altar, and table, with the seven-branched lamp stands, of which there were ten, of beautiful construction and ornamentation.  But the most glorious work of Hiram was the construction of the two majestic brasen pillars, called Jachin and Boaz, They were stately in height, the shaft of each measuring 27 feet, a base of 12 feet, and two capitals of 13 1/2 feet, thus the whole height of each pillar being 52 1/2 feet.  The decoration was equally graceful and elaborate, especially upon the capitals.  The lower capitals had a fine network over the whole, and chain-work hanging in festoons outside.  There were also pomegranates wrought upon them.  The upper capitals, forming a cornice to the whole pillar, were ornamented with lily-work.  At Persepolis there still stands a pillar, the cornice of which is carved with three rows of lily leaves.  These pillars were esteemed the most important ornaments in the magnificent temple, the erection of which was the best feature of Solomon’s reign.  They were of such prominent importance that a name was affixed to each of them.  One was called “Jachin,” which means, “he will establish,” the other was called “Boaz,” which means “in strength.”  The ideas involved are stability and strength.  Possibly the Psalmist had these pillars in his mind when he wrote, “Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary” (Ps. xcvi. 6); strength first, then beauty; strength as the foundation of divine work, then beauty, graceful finish, and ornament.

Hiram was an inspired artist and artificer.  He was “filled with wisdom and understanding, and cunning to work.”  We are told the same as to the great decorative workers of the Tabernacle, concerning whom the Lord said:  “See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur of the tribe of Judah:  and I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all manner of workmanship” (Exod. xxxi. 2-5).  So also it is written of Aholiab, Ahisamach, and other Tabernacle workers.

It is instructive to find that in Scripture, genius as displayed in literary insight and facility, in ingenuity and inventiveness as to the various arts, and even in the conception of instruments of husbandry, is attributed to Divine inspiration.  It may not be the same order of inspiration by which “men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Ghost”; “Searching what time or manner of time the spirit of Christ which was in them did point unto when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that should follow them” (2 Peter i. 21; 1 Peter i. 11); but the fact is clear, whether it was inspiration of a different nature or in a different degree, that on men of special gifts in various departments and of the highest order, wisdom