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SECT. IV. A Golden Vine in the Porch, and a Golden Candlestick: and a Marble and a Golden Table.
AND now let us go in at the entrance of the Porch. And there Josephus his pro∣spective doth represent it to us in these colours, a 1.1 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. That it had no doors, because it did represent the open Heaven, and all the front of the Gate was gilt with Gold; and through the Gate you might see all the Porch within, which was large (for it was twenty cubits long, and eleven over) and all about the inner door shining with gold.
Over this inner door (which meaneth the door of the Temple) there was a great golden Vine, of so vast a bigness that (as b 1.2 the same Josephus relateth) it had 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, bunches of Grapes as big as the proportion of a Man. And like a true natural Vine, it grew greater and greater, till it came up to so great a bigness by time and degrees, for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Men would be offering, some Gold to make a leaf, some a Grape, some a bunch, and these were hung up upon it, and so it was increasing continually.
Over the Temple door also there was a golden Candlestick, which was given thither by Helena the Queen of Adiabeni, a Woman of famous renown, and of great benefactor∣ship, towards the Jews; of whom, and of whose Sons Izates and Monobazes, Josephus hath a large Story, Antiq. lib. 20. cap. 2. whither I referr the Reader. Of this Can∣dlestick of her bestowing, there is mention in the Talmudick Treatise Joma, in this passage. c 1.3 Ben Kattin made the twelve Cocks for the Laver, whereas before it had but two; he also made the Engine for the Laver, (of which hereafter) that the water of it might not be unclean, by staying in it all night. Munbaz (Monobazes) the King made all the handles of the Vessels which were for the service of the day of Expiation, of Gold. Helena his Mother made the Golden Candlestick over the Temple door: she also made the Golden Ta∣ble whereon was written the Section about the suspected Wife, &c.
d 1.4 In the Porch on either side of the Temple door there was a Table. On the right side, a Table of Marble, and on it they set down the Shew-bread as they carried it new into the Temple: And on the left side was a Table of Gold on which they set the old Bread down for a while, when they fetched it out: And the reason why they began on the Marble Table, and ended on the Golden was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Because they rose higher and higher with holy things, and went not lower and lower.