02.07. Chapter Seven
Chapter Seven The Doors and Vail
First, of the Most Holy Place.— “For the entering of the oracle [speaking-place] he made doors of olive tree [oil trees]: the lintel and side-posts were a fifth part, “that is, of the width of the house. The Most Holy Place, being twenty cubits wide, a fifth part is four cubits. “The two doors also were of olive tree [oil trees]; and he carved upon them carvings of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers [openings of flowers], and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubim, and upon the palm trees” (1 Kings 6:31-32; Ezekiel 41:23-25).
Second, of the Temple, or Holy Place.— “So also made he for the door of the Temple side-posts of oil trees, from the fourth part” (1 Kings 6:33 [Hebrew]). The fourth part of the width of the house is five cubits. The posts of the door of oil tree two cubits, and the door six cubits (Ezekiel 41:3). “And the two doors were of fir [cypress] tree: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding. And he carved thereon cherubim and palm trees and open flowers [openings of flowers]: and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work” (1 Kings 6:34-35). The doors were divided in the centre into two folding leaves, reminding us of the rent vail—Christ crucified. They appear to be typical of Christ Jesus, by whom we draw near to God; and through Him, by faith in Him, we have boldness of access, not only into the Holy Place but also into the Holiest of all (Hebrews 10:19-22) The one of oil tree, type of Christ risen in His spiritual body; the other of fir or Cypress, in His resurrection strength; while the carvings and the gold set forth the various perfections and Divine glory. The Vail
There are significant variations in the colour and materials of the vails of the Tabernacle and Temple. In the vail of the Tabernacle it is scarlet (tolahath-shanee), which means “the splendour of a worm “), typical of the royal dignity of the Son of Man, as born King of the Jews. In the Temple it is crimson (Hebrews Carmel), the emblem of fruitfulness and excellency (see Isaiah 36:2), and of the glory of Christ in resurrection, In the vail of the Tabernacle fine linen is Sheesh, white, the emblem of pure human nature; in that of the Temple it is another Hebrew word Butz, But, white and glistening, as the raiment of Christ was on the Transfiguration Mount.
It was the vail of Herod’s Temple that was rent in twain at the death of Christ. “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new (newly-slain) and living way, which He hath consecrated (or inaugurated) for us, through the vail, that is to say, his flesh” (Hebrews 10:19) In the Tabernacle there was only a vail between the Holy and Most Holy Place; in Solomon’s Temple there was a two-leaved, olivewood, gold-covered door as well as a vail. In the Temple of Ezekiel there is no vail, only a turning door, divided in the centre, making manifest the way into the Holiest. The Tabernacle vail is typical of the spotless humanity of the Lord Jesus— “The Word made flesh, who tabernacled among us. “The vail of the Temple is the type of the same humanity in resurrection dignity, fruitfulness, and glory. Not only was Jesus the Son of David, but also the Son of God: not only the heir of David’s throne, but the One who has sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty on high.
—Our Daily Homily