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The Veils of King Solomon’s Temple were a very important part of the building as it created a clear divide between God and Man. What made them so important?
When God gave Moses the Ten Commandments he told him to house them in a wooden chest called The Ark of the Covenant. In the book of Exodus, Moses is instructed by God to build a structure to house the Ark, The Tabernacle. The Tabernacle had two rooms; The Holy Place featuring the table of shewbread, a golden lamp stand and an altar of incense and the Most Holy Place where the Ark was held. Separating the two rooms was a veil.
We know from books of the Old Testament, the Tabernacle did not stay in one place. Even while in transport, the veil was also used to cover the Ark.
‘And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it:’
Numbers 4:5
After many years, wars were lost and won, as the Ark was finally moved to King Solomon’s Temple and the Tabernacle was no longer used. The Temple was designed by King David and built by King Solomon. His Temple was modeled on the Tabernacle but consisted of three chambers instead of two, the first was called the Ulam, a porch or vestibule. Next was The Holy Place and the third was called the Holy of Holies. Similar to the Tabernacle, The Holy Place and Holy of Holies were again separated by a veil. The height to the top of King Solomon’s temple was 30 cubits high; it is thought that the veil would stretch the entire length from floor to ceiling. This veil was again embroidered with cherubs.
‘The Lord said that he would dwell in thick darkness.’
Kings 8:12
Both the Tabernacle and King Solomon’s temple separated the Holy of Holies, God’s dwelling place, from the rest of the temple where men dwelt with a veil. The veil is making a clear division between God, holy and pure and man, sinful.
Conclusion
While all four of the gospels of the new testament give their account on the death of Christ, only Matthew, Mark and Luke mention the tearing of the veil and other events such as the earth quaking – whereas John does not. In fact John does not comment on any event which happened at the moment of Christ’s death. Therefore should John’s account of the events, or lack therefore be dismissed? The gospel according to John is a very personal look at the life of Jesus Christ, rather than focusing on the miracles he performed, John wrote from his personal experiences with Jesus, his gospel is not wrong, just taken from his perspective and experiences .
Throughout the life of Jesus Christ, Herod’s temple would have been the central point for the Jewish religion. We have already established the purpose of the veil and its importance keeping sinful man separate from God’s presents. In the gospel according to Matthew, he went on to say that it was torn from top to bottom. Considering the veil would have been 30 cubits high. That would have been a very long tear and would have had a profound effect on the people of Jerusalem.
How many Veils?
There is an argument to be had as to how many veils covered the entrances to the Holy of Holies. Passages in the Bible simply refer to a single single veil. In Antiquities of the Jews 8.3.3, Josephus says:
‘He also had veils of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and the brightest and softest linen….’
Antiquities of the Jews 8.3.3
Noting the plural on “veils”, implying two (or more) potentially overlapping veils. However in Antiquities of the Jews 8.3.7 he contradicts himself by saying:
‘…before the veil of that most secret place, wherein the ark was to be set…’
Antiquities of the Jews 8.3.7
This time note the singular use of “veil”. Other texts also mention more than one curtain/veil. In the Mishnah Yoma it says:
‘He went through the Sanctuary until he came to the space between the two curtains separating the Sanctuary from the Holy of Holies.’
Yoma 3 10-5.1
Now we have two veils overlapping each other with a space between them.
Concerning Herod’s temple, in the Jewish War, Josephus wrote:
‘…it had golden doors fifty-five cubits high and sixteen broad. Before these hung a veil of equal length, of Babylonian tapestry, with embroidery of blue and fine linen, of scarlet also and purple, wrought with marvelous skill.’
Josephus, ‘The Jewish War’ 5-4 (75 AD)
