Solomon and the Temple Gates That Bowed to the Ark

(Numbers 10:1–2:) "AND THE LORD SPOKE <to Moses, saying>: MAKE FOR YOURSELF TWO TRUMPETS OF SILVER." This is what Scripture says (Psalms 24:7): "LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, O GATES, [AND BE LIFTED UP, O EVERLASTING DOORS], <that the King of glory may come in>." At the hour when Solomon was bringing in the Ark into the Temple, he began to say, "LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, O GATES," for the openings were low, [and he said,] "AND BE LIFTED UP, O EVERLASTING DOORS, THAT THE KING OF GLORY MAY COME IN." The gates said to him (Psalms 24:10), "WHO IS THIS KING OF GLORY?" Immediately the gates sought to swallow him up — had he not said (ibid.), "THE LORD OF HOSTS, HE IS THE KING OF GLORY. SELAH." He repeated and said (Psalms 24:8), "THE LORD STRONG AND MIGHTY." He said to them: Make yourselves great, for the King of glory comes upon you. Immediately they apportioned Him honor, and they lifted up honor for Him, and they lifted up themselves, and the Ark entered. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: You apportioned Me honor; when I destroy My House, no man shall rule over you. Know that all the vessels of the Temple were exiled to Babylon, as it is said (Daniel 1:2), "AND THE LORD GAVE INTO HIS HAND Jehoiakim king of Judah, [and part of the vessels of the House of God, and he brought them to the land of Shinar]." But the gates of the Temple were hidden away in their place, as it is said (Lamentations 2:9), "HER GATES HAVE SUNK INTO THE GROUND."