These eight side gates, as we may call them, were all two -leaved, wide, high, with

superstructures and chambers supported by two pillars, and covered with gold and

silver plating. But far more magnificent than any of them was the ninth or eastern gate,

which formed the principal entrance into the Temple. The ascent to it was from the

terrace by twelve easy steps. The gate itself was made of dazzling Corinthian brass,

most richly ornamented; and so massive were its double doors that it needed the united

strength of twenty men to open and close them. This was the 'Beautiful Gate'; and on its

steps had they been wont these many years to lay the lame man, just as privileged

beggars now lie at the entrance to Continental cathedrals. No wonder that all Jerusalem

knew him; and when on that sunny afternoon Peter and John joined the worshippers in

the Court of the Women, not alone, but in company with the well-known cripple, who,

after his healing, was 'walking and leaping and praising God,' universal 'wonder and

amazement' must have been aroused. Then, when the lame man, still 'holding by' the

apostles, again descended these steps, we can readily understand how all the people

would crowd around in Solomon's Porch, close by, till the sermon of Peter--so fruitful in

its spiritual results --was interrupted by the Temple police, and the sudden

imprisonment of the apostles.

The Court of the Women obtained its name, not from its appropriation to the exclusive

use of women, but because they were not allowed to proceed farther, except for

sacrificial purposes. Indeed, this was probably the common place for worship, the

females occupying, according to Jewish tradition, only a raised gallery along three sides

of the court. This court covered a space upwards of 200 feet square. All around ran a

simple colonnade, and within it, against the wall, the thirteen chests, or 'trumpets,' for

charitable contributions were placed. These thirteen chests were narrow at the mouth

and wide at the bottom, shaped like trumpets, whence their name. Their specific objects

were carefully marked on them. Nine were for the receipt of what was legally due by

worshippers; the other four for strictly voluntary gifts. Trumpets I and II were

appropriated to the half-shekel Temple -tribute of the current and of the past year. Into

Trumpet III those women who had to bring turtledoves for a burnt- and a sin -offering

dropped their equivalent in money, which was daily taken out and a corresponding

numb er of turtledoves offered. This not only saved the labour of so many separate

sacrifices, but spared the modesty of those who might not wish to have the occasion or

the circumstances of their offering to be publicly known. Into this trumpet Mary the

mother of Jesus must have dropped the value of her offering (Luke 2:22,24) when the

aged Simeon took the infant Saviour 'in his arms, and blessed God.' Trumpet IV similarly

received the value of the offerings of young pigeons. In Trumpet V contributions for the

wood used in the Temple; in Trumpet VI for the incense, and in Trumpet VII for the

golden vessels for the ministry were deposited. If a man had put aside a certain sum for

a sin -offering, and any money was left over after its purchase, it was cast into Trumpet

VIII. Similarly, Trumpets IX, X, XI, XII, and XIII were destined for what was left over

from trespass-offerings, offerings of birds, the offering of the Nazarite, of the cleansed

leper, and voluntary offerings. In all probability this space where the thirteen Trumpets

were placed was the 'treasury,' where Jesus taught on that memorable Feast of

Tabernacles (John 7 and 8; see specially 8:20). We can also understand how, from the

peculiar and known destination of each of these thirteen 'trumpets,' the Lord could

distinguish the contributions of the rich who cast in 'of their abundance' from that of the

poor widow who of her 'penury' had given 'all the living' that she had (Mark 12:41; Luke

21:1). But there was also a special treasury -chamber, into which at certain times they

carried the contents of the thirteen chests; and, besides, what was called 'a chamber of