THEOSISJerome of Stridon
He measured the wall of the temple, which was six cubits in height, and the breadth of the sides was four cubits all around. The dimensions were thirty-three on each side, and there were ledges that extended toward the wall of the temple, designed to provide support without actually touching it. There was a court that ascended in a rounded shape, accessible via a spiral staircase leading up to the upper area of the temple in a circular path. Thus, the temple was broader at the top; one ascended from below to the middle level, and from there upwards into three additional rooms or spaces. The Holy Scriptures indicate that from the middle level, one entered three upper rooms, though the term "thrael" is not found in the Hebrew text.
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Instead, the Jewish interpretation renders "thrael" as "uraithi," which can be understood as indicating a divine secret or truth.
I observed the height of the sacred space, with each side measuring six cubits at the base and a wall breadth of five cubits externally. There was an inner chamber within the sides of the house, creating a space of twenty cubits around it. Two doors were positioned for prayer—one on the north and another on the south—with a width of five cubits designated for this purpose. The section of the temple facing the sea was seventy cubits wide, while the wall encompassing the structure measured five cubits wide, extending to a length of ninety cubits.
Approaching the Holy of Holies, the venerable man measured its wall, which, in alignment with the creation of the world over six days, was six cubits high, with a four cubit width on all sides. This design indicated the elements that comprise all things, particularly the human body, which, through struggle and submission to the soul's influence, allows the saints to enter and comprehend the mysteries of the Lord. The sides surrounding the house had a four cubit gap from the temple walls, which were interconnected, such that each side touched the other. Therefore, it was not thirty-three cubits in length, but it measured sixty-six in total, echoing the Old Testament teaching found in Leviticus, which states that the purification period for a male child is thirty-three days, while for a female, it is sixty-six days.
To enter the Holy of Holies, both births—of the flesh and the spirit—are necessary, thus the figure of sixty-six is relevant in emphasizing our reliance on God’s grace. The description indicates that the holy men who exit from among the faithful along the temple wall support the foundations of the Church, though they remain at a distance, venerating the unspeakable truths from afar. Just as we now see imperfectly in a mirror and cannot fully grasp the truth, the rounded court, ascending by a circular staircase to the upper area, exemplifies the gradual movement from earthly struggles and abstinence to broader and deeper spiritual understanding.
The upper room we ascend to from the lower levels can be equated to that which figures like Elijah and Elisha inhabited, as well as Tabitha from the Acts of the Apostles, recognized for their good deeds leading to higher spiritual realms. The Apostle Peter, upon whom Christ established the Church, also ascended an upper room to learn the hidden truths of the Church that had previously been veiled from the world. Moreover, our Lord celebrated the Passover in an upper room, which was spacious and prepared for a sacred meal, where He imparted the sacrament of His body and blood, instituting the eternal observance of the Immaculate Lamb.
The scripture notes that the gap to the three upper rooms must be treated cautiously. There’s no need to speculate on uncertain or unwritten matters when we have the clear texts of the Scriptures to guide us. It then states that the height of the house was measured all around, standing six cubits at its base, and five cubits in wall breadth, with a twenty cubit expanse between the chambers. These dimensions suggest that, amid earthly trials and the experiences of life represented by decades, we are invited to enter not only the Holy of Holies but also the upper rooms, moving beyond earthly limitations to the heights of the Church, rejoicing in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
The Lord advises that the door for prayer is on the north side, from which troubles arise, which He promises to remove. Similarly, a prayer space is found at the south door, guiding us from the chill of danger towards warmth, thereby allowing us to express gratitude for past blessings and seek victory over trials. The five cubits around signify the divine senses that facilitate our journey from the earthly to the spiritual.
The structure oriented toward the sea stretches seventy cubits wide, symbolizing our complete passage through the tribulations of this life, resembling the seventy years mentioned by prophets, culminating in true rest and eternal peace. Through the five cubits, we attain a length of ninety cubits, resonating with Sarah’s years when she bore Isaac, thus uniting with Abraham, who was a hundred years old. The significance of these numbers will be illuminated in the ensuing Scriptural revelations.