February 16, 2016

Solomon's Temple (1 Kings 6-7)



Below is the text for the above video. I include it manly so that if anyone wants see what what verses I pulled out, or how I moved them around, they can. The text is from the KJV of 1 Kings 6-7.

1 And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, that he began to build the house of the Lord.
2 And the house which king Solomon built for the Lord, the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits.
3 And the porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house; and ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the house.
4 And for the house he made windows of narrow lights.


5 ¶And against the wall of the house he built chambers round about five cubits high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.
6 The nethermost chamber was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad: for without in the wall of the house he made narrowed rests round about, that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the house.
8 The door for the middle chamber was in the right side of the house: and they went up with winding stairs into the middle chamber, and out of the middle into the third.
17 And the house, that is, the temple before it, was forty cubits long.
20 And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof:


23 ¶And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree, each ten cubits high.
27 And he set the cherubims within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.
29 And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, within and without.
22 And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the house:


31 ¶And for the entering of the oracle he made doors of olive tree: the lintel and side posts were a fifth part of the wall.
33 So also made he for the door of the temple posts of olive tree, a fourth part of the wall.
34 And the two doors were of fir tree: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.
35 And he carved thereon cherubims and palm trees and open flowers: and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work.
48 And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained unto the house of the Lord: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon the shewbread was,
49 And the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold,
21 And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz.
22 And upon the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished.


23 ¶And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.
25 It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.
26 And it was an hand breadth thick, and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it contained two thousand baths.


27 ¶And he made ten bases of brass; four cubits was the length of one base, and four cubits the breadth thereof, and three cubits the height of it.
29 And on the borders that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, and cherubims:
30 And every base had four brasen wheels, 33 And the work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel:
38 ¶Then made he ten lavers of brass: one laver contained forty baths: and upon every one of the ten bases one laver.
39 And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward over against the south.
51 So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the Lord.

February 14, 2016

Holy Week Study Resources

One of the things that has helped me better prepare for Easter each year is to take up a study of Holy Week about a month before the actual holiday. Christian Lent (the forty-six days before Easter Sunday) is a great time to begin, and gives you plenty of time to read at least one book and to review each of the four Gospel accounts of the last week of Jesus' life. Adding this to my study during the month before Easter, makes this special day become all the more holy. Below are a few of the books I have enjoyed reading to prepare for Holy Week:

God So Loved the World by Eric D. Huntsman
One of my favorite books on the Holy Week. Written by BYU professor Eric Huntsman, this book examines each of the days of Holy Week. The book is designed to read one chapter, each day of the week; Palm Sunday on Sunday, Maundy Thursday on Thursday, etc. Also, includes recommended music to listen to during the week.

A Lively Hope by Richard Neitzel Holzapfel
Excellent book about the last days of the life of Jesus Christ. The book is broken into chapters for each of the four Gospels, and discusses the unique aspects of each Gospel. Great resource if you are wanting a deeper study into the suffering, death, resurrection, and exaltation of Jesus Christ.

The Last Week by Marcus J. Borg & John D. Crossan
In-depth study of the Gospel of Mark in relationship to the Last Week of Christ's life. Very detailed and scholarly look at the shortest version of the four Gospel narratives.

A Crucified Christ in Holy Week and 
A Risen Christ in Eastertime by Raymond E. Brown
Written by one of the most recognized Catholic Professors in the world, Raymond Brown goes into great detail discussing each of the four gospel narratives as it relates to the Passion of Christ. Though written for Catholic priests, it is a wonderful, short resource for Holy Week.

His Final Hours by W. Jeffery Marsh
Easy to read and understand, this resource by BYU Professor Jeffery Marsh covers the last hours of Christ's life. This book covers the events by chronological event, Last Supper, Gethsemane, etc. instead of by discussing the Passion in the context of each of the four Gospel narratives. Great resource for those who are not very familiar with Holy Week, and want a more basic overview.

Gethsemane, Golgotha, and 
The Garden Tomb by Andrew C. Skinner
Three short volumes written by BYU professor Andrew Skinner. Each volume discusses historical background, and insights into the importance of Gethsemane, Golgotha, and the Garden Tomb.