THEOSISJerome of Stridon
And this will mark the commencement of a consecrated space for the priests: to the north, there will be a length of twenty-five thousand, and to the west, a breadth of ten thousand; to the east, a breadth of ten thousand, and to the south, a length of twenty-five thousand reeds. In the center of this will be the sanctuary of the Lord. This sacred area will be designated for the priests descended from the line of Sadok, who have fulfilled My service and remained steadfast during the trials faced by the children of Israel, unlike the Levites who strayed. They shall have a portion of the land, a holy sanctuary adjacent to the Levites’ territory.
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The description of the holy space outlines it as distinct from those of the people, the outcasts, and the Levites, as it is rightfully reserved for the priestly duties. It encompasses the north, west, east, and south, illustrating a movement from the chill of the north to the warmth of the west, representative of leaving behind our faults at sunset, moving then eastward to greet the dawn of righteousness, progressing toward midday where the light shines most brilliantly.
The dimensions from the north to the sea mirror those from the east to midday: length twenty-five thousand and breadth ten thousand reeds, ensuring uniformity in measurement throughout. The sanctuary, or temple of the Lord, will be situated at the heart of the priestly initiation, with equal measurements on all sides. Since it is declared that this will be a sacred place for the priests, all priests will claim ownership of this space and its accompanying services. More specifically, the sacred area is allocated for the sons of Sadok, denoting the righteous, of whom it is written: the Lord loves righteousness and sees it in His presence (Psalm 10:7). The LXX refers to this line as Sadduk. The Sadok mentioned in the Gospel states: The Father judges no one but has entrusted all judgment to the Son (John 5:22). The prophet mystically refers to him as Solomon: O God, grant Your judgments to the king, and Your righteousness to the king’s son (Psalm 71:1). The priests who will inherit the sanctuary of the Lord and carry out His services are those who did not stray during the people’s wanderings and avoided sinful practices. These priests acknowledge their transgressions, continually recognizing their sins before them (Psalm 50:4).
Let those in the priestly role take heed: having endured the Arian persecution and later embraced the true faith, they should not turn away from righteous works. Rather, humbly bow and be grateful for not being excluded from the temple, cherishing some semblance of their early identity. They must reject the allure of pride and avoid disseminating ignorance and foolish talk from their exalted positions. The portions set aside, including the first fruits and the tithes, shall be close to the boundaries of the Levites. Though the Levites reside near the priestly borders, they cannot encroach upon the core or essence of this sacred territory.