For which thou shalt cast forty sockets of silver, that under every board may be put two sockets at the two corners.
וְאַרְבָּעִים֙ אַדְנֵי־כֶ֔סֶף תַּעֲשֶׂ֕ה תַּ֖חַת עֶשְׂרִ֣ים הַקָּ֑רֶשׁ שְׁנֵ֨י אֲדָנִ֜ים תַּֽחַת־הַקֶּ֤רֶשׁ הָאֶחָד֙ לִשְׁתֵּ֣י יְדֹתָ֔יו וּשְׁנֵ֧י אֲדָנִ֛ים תַּֽחַת־הַקֶּ֥רֶשׁ הָאֶחָ֖ד לִשְׁתֵּ֥י יְדֹתָֽיו׃
4 Church Fathers comment on this verse
On the side facing the midday sun, there were twenty pillars and forty bases, totaling sixty; an identical arrangement was found on the northern side, symbolizing the leaders, nobility, and authorities. This quantity is referenced by the wise King Solomon in the Song of Songs, where it is stated, ‘Behold, Solomon's bier, sixty strong around it’ (Song of Songs 3:7).
To gain understanding, one must lay the 'foundations' of the spirit before the Lord, as instructed by God to Moses: ‘You shall stand with Me here’ (Deuteronomy 5:31). It is important to recognize that there exists a differentiation among those who stand in the presence of the Lord; otherwise, the seeker may heedlessly overlook this: ‘There are some from among those who stand here, who cannot taste death, until they see the kingdom of God come in power’ (Mark 9:1). The Lord does not always reveal His glory to everyone present but appears to newcomers in the guise of a servant (Philippians 2:7).
However, to those who choose to follow Him and ascend the lofty mountain of His transfiguration (Matthew 17), He reveals Himself as God (Philippians 2:6), the same one who existed ‘before’ even ‘the world was not’ (John 17:5). The same Lord has the ability to manifest in varied forms to all who are with Him, presenting Himself in diverse ways according to each person's faith, unveiling different insights and revelations.
The silver sockets represent the esteemed order of the prophets, who were the pioneers in declaring the incarnation of the Lord. They can be viewed as a foundational support for the spiritual edifice that stands above them. Therefore, when the Lord instructs Moses to erect the boards of the tabernacle, He commands that the silver sockets be positioned at their base. The boards themselves symbolize the apostles, who ventured forth to proclaim the gospel to the nations. The sockets, embodying the prophets, are robust and well-formed, able to withstand the burdens placed upon them. The apostles draw strength from the authority of the prophets, guided by their teachings and fortified by their legacy.
Why are there two sockets beneath each bar? This is to signify that when the holy prophets speak in harmony regarding the Messiah, the preachers of the church who follow their lead can construct their sermons with confidence, adhering closely to this unified message. It is significant that the sockets, which represent the prophets, are mandated to be made of silver. Silver is light when utilized but appears tarnished when neglected. This reflects the words of the prophets before Christ's arrival; they remained unrecognized due to a lack of spiritual insight, obscured in darkness and seemingly dimmed. Yet once the Messiah came and illuminated their teachings through His incarnation, the latent light within them burst forth. The clarity brought by the understanding of our forebears has enabled these words to find purpose, as their truths are revealed through action.
The sockets of the boards elevated the wood above the earth, protecting it from decay. Together, these sockets established a unified foundation, as described in the translation of the Seventy, which served as a splendid embellishment for the Tabernacle. Each bar was equipped with two pegs at the base, for which distinct footings were crafted. At the corners of the Tabernacle, the boards were secured together by rings, forming the sole link between the rear wall and the side walls. As we will explore further, the walls were interconnected through staves that passed through all the boards. Although the exact method of securing the corner beams with the rings remains unknown, it is reasonable to conjecture that they were either bolted together or linked by chains or cords.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS