72 



SYLVAN SKETCHES. 



brought to Zante two centuries before the destruction of 

 Troy; that Sesostris built a vessel of Cedar of two 

 hundred and eighty cubits ; and that the statue of the 

 goddess in the famous Ephesian temple, as well as most 

 of the wood-work of that glorious structure, was of that 

 material. 



Gerarde remarks, that the Gentiles w^ere wont to 

 make their devils or images of this kind of wood, that 

 they might last the longer." 



Martyn observes, that there has been great confusion 

 of the Cedar of Lebanon with other trees also bearing 

 the name of Cedar ; and that, as to the material used in 

 the heathen temples, it is very uncertain. But in building 

 the sumptuous temple and palace of Solomon at Jeru- 

 salem, we have, as he says, better authority: — 



" And Solomon sent unto Hiram, saying, 

 Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees 

 out of Lebanon. 



And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, 



" I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and con- 

 cerning timber of fir. My servants shall bring them down from 

 Lebanon unto the sea. 



" And I will convey them by sea, in floats, unto the place that 

 thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, 

 and thou shalt receive them. 



^' And thou shalt accomplish my desire in giving food for my 

 household. So Hiram gave Solomon cedar-trees, and fir-trees, 

 according to all his desire 



" And King Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel ; and the levy 

 was thirty thousand men. 



" And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month, by 

 courses ; a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home. 



* 1 Kings, chap. v. verse 6 — 11. 



