156 The Legends of the Jews
it ? " When the consecration of the house took place, and " the fire came down from heaven," they recognized their mistake."
The importance of the Temple appeared at once, for the torrential rains which annually since the deluge had fallen for forty days beginning with the month of Marheshwan, for the first time failed to come, and thenceforward ap- peared no more.**
The joy of the people over the sanctuary was so great that I they held the consecration ceremonies on the Day of Atone- ment. It contributed not a little to their ease of mind that a heavenly voice was heard to proclaim: " You all shall have a share in the world to come."
The great house of prayer reflected honor not only on Solomon and the people, but also on King David. The fol- lowing incident proves it: When the Ark was about to be brought into the Holy of Holies, the door of the sacred chamber locked itself, and it was impossible to open it Solomon prayed fervently to God, but his entreaties had no effect until he pronounced the words : " Remember the good deeds of David thy servant." The Holy of Holies then opened of itself, and the enemies of David had to admit that God had wholly forgiven his sin."
In the execution of the Temple work a wish cherished by David was fulfilled. He was averse to having the gold which he had taken as booty from the heathen places of worship during his campaigns used for the sanctuary at Jerusalem, because he feared that the heathen would boast, at the destruction of the Temple, that their gods were cour- ageous, and were taking revenge by wrecking the house of
