THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
It has been demonstrated in detail that the holy vessels serve as representations of Christ, who descended from above and from the heavenly realm.
Numbers 4:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
They shall wrap up also the table of proposition in a cloth of violet, and shall put with it the censers and little mortars, the cups and bowls to pour out the libations: the loaves shall be always on it:
וְעַ֣ל ׀ שֻׁלְחַ֣ן הַפָּנִ֗ים יִפְרְשׂוּ֮ בֶּ֣גֶד תְּכֵלֶת֒ וְנָתְנ֣וּ עָ֠לָיו אֶת־הַקְּעָרֹ֤ת וְאֶת־הַכַּפֹּת֙ וְאֶת־הַמְּנַקִּיֹּ֔ת וְאֵ֖ת קְשׂ֣וֹת הַנָּ֑סֶךְ וְלֶ֥חֶם הַתָּמִ֖יד עָלָ֥יו יִהְיֶֽה׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Theodoret of Cyrus
Why did the Lord instruct that certain holy artifacts be concealed with blue and others with scarlet? The valued vessels were adorned solely with blue coverings, symbolizing the expanse of heaven. Thus, what lay within the coverings was directed by God to be veiled in blue, while what was outside was draped in scarlet and similar hues; for heaven does not impose retribution, rather, the earth bears the consequences of transgressing divine law. The crimson fabric represents the realm, yet the kingdom of God is timeless and unchanging. Consequently, that which resided outside the tabernacle was shrouded in both scarlet and blue coverings.
Read more (46 words)
Remembering the descendants of Kohath, God mandated that first the priests should cover the sanctuary and the other sacred items with the specified veils before the sons of Kohath could undertake the transport, to protect them from the potentially devastating sight of the holy and unseen.
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Lev 24:5Thou shalt take also fine flour, and shalt bake twelve loaves thereof, two tenths shall be in every loaf.
- Lev 24:8Every sabbath they shall be changed before the Lord: being received of the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant.
- Ex 37:10He made also the table of setim wood, in length two cubits, and in breadth one cubit, and in height it was a cubit and a half.
- Ex 37:16And the vessels for the divers uses of the table, dishes, bowls, and cups, and censers of pure gold, wherein the libations are to be offered.
- Ex 25:23Thou shalt make a table also of setim wood, of two cubits in length, and a cubit in breadth, and a cubit and a half in height.
- Ex 25:30And thou shalt set upon the table loaves of proposition in my sight always.