The Site Of Solomon's Temple Discovered.

THE SITE OF SOLOMON'S TEMPLE DISCOVERED .

( Continued from po . ye S 7-J TABLE OF ELEVATIONS—SITE OF SOLOJIOs ' s GRAND ASCENT . Cubits . Feet . Lrjel . Nave on the floor of porch S = 7 . 38622 . . 2445 . 53879 Upper pavement .. 5 „ 7 . 33522 .. 2438 . 15357 738522243076835

Lower „ .. 5 „ . .. . Lower „ Bottom of 7 steps , top of grand ascent or ramp-steps .. .. 10 „ 14 . 77045 .. 2423 . 38313 Level of Court of Gentiles .. .. 20 „ 29 . 54089 .. 2408 . 61268 Level of substructure Boor , double gate , triple gate , etc 2379 . 0717 !)

The grand ascent ( alath ) or ramp-steps by which the Jews went up to the Temple Courts in Solomon's day was a ramp or stepped sidewalk all around the outer wall of the Temple Courts on the north , south , and east sides . It was outside the walls ,

and up this ramp of steps the devout worshipper ascended in order to enter the outer gates to the Court of Israel . Having entered the gates , he passed up another range of 7 steps inside the walls before reaching the pavement or Court . This

grand ascent outside the walls was the one which the Qiieen of Sheba so much admired ( 1 Kings , x . 5 ) . The bottom of this grand ramp was the general level of the palace grounds or street level outside the Courts . The total height of the grand

ascent outside ( 10 cubits ) and of the 7 steps inside ( 5 cubits ) was 10 + 5 = 15 cubits = 2-2-15567 ft ., and the difference between the levels was 2 , 423 ft . —2 , 408 ft . Herod cut away the rock forming this gi and ramp , and carried it inside , thereby

making the ascent inside the greater , consisting of 14 instead of 7 steps , thus forming two ranges into one grand stepped ascent of 14 steps , from the Court of Gentiles to the Inner Court of Israel , the total hei ght being 15 cubits , as in the days ° f Solomon .

"That second Court of the Temple was called The Sanctuary , ' and was ascended to bv 1 i steps from tlie first Court . " 1 'hisj Court was four-square ; the height of its Widings , although it was on the outside 40 cubits , jras hidden by the steps , and on the inside that ""i .- 'ht was but 25 cubits [ hence height of steps 15 cul ) its ] . "—Josephus , " Wars , " v ., 5 , 2 . In Herod ' s Temple , therefore , the site

of the grand ascent was converted by Herod into the Court of Gentiles , and the rock cut away where necessary , so that the grand ascent was carried inward and added to the former ascent , so that the ascent from the Court of Gentiles to the

Court of Israel consisted of 14 steps , whose total height was 15 cubits = 22-15567 feet . Mr . Beswick concludes from this result that the different ancient levels on the Sacred Rock , made for the pavements and

courts of Solomon ' s Temple , were left unmutilated by Herod , ancl that while he utilized them when he rebuilt this famous edifice , he also preserved them , and left the ancient landmarks upon the Sacred Rock in situ . In removing the grand ramp from the outer wall to the interior to make room for the Court of Gentiles , the rock has been cut away in two places only , north and

south . In the north the rock has cropped up too high , so that a deep scarp has been cut to get the required level for the Gentile Court , namely , 2 , 408 feet , and this deep scarp it visible along the entire northern edge of the mosque platform . A

careful , systematic survey of the Sakhra , and the rock underneath the platform , proves clearly that its successive levels fit truly , ancl correspond with . such levels , heights , lengths , and requirements as would suit the Temple of Solomon and its

successor built by Herod as closely as the nature of the case would admit of , or could reasonably be expected . It would be well if those who undertake to give Biblical illustrations and plans of Herod ' s Temple would take notice of this important fact , which occupies a subordinate place in Mr . Beswick ' s reconstruction of the Temple Area .

SITE OF THE HOLY PLACE . Mr . Beswick says that the western side of the inner door-way , Bab al Gbarby , is exactly 45 cubits = 66 * 467 ft . from " the Sakhra , aud that the exact site of the Most Holy Place in the Old Temple is

underneath the doorsill of this western entrance to the Dome of the Rock . The width of this doorway is also exactly 20 cubits = 29-54 ft ., being the same width as the Nave and Holy Place in Solomon ' s Temple . Ancl there is an unexplained tradition to this effect among the Moslems 2 D 2