Saturday, May 01, 2010

The Kodesh Hakodashim, "Holy of Holies"..........



The Kodesh Hakodashim, "Holy of Holies", the most sacred site in traditional Judaism, is the inner sanctuary within the Tabernacle and Temple in Jerusalem when Solomon's Temple and the Second Temple were standing. Traditional Judaism regards the location where the inner sanctuary was originally located, on the Temple Mount in Mount Moriah, as retaining some or all of its original sanctity for use in a future Third Temple. The exact location of the Kadosh Hakadashim is a subject of dispute.

The Kadosh Hakadashim was located in the westernmost end of the Temple building, being a perfect cube: 10 cubits by 10 cubits, by 10 cubits. The inside was in total darkness and contained the Ark of the Covenant, gilded inside and out, in which were placed the Tablets of the Covenant, the Rod of Aaron and a pot of manna. The Ark was covered with a gilded lid known as the "mercy seat" for the Divine Presence. When the Temple was rebuilt after the Babylonian captivity, the Ark was no longer present in the Holy of Holies; instead, a portion of the floor was raised slightly to indicate the place where it had stood. Josephus records that Pompey profaned the Temple by insisting on entering the Holy of Holies.

The Holy of Holies was hidden by a veil, and no one was permitted to enter except the High Priest, and even he could only enter once a year on Yom Kippur, to offer the blood of sacrifice and incense before the mercy seat.

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Solomon's strong alliance with Hiram I, King of Tyre, greatly assisted him in his numerous undertakings. Many of the materials and professional craftsmen for the construction of the Temple, were brought over from Tyre, including the chief architect, also named Hiram, who was sent especially to Jerusalem by the King of Tyre to assist in the construction. The description of the Temple is remarkably similar to that of surviving remains of other temples of the time, and it is certainly plausible, that Solomon was influenced by the architecture of the region.
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Only High Priests were allowed into the Holy of Holies.
Hiram Abiff was not a High Priest.
Hiram Abiff was an architect, not a "mason/laborer".

Could Hiram Abiff been trespassing on Holy grounds every day at noon?
Could the 3 Ruffians have been guards of the Holy of Holies, and since Hiram was not a MM nor a High Priest, he could not have had the Password nor the right to tread on such Holy Grounds?

So, when confronted by the Ruffians/Guards of the Sanctum Sanctorum, and asked for the secret/password, he had no answer, and tried to escape/flee and was caught?