cle proved to be an imitation of the system of the world; for
that third part thereof which was within the four pillars, to which the
priests were not admitted, is, as it were, a heaven peculiar to God. But
the space of the twenty cubits, is, as it were, sea and land, on which
men live, and so this part is peculiar to the priests only. But at the
front, where the entrance was made, they placed pillars of gold, that
stood on bases of brass, in number seven; but then they spread over the
tabernacle veils of fine linen and purple, and blue, and scarlet colors,
embroidered. The first veil was ten cubits every way, and this they
spread over the pillars which parted the temple, and kept the most holy
place concealed within; and this veil was that which made this part not
visible to any. Now the whole temple was called The Holy Place: but that
part which was within the four pillars, and to which none were admitted,
was called The Holy of Holies. This veil was very ornamental, and
embroidered with all sorts of flowers which the earth produces; and
there were interwoven into it all sorts of variety that might be an
ornament, excepting the forms of animals. Another veil there was which
covered the five pillars that were at the entrance. It was like the
former in its magnitude, and texture, and color; and at the corner of
every pillar a ring retained it from the top downwards half the depth of
the pillars, the other half affording an entrance for the priests,
who crept under it. Over this there was a veil of linen, of the same
largeness with the former: it was to be drawn this way or that way by
cords, the rings of which, fixed to the texture of the veil, and to the
cords also, were subservient to the drawing and undrawing of the
veil, and to the fastening it at the corner, that then it might be no
hinderance to the view of the sanctuary, especially on solemn days;
but that on other days, and especially when the weather was inclined to
snow, it might be expanded, and afford a covering to the veil of divers
colors. Whence that custom of ours is derived, of having a fine linen
veil, after the temple has been built, to be drawn over the entrances.
But the ten other curtains were four cubits in breadth, and twenty-eight
in length; and had golden clasps, in order to join the one curtain to
the other, which was done so exactly that they seemed to be one entire
curtain. These were spread over the temple, and covered all the top and
parts o