THEOSISJerome of Stridon
And he spoke to me, saying, This is the feast before the Lord. Within the temple and the sanctuary, there were two sets of doors, with two additional doors on each side, intricately joined together. Each side of the doors featured cherubim and palm tree carvings, reflecting the designs on the walls. Additionally, there were robust trees at the front of the vestibule on the exterior, with slanted windows above them and images of palm trees adorning the shoulders of the vestibule, extending to the sides of the house and across the walls. The Greek translation diverges significantly from the Hebrew text; for instance, instead of thicker trees, it uses a term indicating those that are essential or worthy of attention, and it translates slanted windows as concealed.
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Following the account, it notes that the upper beams and sides of the vestibule and house were joined together, which could be expressed as in unison. The guide who brought the prophet into the innermost portion of the temple also showed him the wooden altar with corners and horns, made of wood. He declared to him, This altar, which you see, is the feast before the Lord, which burns like the thorn bush that was not consumed (Exodus 3:2), of which the saint says to God, You have prepared before me a feast against those who afflict me (Psalms 22:5).
There were also two doors in both the temple and the sanctuary, symbolizing the ordinances of the two covenants. Each set of doors included two doors on either side, harmoniously linked, so that in historical accounts, one might perceive spiritual significance, and in allegorical interpretations, historical reality, each relying on the other for complete understanding. The repetition of having two doors on either side is evident in literal terms, as large dining halls often feature two adjacent doors to create the effect of four smaller openings for entrance and exit. On these temple doors, the cherubim and palm trees were sculpted, signifying victory for those who enter through much knowledge. The palm tree motifs were also present on the temple walls, illustrating why the cherubim were carved on the doors and palm trees were depicted.
Moreover, the trees in the vestibule were designed to be substantial to support the intricate carvings. They held both strength and beauty in a spiritual sense, ensuring that no one could unlawfully enter the holy of holies and claim the priesthood for themselves as seen in the account of Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26). Above these doors were angled or concealed windows, which allowed light to enter while maintaining a certain obscurity from most, for as we gaze in a mirror (1 Cor. 13:12), we do not know fully as we ought. When the perfect arrives, what is partial will cease (1 Cor. 13:10). On both sides, the likeness of the palm trees was present. Inside the temple and the holy of holies, the roles of left and right were not specified, ensuring that nothing was labeled as 'left' in such a grand and sacred place. It is similar to what is stated in the Gospel: If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other (Matthew 5:39). It could have been said there was a left, but when one is struck on the right side, the other ‘right’ is offered because in the righteous individual, both sides are proper and complete. Regarding the shoulders of the narthex, the sides of the house, and the fullness of the walls, the Greek translation refers to the coverings of the vestibule, indicating that the pillars at the upper beam or vestibule, and the sides of the house, as well as the breadth of the walls, are all characterized by wisdom and measure, ensuring that all within the Lord’s temple is harmoniously arranged with purpose and understanding.