4. The Third And Fourth Coverings Of Rams' Skins
BOOK TWO
must be aided by the heavenly life of [their teachers], whch will enable them to make use of a silent text just as if it were a tongue that is always alive. For the coverings repel rains, resist storms, hold off the heat of the sun, and boldly drive away all adversities on the outside so that the beauty of the curtains on the inside might rcmain undefiled when Augustine removes all the poisons of the heretics which have been able to disturb faith,' when Gregor unravels those temptations of the ancient enemy that assail good morals, when Cyprian strengthens the weak with pious exhortations lest they should waver in the face of martyrdom? and when other venerable bishops and teachers ward off every temptation that has been disturbing the Church for a long time and with skillful scrutiny look out for everytlung that may be conducive to its salvation. In this way, the faithful are made utterly secure in their religious life, so that they can devote themselves to virtue with a free heart, that their deeds may shine brightly in the sight of their Creator, cven while they direct their mind's eye to the contemplation of him.
4. THE THIRD AND FOURTH COVERINGS OF RAMS' SKINS
Because those who are worthy of the highest honour among the holy preachers are those who also shed their blood for Christ as a result of their service in the ofice of preaching and guiding the people, it is rightly added:
26:14 You shall also make for the roof another covering of rams' skins dyed red. Surely the holy teachers are often understood by the word
'rams', since they are the leaders of the flocks that follow the Lord. Hence the psalmist says in a pleasing manner: Bring to the Lord, 0 children of God, bring to the Lordthe ofl~springofrmns,~ which is clearly to say, 'Bring to the Lord, 0 angels of God (to whom the responsibilty for this task has been delegated5), bring to the Lord in heaven the spirits of the faithful who, through the imitation of the blessed apostles' life and faith, have proved worthy to become their offspring.' For this reason, when the people of God
1 The writings of Augustine of Hippo (354-430) contain refutations of a variety of heretics and schismatics, including Manichaeans, Donatists, and Pelagians.
2 Gregory the Great (c.540-604) wrote a massive commentary on the Book of Job known as the Moralra (CCSL 143, 143.4, 1438).
3 Cypnan of Carlhage (c.200-258) wrote a IetterAdFortunafrm (CCSL 3: 183-216) which is an exhortation to martyrdom.
4 Ps. 29:l ( 2 8 : l ) 5 On the early Christian belief that angels serve as escorts who convey faithful souls to heaven afler death, see Danielou (1957), 95-105; cf. Luke 16:22. The same idea appears in Ekde's historical writings: Hisf. eccf. 5, 12-3 (ed. Colgrave and Mynors, 488-502) and Vrf.
Cufh. pros. 34 (ed. Colgrave, 262).
BEDE: ON THE TABERNACLE
went out from Egypt their sixth resting place, in which there were twelve fountains of water and seventy palm trees, was called 'Elim' (that is, 'of I 38) rams'),2 so that both by its name and by its appearance it might contain the figure of the apostles and the apostolic men.
Now the rams' skins for the covering of the roof of the tabernacle are dyed red when the apostles and the apostolic men do not cease to pursue the teaching of the word all the way to the suffering of martyrdom, so that they might protect those in their care more securely from the dangerous onslaughts of temptation, while they themselves do not refuse to suffer persecution unto death for righteousness' sake. And rams' skins dyed red cover the tabernacle of the Lord and defend it from the rigours of the weatherjust as through the example of their suffering and patience the holy preachers guard the hearts of the weak lest they should give way to the afflictions of tribulations.
And because sacred virginity holds a special place among the preeminent members of Christ and the Church after the variegated decoration of the curtains, after the protective shelter of the hair-cloth coverings, after the rams' skins dyed red, there is then aptly added:
26: 14 And over that again another covering of blue-coloured skins.
Surely blue is the colour of heaven, and skin is the characteristic mark of a dead animal. And what is sigrufied by blue-coloured skins, except the virtue ofthose who inacertainmannerliveapure heavenly lifeonearthby putting to death all the allures of carnal concupiscence?3 Although situated among humans, do they not imitate rather the purity of angels, and is tlus not what is promised to all the elect in the time of immortality which is to come? For they neither many nor take wives, but are equal to the angels of God: even while still detained in mortal flesh, a x they not eager to anticipate their future state?
Hence there is a great reward that deservedly awaits those of such great virtue, as the prophet bears witness: For thus says the Lord: 'To the eunuchs who will keep my sabbaths, and will choose the things that please me, and will hold fast my covenant, I will give a place in my house and within my walls, and a name better than sons and dau hters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be taken away. '
Concerning this place and this name, John the evangelist, who was himself one of those [virtuous
1 Exod. 15:27
2 Jerome, Nom. (CCSL 72: 75,4) 3 Gregory the Great, Hom. in evang. 7,3 (PL 76: 1101C)
4 Luke 20:35-6 5 Isa. 56:4-5
BOOK TWO
persons], also reports that he had heard them singing before the throne of God a new song, wluch no one else could [sing], and immediately he added:
These are they who have not been defiled with women, for they are virgins; these are they who follow the Lamb wherever he goes.' Therefore the blue-coloured skins deservedly hold the lughest place in the house of God, and the heavenly colour is assigned the position near to heaven, so as to indicate that the choirs of those who are virgins in both soul and body will follow the Lamb especially closely and will sing hymns of praise to him.
[59] Now it is properly said of the veils of the curtains and the coverings that although they were placed on high, nevertheless thcy fell so that they hung to the ground--even though the curtains were never allowed to extend all the way to the ground. And although the columns and boards of the tabernacle also stood erect on high nevertheless they had bases on which they stood, and these were set in the ground. Concerning the skins dyed red and the blue-coloured skins, however, it is said that they covered the roof on high, but it is not added that they hung down lo the ground, because the other lunds of virtues doubtless appear to be related to those who are still being rewarded upon earth but it is evident that the prize of martyrdom and the dignity of virginity which is consecrated to God are in a sense elevated above the lowly things of earth and associated in a special way with the citizens of heaven. For the martyr enduring torture has a mind intent on notlung else but leaving everythmg in world behnd as soon as possible, and the world itself as well, so as to be set free from all afflictions, and thus to come to see the Creator of the world and to possess those joys that are beyond the world. And as for those who are celibate, although in consideration of a greater reward they rightfully go beyond the universal law of the humanrace in which it is said, 'Increase andmultiply andfill fhe earth, '2 while they are in this world they never choose for themselves a seat that is higherthanthe restofthefaithfu1;thusthey 1iveincommonwiththeChurch so that they might surpass the Church's common mannerof life by meriting a higher honour. For this reason, it is appropriate for John to write conccrning such persons that they have been redeemed from humankind asflrst j-uitsfor God and the Lamb; rightly are such persons called in the Latin language either 'virgins' (as if they were outstanding in virtue) or 'celibates'
(as ifthey were blessed in the celestial realm that is, as ifthey were imitating on earth the life of the citizens of heaven).'
1 Rev. 14:2-4 2 Gen. 1:28
3 Bede is playing on the similarity in sound between wrgrnes ('virgins') and virture ('in virtue') and between caefrbes ('celibates') and caelo ('in the celestial realm').