The exact description of the temple is questionable since the Biblical references are partly vague in description, allowing a few different overall plans of the architectural composition. But the description of the main part of the temple building is carefully preserved, bearing a special significance.
1Ki 6:2 And the house which king Solomon built for the Lord, the length thereof [was] threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty [cubits], and the height thereof thirty cubits.
The main part of the King Solomon's Temple is according to the description in 1Kings 60 cubits in length, 20 cubits in breadth, and 30 cubits in height. Inside this space a cube measuring 20 cubits is constructed for the most sacred part of the sanctuary, Holy of Holies, or Devir (דביר) in Hebrew, leaving 40 cubits for the length of the main hall of the temple, Hikal, and 10 cubits for the difference of the heights between Devir and Hikal.
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Main composition of Solomon's Temple consists of values from 1 to 7 |
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A special property of such composition are the two diagonals that have rational values, 50 cubits for the diagonal of the walls of Hikal, and 70 cubits for the diagonal of the whole solid. Both diagonals together with the main dimension encode the first seven prime numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. The sum is 1+2+3+4+5+6+7=28 (or 280 cubits), which is the second perfect number following 6. 28 is also the number of days in the lunar cycle. SInce such sacred compositions are always a representation of the heavens as perceived by the ancients, seven also corresponds to seven planetary spheres.
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Diagonals and the length of the sanctuary reflect the three paths of the Tree of Life leading to Tiphareth |
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Carefully planned relations of the spatial composition of the Sanctuary reflect a certain situation, crucial in all magickal practices, that is, obtaining 'knowledge and conversation from above'. This crucial step on the path of every adept is mapped on the Tree of Life. Tiphareth is the sixth sphere of Sephiroth and it's celestial attribution is Sun. This sephira is in a way the center of Sephiroth, and qabalist usually attribute it to 'mind'. A 'human mind' is connected - via the third path, Gimel - to Kether, the most abstract concept of God, and is considered as the 'true oracle of the highest'.
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Three paths Nun, Samekh, and Ayin leading to the sixth sphere of Tiphareth. |
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There are three paths leading to this sephira from below, namely: Nun, Ayin, and Samek. These Hebrew letters have corresponding gematric values, which are:
- נ, N, Nun = 50
- ע, O, Ayin = 70
- ס, S, Samek = 60
The arrangement of these measures ruling geometry of Sanctuary is strongly suggestive, indicating that both diagonals represent the paths N, Nun = 50 cubits, while O, Ayin = 70 cubits. Both paths are on the original scheme of Sephiroth also entering Tiphareth from the side pillars. The third path (literally the floor of the temple) that follows the Middle Pillar is S, Samek, with gematric value 60 which is the same as the length of the sanctuary, 60 cubits. These three measures, 50, 60, and 70 cubits represent the three paths, N, S, and O, with the same gematric values entering Tiphareth, the sphere of Sun, which is represented in Devir the cubical Oracle. A cube is traditionally a symbol of Tiphareth, since it has six planes, and 6 is the number of Tiphareth.
Once in a year the High Priest entered the main hall of the temple and symbolically transversed these paths to enter the Oracle, Holy of Holies, which is a symbol of Tiphareth, in order to receive the prophecy.
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