Royal Arch Education

The Destruction and Rebuilding of the
Temple of King Solomon

King Solomon's Temple stood for 420 years. However, during that period faith and worship of the Lord among the Jews wavered. There were times when they turned to idolatry and had to brought back to the path of righteousness.

After King Solomon's death ten of these wavering tribes broke away and moved to Samaria. This made the city of Jerusalem vulnerable and left only the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin to defend Judea. The weakened defenses of the city of Jerusalem could not withstand the repeated attack by the Egyptians and was finally overrun during the reign of Rehoboam. The Temple was plundered of much of its gold. However, over time many of these treasures were replaced.

In 722 BC the kingdom occupied by the 10 tribes in Samaria fell to the rule of the Assyrians and the these tribes became captives. By paying a tribute to the Assyrians the tribes of Judah and Benjamin avoided this fate and the city of Jerusalem remained safe for a while.

However, it was in 586 BC that Nebuzaradan entered Jerusalem destroyed the Temple and slaughtered the people. He took the treasures, all the Holy Vessels together with thousands of survivors of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin back to Babylon. An account is found in II Chronicles Chapter 36 vs. 11 to 23. The tale of woe of these captives on their arrival in Babylon is recorded in the Book of Psalm No 137 and we hear their lament 'By the rivers of Babylon there we sat down. Yea, we wept when we remembered Zion. There we hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they carried us away captive; required of us a song; and they that wasted us; required of us mirth. How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land.'

The tribes of Judah and Benjamin remained captive in Babylon which lay some four to six months travel from their home in Judea. Here many of their children were born and the successive new generation grew up regarded Babylon as their home.

There is little doubt that the manpower, talent and skills of these tribes were put to use for the Babylonian Empire. It is also certain that, as time went by, many gained positions of prominence and wealth.

Nebuchadnezzar did not last long as the Medes and Persians invaded his kingdom and he was defeated. Eventually, Cyrus, King of Persia came to rule. He was an expansionist and extended his empire to cover most of the Middle East. This Persian Empire lasted 200 years. However, it was in the first year of the reign of King Cyrus that God came to him. Subsequently, King Cyrus issued his proclamation to rebuild the House of the Lord in Jerusalem. This is recounted in the book of Ezra Chapter 1 and shows that there were 42,360 ( a few of these were of mixed blood but were allowed to travel) that eventually made the journey to Jerusalem

When the time came to travel the descendants of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin were not overwhelmed with the generous offer to return to their own country - a hint of this is given in the ritual when after the proclamation is made - the Principal Sojourner asks 'What say you? Shall we go up to Jerusalem?' There is consultation and hesitation between the Sojourners and the Captain of the Host.

The other tribe members who remained in Judea had inter-married with the Assyrians. They resented the return of the captives as intruders upon their way of life. In return the captives viewed the residents with displeasure. These tribe members who had remained had not been steadfast in keeping the Law. Their genealogy was now no longer acceptable to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.

A small group under the leadership of SHESHBAZZAR, the Persian name for Zerrubabel, Prince of Judah, arrived in Jerusalem in 537 B.C. and commenced the work of clearing the rubbish. Cyrus provided them with money, equipment, oxen and some of the treasures - but not all. It wasn't until the reign of Darius that the main group return to Jerusalem. It was Darius who was a man of enlightenment, a thinker and a philosopher who hastened the work and sent more gold, copper and silver with many animals for sacrifice.

There seems to be 'gap' in the Masonic legend of the degree and it may be that Zerubbabel returned to Babylon soon after he led the first group. The second larger contingent was again led by Zerubbabel and they were horrified to find ruins. Work on the Temple had been suspended for about 14 years mainly through conflict with the tribes of mixed blood. This explains the words of the First Veil who states"...disturbances having arisen from the introduction of strangers among the workmen, none are permitted to engage in this noble and glorious work except the true descendants of the twelve tribes of Israel"

It was on this second return ( If I am correct in my assumption?) of Zerubbabel (Prince and Governor), with Jeshua (High Priest), Prophets Haggai ( who was born in Babylon), Zechariah and Niamiah that in 516 BC the Temple was completed. It was Haggai who was responsible in encouraging the Jews to build the Temple and it was the leadership of Zerubbabel that finalized the result.

From 586 BC when the Temple was sacked to 516 BC to the date the Temple was completed is 70 years However, that was not the period of the exile as Zerubbabel (Sheeshbazzar) left for Jerusalem after 49 and 1/2 years in Babylon. He must have then returned to Babylon but that is not clear in the Biblical text. We read that he returned to Jerusalem again 17 and a 1/2 years later. This indicates that the tribes of Judah and Benjamin were away for over 67 years. It took 3 years to complete the Temple which makes a total of 70 years, as foretold by the prophet Jeremiah.

The curious may ask why Zerubbabel as the leader, Prince and Governor is not recognized as the First Principal Officer in our Royal Arch Degree. We in America recognize the High Priest Jeshua whereas in England it is Zerubbabel. That is another story and must wait for another time.

Edgar W. Fentum 9-9-1999

'Arks'

As Moses, after one hundred and twenty years, approached his death he gave the children of Israel the Law. It is written that he called his people together and according to Deuteronomy Ch. 31 V26 we read the commandment of Moses to the Levites which is also found in the ritual "Take this book of the law and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your GOD, that it may be there for a witness against thee."

Much speculation and debate has ranged over what happened to the 'Ark of the Covenant'. A book 'The Sign and the Seal' by Graham Hancock suggest that it was stolen. He follows a trail from Chartres Cathedral, the Knights Templars. He suggests that the Queen of Sheba's and King Solomon son stole the Ark and it was taken to Ethiopia. Masonic legend contends that it was destroyed in the Temple. Masonic legend suggest that a substitute Ark was hidden in a vault by King Solomon. He did this so that if the original Ark was lost or destroyed there would be something to hand on to posterity.

Deuteronomy is the fifth book of Moses and it is believed by scholars that this is the book that was deposited in the Ark. Not as many mistakenly suppose the entire Old Testament. The entire Old Testament was not written until much later.

Deuteronomy, the laws, in addition to those handed down, were used by the Priests during the period of captivity in Babylon and during the building of the second Temple to establish ceremonies and rituals. Ezra used this priestly code to create the Jewish nation and these traditions became the turning point in Jewish history.

Masonically, it is believed that the Pentateuch "Five Tools or Five Books" that are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy were contained in the Ark of the Covenant. In the Ritual of the Royal Arch Degree we hear the first verse of the Book of Genesis. It would seem that in 1797 Thomas Smith Webb and his committee, who compiled the ritual we use, also believed that the five books were deposited.

The text of the Book of Deutronomy in its early form was more likely to be in Amaraic or cuneiform script cut into large tablets of stone - rather than in Hebrew. It would have been very heavy and required a large Ark, much larger than the one we are led to believe at 3 foot 9 inches in length and 2 foot 3 inches in breadth and depth. It is also a little confusing when, in our Capitular ritual, the Ark is opened and a key is discovered. It takes a stretch of imagination to believe that the 'key' can decipher symbols that relate to English letters and arrives at the long lost word. However, we must take this at face value and regard the symbolic significance.

The apocryphal legend of Hiram is completed in the Royal Arch Degree. The Ark is a symbol of the divine presence of God and to the Jewish people it represented protection and stability so long as they obeyed the word of God '….to live conformably to the precepts contained in the Book of the Law'.

There are three arks mentioned in our ritual and each is placed symbolically between the Veils to signify the metaphysical journey we travel towards Deification. Similar journeys are depicted in other world religions and metaphysical studies.

The first is the 'Ark of Safety' built by Noah with help from his sons Shem, Ham and Japeth. The second is the sacred Ark or "Ark of the Covenant' which God ordered Moses to have built and Aholiab and Bezaleel complete the work.

This Ark had three special divine attributes. The Mercy Seat was between the angels whose wings stretch over the Ark. The Shekinah '.. was a shining flame of amazing splendor of light, enveloped in a shining cloud'. This cloud is often shown in old Masonic pictures and depiction's of Freemasonry. The 'Bathkoll' was a combined Hebrew word signifying 'Voice' and 'House'. It is sometimes regarded as the oracle that 'spoke' to the High Priest.

The third or 'Substitute Ark' which according to Masonic legend was placed in the crypt and discovered by Jeshua, Zerrubabel and Hagai had none of the attributes of the original. It is suggested that the 'Substitute Ark' has a Christian significance alluding to the 'Son' of God.

Let us consider the symbolism of the Ark of the Covenant. It is placed below ground but believed to be supported by three fingers to keep it from touching the earth. Thus in suspension it is neither earth nor air, neither physical nor spiritual, but of each. It was made of 'Shittim' or 'Acacia' wood which reminds us in our Masonic ritual of the Spirit or Soul that lives when the flesh dies. It was overlaid with pure gold taken from the earth. Gold also suggests purity of heart.

Masonically, the shape of the Ark is similar to the form of a Lodge and represents '…a paralellopepedon in length from East to West, in breadth from North to South, in depth from the surface of the earth to the center and even as high as the heavens'. Thus it signifies the larger outer world and the smaller inner world referred to as the Macrocosm and the Microcosm.

It reminds us of the inner self which has to be discovered and understood in our journey through life. As we ascend various levels as depicted by the veils we enter the Council or 'head'. It is here that we approach a serenity and harmony with the Spirit. We may then transcend the larger physical world into a union with God.

In the Royal Arch Degree the candidate symbolically follows a path through life. The 'Passing of the Veils' is a prelude to the journey of enlightenment that is climaxed by the discovery of the Ark. Then only by the discovery of its contents within the confines of the 'Council' is the candidate enabled to discover the Tetragrammaton and the true word of a Master Mason.

Edgar W. Fentum. 9-9-1999

Can the York Rite compete
with the Scottish Rite.

First of all is the question necessary? Has it any validity? The simple answer is NO.

The Scottish Rite has more than five times the membership of the York Rite. It has established itself as a viable organization for the promotion of Masonic principles to those who seek the 33 degrees of Masonry. It is more deeply embedded with the philosophy of the ancient Mysteries and provides a more obvious platform for the basis of Spiritual improvement. It is not for us to attempt to deride or criticize as the Scottish Rite Degrees when fully understood are a source of intense study, reflection and moral improvement.

We need to remember the Albert Pike was also a York Rite Mason and brought his vast knowledge to re-writing the Scottish Rite Degrees. His aim was to make them more meaningful than the degrees he saw in the Blue Lodge, York Rite and Scottish Rite. To glance through 'Morals and Dogma' will leave an impact upon the mind of the vast amount of research, thought and genius that went into this work.

The York Rite confers the 9 or 10 degrees. The structure of these degrees have a 'grounding' and recognizable form of the Craft Degrees.

Are we to be known as the generation that turned its back upon the demands of future Masons? Are we to be known as the generation that chose to do nothing and allowed Freemasonry to sink into oblivion? Is it a lack of foresight or is it that we are so entrenched into a thinking and an attitude of: If its good enough for me it is good enough for the future.

Brethren, Preston in the late 1780 decided that Freemasonry had to change. Webb, in America honed Prestons work to produce what we have today. We have to consider whether that era of the 'Horse and Cart' is applicable to today. Has there been any changes in other organizations over the same period. Are Religious Services exactly the same.


	Topics For Short Discourse at Chapter Meetings
	M .:. E .:. Edgar Fentum Grand High Priest Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of California ( Author )
	The Destruction and Rebuilding of the Temple of King Solomon King Solomon's Temple stood for 420 years. However, during that period faith and worship of the Lord among the Jews wavered. There were times when they turned to idolatry and had to brought back to the path of righteousness. After King Solomon's death ten of these wavering tribes broke away and moved to Samaria. This made the city of Jerusalem vulnerable and left only the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin to defend Judea. The weakened defenses of the city of Jerusalem could not withstand the repeated attack by the Egyptians and was finally overrun during the reign of Rehoboam. The Temple was plundered of much of its gold. However, over time many of these treasures were replaced. In 722 BC the kingdom occupied by the 10 tribes in Samaria fell to the rule of the Assyrians and the these tribes became captives. By paying a tribute to the Assyrians the tribes of Judah and Benjamin avoided this fate and the city of Jerusalem remained safe for a while. However, it was in 586 BC that Nebuzaradan entered Jerusalem destroyed the Temple and slaughtered the people. He took the treasures, all the Holy Vessels together with thousands of survivors of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin back to Babylon. An account is found in II Chronicles Chapter 36 vs. 11 to 23. The tale of woe of these captives on their arrival in Babylon is recorded in the Book of Psalm No 137 and we hear their lament 'By the rivers of Babylon there we sat down. Yea, we wept when we remembered Zion. There we hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they carried us away captive; required of us a song; and they that wasted us; required of us mirth. How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land.' The tribes of Judah and Benjamin remained captive in Babylon which lay some four to six months travel from their home in Judea. Here many of their children were born and the successive new generation grew up regarded Babylon as their home. There is little doubt that the manpower, talent and skills of these tribes were put to use for the Babylonian Empire. It is also certain that, as time went by, many gained positions of prominence and wealth. Nebuchadnezzar did not last long as the Medes and Persians invaded his kingdom and he was defeated. Eventually, Cyrus, King of Persia came to rule. He was an expansionist and extended his empire to cover most of the Middle East. This Persian Empire lasted 200 years. However, it was in the first year of the reign of King Cyrus that God came to him. Subsequently, King Cyrus issued his proclamation to rebuild the House of the Lord in Jerusalem. This is recounted in the book of Ezra Chapter 1 and shows that there were 42,360 ( a few of these were of mixed blood but were allowed to travel) that eventually made the journey to Jerusalem When the time came to travel the descendants of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin were not overwhelmed with the generous offer to return to their own country - a hint of this is given in the ritual when after the proclamation is made - the Principal Sojourner asks 'What say you? Shall we go up to Jerusalem?' There is consultation and hesitation between the Sojourners and the Captain of the Host. The other tribe members who remained in Judea had inter-married with the Assyrians. They resented the return of the captives as intruders upon their way of life. In return the captives viewed the residents with displeasure. These tribe members who had remained had not been steadfast in keeping the Law. Their genealogy was now no longer acceptable to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. A small group under the leadership of SHESHBAZZAR, the Persian name for Zerrubabel, Prince of Judah, arrived in Jerusalem in 537 B.C. and commenced the work of clearing the rubbish. Cyrus provided them with money, equipment, oxen and some of the treasures - but not all. It wasn't until the reign of Darius that the main group return to Jerusalem. It was Darius who was a man of enlightenment, a thinker and a philosopher who hastened the work and sent more gold, copper and silver with many animals for sacrifice. There seems to be 'gap' in the Masonic legend of the degree and it may be that Zerubbabel returned to Babylon soon after he led the first group. The second larger contingent was again led by Zerubbabel and they were horrified to find ruins. Work on the Temple had been suspended for about 14 years mainly through conflict with the tribes of mixed blood. This explains the words of the First Veil who states"...disturbances having arisen from the introduction of strangers among the workmen, none are permitted to engage in this noble and glorious work except the true descendants of the twelve tribes of Israel" It was on this second return ( If I am correct in my assumption?) of Zerubbabel (Prince and Governor), with Jeshua (High Priest), Prophets Haggai ( who was born in Babylon), Zechariah and Niamiah that in 516 BC the Temple was completed. It was Haggai who was responsible in encouraging the Jews to build the Temple and it was the leadership of Zerubbabel that finalized the result. From 586 BC when the Temple was sacked to 516 BC to the date the Temple was completed is 70 years However, that was not the period of the exile as Zerubbabel (Sheeshbazzar) left for Jerusalem after 49 and 1/2 years in Babylon. He must have then returned to Babylon but that is not clear in the Biblical text. We read that he returned to Jerusalem again 17 and a 1/2 years later. This indicates that the tribes of Judah and Benjamin were away for over 67 years. It took 3 years to complete the Temple which makes a total of 70 years, as foretold by the prophet Jeremiah. The curious may ask why Zerubbabel as the leader, Prince and Governor is not recognized as the First Principal Officer in our Royal Arch Degree. We in America recognize the High Priest Jeshua whereas in England it is Zerubbabel. That is another story and must wait for another time. Edgar W. Fentum 9-9-1999 'Arks' As Moses, after one hundred and twenty years, approached his death he gave the children of Israel the Law. It is written that he called his people together and according to Deuteronomy Ch. 31 V26 we read the commandment of Moses to the Levites which is also found in the ritual "Take this book of the law and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your GOD, that it may be there for a witness against thee." Much speculation and debate has ranged over what happened to the 'Ark of the Covenant'. A book 'The Sign and the Seal' by Graham Hancock suggest that it was stolen. He follows a trail from Chartres Cathedral, the Knights Templars. He suggests that the Queen of Sheba's and King Solomon son stole the Ark and it was taken to Ethiopia. Masonic legend contends that it was destroyed in the Temple. Masonic legend suggest that a substitute Ark was hidden in a vault by King Solomon. He did this so that if the original Ark was lost or destroyed there would be something to hand on to posterity. Deuteronomy is the fifth book of Moses and it is believed by scholars that this is the book that was deposited in the Ark. Not as many mistakenly suppose the entire Old Testament. The entire Old Testament was not written until much later. Deuteronomy, the laws, in addition to those handed down, were used by the Priests during the period of captivity in Babylon and during the building of the second Temple to establish ceremonies and rituals. Ezra used this priestly code to create the Jewish nation and these traditions became the turning point in Jewish history. Masonically, it is believed that the Pentateuch "Five Tools or Five Books" that are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy were contained in the Ark of the Covenant. In the Ritual of the Royal Arch Degree we hear the first verse of the Book of Genesis. It would seem that in 1797 Thomas Smith Webb and his committee, who compiled the ritual we use, also believed that the five books were deposited. The text of the Book of Deutronomy in its early form was more likely to be in Amaraic or cuneiform script cut into large tablets of stone - rather than in Hebrew. It would have been very heavy and required a large Ark, much larger than the one we are led to believe at 3 foot 9 inches in length and 2 foot 3 inches in breadth and depth. It is also a little confusing when, in our Capitular ritual, the Ark is opened and a key is discovered. It takes a stretch of imagination to believe that the 'key' can decipher symbols that relate to English letters and arrives at the long lost word. However, we must take this at face value and regard the symbolic significance. The apocryphal legend of Hiram is completed in the Royal Arch Degree. The Ark is a symbol of the divine presence of God and to the Jewish people it represented protection and stability so long as they obeyed the word of God '….to live conformably to the precepts contained in the Book of the Law'. There are three arks mentioned in our ritual and each is placed symbolically between the Veils to signify the metaphysical journey we travel towards Deification. Similar journeys are depicted in other world religions and metaphysical studies. The first is the 'Ark of Safety' built by Noah with help from his sons Shem, Ham and Japeth. The second is the sacred Ark or "Ark of the Covenant' which God ordered Moses to have built and Aholiab and Bezaleel complete the work. This Ark had three special divine attributes. The Mercy Seat was between the angels whose wings stretch over the Ark. The Shekinah '.. was a shining flame of amazing splendor of light, enveloped in a shining cloud'. This cloud is often shown in old Masonic pictures and depiction's of Freemasonry. The 'Bathkoll' was a combined Hebrew word signifying 'Voice' and 'House'. It is sometimes regarded as the oracle that 'spoke' to the High Priest. The third or 'Substitute Ark' which according to Masonic legend was placed in the crypt and discovered by Jeshua, Zerrubabel and Hagai had none of the attributes of the original. It is suggested that the 'Substitute Ark' has a Christian significance alluding to the 'Son' of God. Let us consider the symbolism of the Ark of the Covenant. It is placed below ground but believed to be supported by three fingers to keep it from touching the earth. Thus in suspension it is neither earth nor air, neither physical nor spiritual, but of each. It was made of 'Shittim' or 'Acacia' wood which reminds us in our Masonic ritual of the Spirit or Soul that lives when the flesh dies. It was overlaid with pure gold taken from the earth. Gold also suggests purity of heart. Masonically, the shape of the Ark is similar to the form of a Lodge and represents '…a paralellopepedon in length from East to West, in breadth from North to South, in depth from the surface of the earth to the center and even as high as the heavens'. Thus it signifies the larger outer world and the smaller inner world referred to as the Macrocosm and the Microcosm. It reminds us of the inner self which has to be discovered and understood in our journey through life. As we ascend various levels as depicted by the veils we enter the Council or 'head'. It is here that we approach a serenity and harmony with the Spirit. We may then transcend the larger physical world into a union with God. In the Royal Arch Degree the candidate symbolically follows a path through life. The 'Passing of the Veils' is a prelude to the journey of enlightenment that is climaxed by the discovery of the Ark. Then only by the discovery of its contents within the confines of the 'Council' is the candidate enabled to discover the Tetragrammaton and the true word of a Master Mason. Edgar W. Fentum. 9-9-1999 Can the York Rite compete with the Scottish Rite. First of all is the question necessary? Has it any validity? The simple answer is NO. The Scottish Rite has more than five times the membership of the York Rite. It has established itself as a viable organization for the promotion of Masonic principles to those who seek the 33 degrees of Masonry. It is more deeply embedded with the philosophy of the ancient Mysteries and provides a more obvious platform for the basis of Spiritual improvement. It is not for us to attempt to deride or criticize as the Scottish Rite Degrees when fully understood are a source of intense study, reflection and moral improvement. We need to remember the Albert Pike was also a York Rite Mason and brought his vast knowledge to re-writing the Scottish Rite Degrees. His aim was to make them more meaningful than the degrees he saw in the Blue Lodge, York Rite and Scottish Rite. To glance through 'Morals and Dogma' will leave an impact upon the mind of the vast amount of research, thought and genius that went into this work. The York Rite confers the 9 or 10 degrees. The structure of these degrees have a 'grounding' and recognizable form of the Craft Degrees. Are we to be known as the generation that turned its back upon the demands of future Masons? Are we to be known as the generation that chose to do nothing and allowed Freemasonry to sink into oblivion? Is it a lack of foresight or is it that we are so entrenched into a thinking and an attitude of: If its good enough for me it is good enough for the future. Brethren, Preston in the late 1780 decided that Freemasonry had to change. Webb, in America honed Prestons work to produce what we have today. We have to consider whether that era of the 'Horse and Cart' is applicable to today. Has there been any changes in other organizations over the same period. Are Religious Services exactly the same. Grand Chapter - Royal Arch Masons of California Copyright © 2001- 2007 All rights reserved. Reviewed/Revised: June 22, 2007