Israel and Humanity - Layout of the Temple
The most superficial examination of the distribution of parts of the Temple's enough for us to see three main divisions with in the last two, in particular subdivisions that also alter in any way available to the entire building .
The outside was calledarabbaïl and Gentiles were admitted. And be it observed, they had access regardless of beliefs, that is to say without it being checked before they adhered to that religion Noachide which for them was considered as the condition of hi, 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 explainable by the destination of the holy mountain to visit religious Gentiles and which in any case with this interpretation have a meaning perfectly clear. "Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD will rise up to his holy place?" He who has clean hands and pure heart who does not deliver his soul to lie and swear not to deceive " .
What does this list only moral qualities required of the man who aspires to the honor of entering the Temple of God? It is impossible that either of the legal nor moral virtues that imposed for the Israelites themselves. Understandably, it is true to a certain point such as the words would echo of the prelude, the prophetic invective against those who were the least contaminated of all kinds of crimes come to the temple to worship God. But the absence of any reference to special rites and beliefs of Judaism and even the monotheistic faith and cons of the party so essential and so common in the Prophets, that is to say the blame against those who without repeating the first moral claim to have approached the altar, while persuades us that this is not the probable direction. It is more plausible to suppose that in this passage, the psalmist to the Gentiles, whose religion is summed up in precisely those moral precepts which it lists. In the fifteenth Psalm, which contains a more detailed statement yet of the moral qualities required, 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 somehow given by official Judaism at that category of Gentile believers.
After the open forum to the Gentiles, was the court, the court of Israel and the second portion succeeding the slot reserved for the family of Aaron. Gentile could not enter the precincts of Israel any more than the ordinary Israelite could enter the court or priestly priest himself, in the Holy of Holies, which only opened once a year to the pope alone. 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 confusion and without separation possible.
We shall not dwell further on the distribution of various parts of the Temple, which is already by itself significant enough. The only reservation made in the sanctuary of Jerusalem a special place to the Gentiles without requiring them not to be related entirely to Mosaic is, we believe, a unique phenomenon in religious history, it proves itself the close links join 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 in the temple that opens, the king of Israel said: "When an alien who is not of thy people Israel will come from distant countries, because Thy name, knowing that when your name is great, mighty hand, your arm extended, he will pray in this house, listen to him from heaven, the place of your dwelling and gives the stranger everything that it asks you to all the peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear thee, as thy people Israel, and know that your name is invoked on this house that I built. And another verse of that prayer, as we read in the text of the Chronicles can be translated as: "Any prayer, supplication that any amount of any humanity or any of thy people Israel, each recognizing its weakness and poverty, and extending his hands toward this house, hear it yourself from the heavens, the link remains Ta.
Not only the universality of the Jewish Temple is clearly indicated in the solemn prayer of the founder, not only it asks God to grant the prayers of foreigners and accentuates 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 hear thy name for fear you as your people ' Israel, as it is true that Judaism had universal goals and aspired to convert to the true God through excellence in worship, all peoples faluns.
It should be noted also what are the two essential conditions proclaimed for the prayer of the Gentiles be listened to God. Their worship must first be consistent with that of the Israelites, for it is said: "Let them know Your name and fear thee as thy people Israel." They then have to recognize the priestly mission of the Jews, since the text adds, "Let them know that your name is invoked on this house that I built" The first condition implies the existence of a law for the Gentiles, not, indeed, absolutely identical to that of Israel, because in that case there would be no need to distinguish one from another, but nevertheless linked in some way to Mosaic, which addresses precisely the nature of the Noachism. The second condition is exactly that which Maimonides, according to the Talmud, places of worship for peanut said legitimate, that is to say, it is observed not only as a moral philosophy of any kind, even same as a natural religion, but as the original revelation given to all mankind, and whose custody has been entrusted to Israel.
