After brief mention of the Jewish law relating to adoption, wherein it is provided (according to Hammurabi's Code, section 188), that if a man teach his adopted son a handicraft, the son is thereby confirmed in all the rights of heirship, Canon Girdlestone adds: "If the crown of David had been assigned to his successor in the days of Herod it would have been placed on the head of Joseph. And who would have been the legal successor to Joseph? Jesus of Nazareth would have been then the King of the Jews, and the title on the cross spoke the truth. God had raised Him up to the house of David." 6. The Inner Sanctuary of the Temple.--The Holy of Holies in the Temple of Herod retained the form and dimensions of the Oracle in the Temple of Solomon; it was therefore a cube, twenty cubits in each principal measurement. Between this and the Holy Place hung a double veil, of finest material, elaborately embroidered. The outer of the two veils was open at the north end, the inner at the south; so that the high priest who entered at the appointed time once a year could pass between the veils without exposing the Holy of Holies. The sacred chamber was empty save for a large stone upon which the high priest sprinkled the sacrificial blood on the Day of Atonement; this stone occupied the place of the Ark and its Mercy Seat. Outside the veil, in the Holy Place, stood the altar of incense, the seven-branched candlestick, and the table of shewbread.--_The House of the Lord_, p. 59. FOOTNOTES: [186] Luke 1:19, 26; see also Dan. 8:16; 9:21-23. [187] Luke 1:5; compare 1 Chron. 24:10. [188] Ezra 2:36-39. [189] Luke 1:8, 9; read the entire chapter. [190] Lev. chap. 16; Heb. 9:1-7; see also "House of the Lord," p. 59, and compare pp. 24 and 39. Note 6, end of chapter. [191] Page 45. For other instances of children promised in spite of barrenness due to age or other causes, see Isaac (Gen. 17:16, 17 and 21:1-3); Samson, (Judges, chap. 13); Samuel (1 Sam. chap. 1); son of the Shunammite (2 Kings 4:14-17). [192] Note 1, end of chapter. [193] Luke 1:19, 20. [194] Luke 1:57; compare verse 39. [195] Note 2, end of chapter. [196] Note 3, end of chapter. [197] Luke 1:68-79. [198] Luke 1:65, 66; see also 3:15. [199] Luke 1:80. [200] Luke 1:28. [201] Luke 1:30-33. [202] Luke 1:35; see also preceding verses, 31-33. [203] Page 43; and Gen. 3:15. [204] Luke 1:42; read verses 39-56. [205] Luke 1:46-55. [206] Note 4, end of chapter. [207] Matt. 1:20, 21; read 18-25. [208] Matt. 1:22-23; compare Isa. 7:14; see also 9:6. [209] Matt. 1:24, 25. [210] 2 Peter 1:20. [211] Gen. 12:3; 18:18; 22:18; 26:4; compare Acts 3:25; Gal. 3:8. [212] Note 5, end of chapter. [213] For instances see Matt. 9:27; 15:22; 21:9; 20:30, 31, with which compare Luke 18:38, 39. [214] Rom. 1:3; 2 Tim. 2:8; see also Acts 2:30; 13:23; compare Psa. 132:11; see also Luke 1:32. [215] Matt. 1:23. CHAPTER 8. THE BABE OF BETHLEHEM. THE BIRTH OF JESUS.