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they resembled the sharp ends of spears； and were of brass； fixed
into the ground。 Cords were also put through the rings； and were
tied at their farther ends to brass nails of a cubit long； which；
at every pillar； were driven into the floor； and would keep the
tabernacle from being shaken by the violence of winds； but a
curtain of fine soft linen went round all the pillars； and hung
down in a flowing and loose manner from their chapiters； and
enclosed the whole space； and seemed not at all unlike to a wall
about it。 And this was the structure of three of the sides of
this enclosure； but as for the fourth side； which was fifty
cubits in extent； and was the front of the whole； twenty cubits
of it were for the opening of the gates； wherein stood two
pillars on each side； after the resemblance of open gates。 These
were made wholly of silver； and polished； and that all over；
excepting the bases； which were of brass。 Now on each side of the
gates there stood three pillars； which were inserted into the
concave bases of the gates； and were suited to them； and round
them was drawn a curtain of fine linen； but to the gates
themselves； which were twenty cubits in extent； and five in
height； the curtain was composed of purple； and scarlet； and
blue； and fine linen； and embroidered with many and divers sorts
of figures； excepting the figures of animals。 Within these gates
was the brazen laver for purification； having a basin beneath of
the like matter； whence the priests might wash their hands and
sprinkle their feet； and this was the ornamental construction of
the enclosure about the court of the tabernacle； which was
exposed to the open air。
3。 As to the tabernacle itself； Moses placed it in the middle of
that court； with its front to the east； that； when the sun arose；
it might send its first rays upon it。 Its length； when it was set
up； was thirty cubits； and its breadth was twelve ＇ten＇ cubits。
The one of its walls was on the south； and the other was exposed
to the north； and on the back part of it remained the west。 It
was necessary that its height should be equal to its breadth ＇ten
cubits＇。 There were also pillars made of wood； twenty on each
side； they were wrought into a quadrangular figure； in breadth a
cubit and a half； but the thickness was four fingers： they had
thin plates of gold affixed to them on both sides； inwardly and
outwardly： they had each of them two tenons belonging to them；
inserted into their bases； and these were of silver； in each of
which bases there was a socket to receive the tenon； but the
pillars on the west wall were six。 Now all these tenons and
sockets accurately fitted one another； insomuch that the joints
were invisible； and both seemed to be one entire and united wall。
It was also covered with gold； both within and without。 The
number of pillars was equal on the opposite sides； and there were
on each part twenty； and every one of them had the third part of
a span in thickness； so that the number of thirty cubits were
fully made up between them； but as to the wall behind； where the
six pillars made up together only nine cubits； they made two
other pillars； and cut them out of one cubit； which they placed
in the corners； and made them equally fine with the other。 Now
every one of the pillars had rings of gold affixed to their
fronts outward； as if they had taken root in the pillars； and
stood one row over against another round about； through which
were inserted bars gilt over with gold； each of them five cubits
long； and these bound together the pillars； the head of one bar
running into another； after the nature of one tenon inserted into
another； but for the wall behind； there was but one row of bars
that went through all the pillars； into which row ran the ends of
the bars on each side of the longer walls； the male with its
female being so fastened in their joints； that they held the
whole firmly together； and for this reason was all this joined so
fast together； that the tabernacle might not be shaken； either by
the winds； or by any other means； but that it might preserve
itself quiet and immovable continually。
4。 As for the inside； Moses parted its length into three
partitions。 At the distance of ten cubits from the most secret
end； Moses placed four pillars； the workmanship of which was the
very same with that of the rest； and they stood upon the like
bases with them； each a small matter distant from his fellow。 Now
the room within those pillars was the most holy place； but the
rest of the room was the tabernacle； which was open for the
priests。 However； this proportion of the measures of the
tabernacle 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 of
the walls； on the sides and behind； so far as within one cubit of
the ground。 There were other curtains of the same breadth with
these； but one more in number； and longer； for they were thirty
cubits long； but these were woven of hair； with the like subtilty
as those of wool were made； and were extended loosely down to the
ground； appearing like a triangular front and elevation at the
gates； the eleventh curtain being used for this very purpose。
There were also other curtains made of skins above these； which
afforded covering and protection to those that were woven both in
hot weather and when it rained。 And great was the surprise of
those who viewed these curtains at a distance； for they seemed
not at all to differ from the color of the sky。 But those that
were made of hair and of skins； reached down in the same manner
as did the veil at the gates； and kept off the heat of the sun；
and what injury the rains might do。 And after this manner was the
tabernacle reared。
5。 There was also an ark made； sacred to God； of wood that was
naturally strong； and could not be corrupted。 This was called
Eron in our own language。 Its construction was thus： its length
was five spans； but its breadth and height was each of them three
spans。 It was covered all over with gold； both within and
without； so that the wooden part was not seen。 It had also a
cover united to it； by golden hinges； after a wonderful manner；
which cover was every way evenly fitted to it； and had no
eminences to hinder its exact conjunction。 There were also two
golden rings belonging to each of the longer boards； and passing
through the entire wood； and through them gilt bars passed along
each board； that it might thereby be moved and carried about； as
occasion should require； for it was not drawn in a cart by beasts
of burden； but borne on the shoulders of the priests。 Upon this
its cover were two images； which the Hebrews call Cherubims； they
are flying creatures； but their form is not like to that of any
of the creatures which men have seen； though Moses said he had
seen such beings near t