We are told that in the building of King Solomon's Temple there was not heard the sound of any metallic tool. All stones were fitted, and numbered in the quarries; the timbers were prepared in the forest of Lebanon, whence they were brought by floats to Joppa, and thence carried over land to Jerusalem. Stones and wood-work thus prepared fitted into the architectural plans of the building with such perfection that the whole, when completed, seemed rather the work of the Grand Architect of the Universe than that of mere humans. Among Masons these remarkable facts symbolize the entire peace and harmony which should prevail among Masons when labouring on that spiritual temple of which the Solomonic Temple was the archetype. — ( 1 Kings 5:18 - 1 Kings 6:7 - Deuteronomy 27:5,6 )
Biblical Reference
1 Kings 5:18
And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.
1 Kings 6:7
And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.
Deuteronomy 27:5,6
5 And there shalt thou build an altar unto the LORD thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt not lift up any iron tool upon them. 6 Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God of whole stones: and thou shalt offer burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD thy God:
~~ooOoo~~
This page is adapted from the Glossary at Phoenixmasonry — Used with permission.
