Israel and Humanity - Layout of the Temple
III.
Layout of the Temple.
The most cursory examination of the distribution of parts of the Temple is enough to make us see three main divisions with in the last two, in particular subdivisions that also alter in any way available to the entire building .
The outer part was called abbaït ar and the Gentiles were admitted. And be it observed, they had access to it regardless of beliefs is not to say that we look over any earlier if they adhered to that religion Noachide which was considered as the condition for them to hello perhaps because their very presence in this holy place seemed a sufficient guarantee of their religious faith. There are even a few psalms that are not explicable by the destination of the holy mountain to visit religious Gentiles, and in any case with this interpretation have a meaning perfectly clear. "Who shall ascend the mountain of the Lord? who stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and pure heart, but whoever does not surrender his soul to falsehood, nor sworn to deceive [1] ".
What does this list only moral qualities required of the man who aspires to the honor of entering the Temple of God? It is not whether the statutory requirements, or the moral virtues that imposed for the Israelites [2] themselves. Understandably, it is true to a certain extent in the past, such words would echo or as a prelude to the prophetic invective against those who, with hands soiled with all kinds of crimes, went to the temple to worship God . But the absence of any reference to special rites and beliefs of Judaism and even monotheistic faith, and the consideration so essential and so common in the prophets, that is to say the blame against those who, without comply first with the moral pretend to approach the altars, while persuades us that this is not the probable meaning. It is more plausible to assume that in this passage, the psalmist to the Gentiles, whose religion is summed up in precisely the moral precepts it lists. In Psalm XV contains a more detailed statement yet pensable, the words: "It honors those who fear the Lord" are not the least eloquent evidence of the correctness of our explanation, since we know that This designation is the title given by official somehow Judaism at that category of the Gentile believers.
After the open forum to the Gentiles, was the court, the court of Israel and to the second part succeeded the space for the family of Aaron. Gentile could not enter the precincts of Israel any more than the simple Jew could not enter the court or priestly priest himself, the Holy of Holies, which only opened once a year the pontiff only. So there were actually three temples, each with its separate destination and forming together a unique sanctuary, symbolizing the community of belief, organic unity whose parts coexist without con-fusion, and no separation possible.
We shall not dwell more on the distribution of various parts of the Temple which is already by itself significant enough. The only reservation is in the sanctuary of Jerusalem a special place to the Gentiles, without asking them not to relate entirely to the Mosaic is, we believe, a unique phenomenon in religious history, it proves itself to close uniting the religion of humanity to that of Israel. The prayer of Solomon in the ceremony of dedication is justly famous and contains lyrics that are worth mentioning. After begging God to grant the prayers of his people [3] in the temple that opens, the king of Israel said: "When an alien who is not of your People Israel will come from distant countries, in Thy name, knowing that when your name is great, mighty hand, your arms extended, he will pray in this house, listen to him from heaven, from thy dwelling place, and gives the stranger everything you asked, so that all peoples of the earth may know thy name to fear Thee like Thy people Israel, and know that your name is invoked on this house that I built [4] "And another verse of that prayer, as we read in the text of Chronicles can be translated as:" All prayer, supplication that any amount of any humanity or all your people Israel, each recognizing his weakness and misery, and extending his hands toward this house, hear the Thyself down from heaven, the place of thy dwelling [5] missing in the first, so adam men , and Israel, are two separate issues. </ref>
Not only the universality of the Jewish Temple is clearly indicated in the solemn prayer of its founder, not only is it asks God to grant the prayers of foreigners and emphasizes the role of mediator between Israel fulfills God and humanity, but what is perhaps more remarkable is the purpose for which Solomon calls abroad to be heard: "This is so that all peoples of the earth may know thy name to fear Thee like Thy people of Israel, as it is true that Judaism had referred universal and aspired to convert to the true God through excellence in worship, all the pagan peoples.
It must also be noted what are the two essential conditions proclaimed that the prayer of the Gentiles be listened to God. Their worship must first be consistent with that of the Israelites, because it is said they know your name for fear Thee like Thy people Israel. " They then recognize the priestly mission of the Jews, since the text adds, "Know that your name is invoked on this house that I built!" The first condition implies the existence of a law for Gentiles, not, indeed, absolutely identical to that of Israel, because in that case there would be no need to distinguish [6] from each other, but However, linked somehow to Mosaic, which addresses precisely the character of the Noachism. The second condition is exactly that Maimonides [7], according to the Talmud, places of worship Noachide said to be legitimate, that is to say, it is observed not only as a moral philosophy of any kind, even as a natural religion, but as the original revelation given to all mankind, and whose custody has been entrusted to Israel.
