reve­rence covered: this Coate hung downe to the heeles: the sleeves were wooven apart, but of the same stuffe, and sewed unto the said shirts: the sleeves were not wide, theyre length was to the joint of the hand that soe theyr service might not bee hindred: the third was a linnen Girdle made as a swadling band, the breadth three inches, the length 32 cubits, wrought with leafe worke, with wooll, or silke, purple and scarlet: the said girdling beeing girded under the Armepirts, swathd the shirt close [Page 23] about the body and brest, the twoe loose ends of the Girdle hung from the loines downwards for ornament: the fourth was a vesture made of a linnen swadling Band, of the fashion of a Cap, and was sewed round about like a Cap, with a Border: this Cap (some say) was, covered over with Tiffany, Cypres or the like, because no stitches should bee seene bare; this Cap covered the least part of the forehead; and behinde the eares there were strings made fast to the Cap which were tyed fast under te Chin, to the end, that the Cap should not fall of in theyr service.

Besides the said foure garments, (which were alsoe used by the Highpriest) the Highpriest did alsoe use foure other Garments, (which first parts are already mentioned:) the first was a stately woolen coate (but as others say) of silke, of askie colour, wholly woven all of one peece, without seame, without sleeves, parted into twoe skirtes in the sides, with a hole for the head above, which reached from before to behinde, thorough which, the Highpriest thrust his [Page 24] head: this shirt or coate had armeholes, without sleeves, and under the hemme of the twoe shirts hung 72 golden Bells, with as many Buttons made of wooll or silke like Pomegranates of skiecolour purple and scarlet the halfe of the buttons or Pomegranates and Bells upon each schirt, a Pomegranate betweene twoe Bells, a and Bell betweene twoe Pomegranates: the lowermost ends of the Bells and Pomegranates hung even with the hemme of the under Coat.

The second was a garment made in fashion as a wastcoate, which covered the backe, hanging from the necke to the Loines, the breadth covered the backe and the sides, but not the breast, for there it was open about a span in length fouresquare, therein to place the breast plate with was just fitted thereunto: at the lower­most corner of thier garment there were twoe longe strings, wherewith the Priestes loines were begirt, to the end that the garments might fit close to the body, and alsoe to the end that the breastplate might rest thereupon; this garment was woven of gould and the purest linnen and [Page 25] wollen (some say) of silke, the colour was skie­colour, purple, and scarlet, it had on ecah side above, a shoulder piece in the manner of a band or swadling band, which tooke up the breadth from the necke to the shoulder, which was joined and laced thorough gold loop inholes to the uppermost edge of the uppergarment: upon each shoulderband was a precious stone layd or set in gold, on those twoe stones were written or engraved the names of the twelve Tribes, on each stone six names according to theyr birth. The third was a certaine piece of twoe spans length, beeing once foulded together just a span fouresquare, beeing of the same stuffe as the abovenamed garment: this was called the breastpiece, heart peece or breastplate: within the fouldings thereof was placed the greate name of the LORD GOD, (which name God himselfe had revealed to Moses) by vertue and power whereof those holy letters (with which hee would answer) which were graven in the stones of the breastplate, gave a pure and plaine glance from themselves, in cleare plaine and [Page 26] glistering beames: the breastplate was covered over with a plate of gould in the which were wrought 12 fouresquare holes, which were made fitt upon the upriseing stones, which stones were very rare all af one bignesse, sett in foure rowes, three deepe, equally fitting one another, soe artificially set in gold, that those 12 Stones did seeme to bee one stone. In the twoe upper­most Corners of the breastplate were twoe gould rings, thorough which with twoe gold chaines the twoe shoulderpieces of the after-garment were fastened to the golden loopes, and stones: the undermost corners of the breast­plate had twoe gold ringes, thorough which skiecolourd strings did run, which were fastened by the twoe lowermost goldrings of the after­garment, because the same might bee put on the girdles upon the edges of the aftergarment. The fourth was the Highpriests golden forehead plate, twoe inches broad, the length was from the one side of the head to the other: the op­permost edge of the forehead plate had points, as flower points or such as crownes have, upon [Page 27] this golden plate were driven or beaten out letters to bee read, namely, Kodes Laadonnai, which is interpred, Holinesse to the Lord. To this golden forehead plate were fastned three-skie colour strings, at each end one, and one in the middle of the uppermost edge: the strings were bound fast behinde the head, the middle­most whereof went thwart over the middle of the cap: but others say, that this threefold stringe or three skiecolourd strings or bands, were wreathed one withinaother according to the breadth of the said golden plate, and were made fast to the edges of the plate, and that the same was (without beeing tyed) put upon the Highpriests cap, standing in the forme of a crowne upon the Highpriest head This was the forme and nature of the eight sa­cerdotall or priestly garments, wherewith the Temple was served, even as the holy Scripture declareth unto us.