Numbers 4:47

After this it is said concerning the Levites that they should work from the twenty-fifth year and upward, up to the fiftieth year. "Everyone," it says, "who goes forth to the work of works and to the works that are carried, of the tabernacle of testimony." Observe in these things the distinction of the words of divine Scripture. Where it speaks of the works of the sons of Israel, it does not say "works of works," but "works" alone; but where it speaks of the duties of the Levites, it did not say "works" alone, but "works of works." For just as there are certain holy things, but there are also other holy of holies, so there are certain works and other works of works. Whence it seems to me that Moses, when he perceived that there were certain works indeed visible, but in which there was present another inner, mystical, and hidden understanding, called these not only "works" but "works of works"; but those which he understood to be common and works of the present time alone, these he named "works" alone. There are, then, certain works of works, which I think to be all these things concerning which, whether in the present reading or in Exodus and other places, precept is given under hidden mysteries, and in part to be fulfilled in the present, but in part to be fulfilled in the future. Which works of works, however, as we have said, are commanded to be handed over not to just anyone, but to the Levites alone. And among the Levites themselves no one is called to these works before, but only from the twenty-fifth year of his life at last, up to the fiftieth. But not even the number itself of twenty-five and fifty years is without a mystery. For in the number twenty-five the perfection of the five senses is declared, in such a way that five times five are counted. Which indeed indicates that he is called to accomplish the works of works in mystery who is found to be perfect on every side, with his senses multiplied and purified. But that the fiftieth number holds the mystery of remission and indulgence we have often and abundantly shown in many places of the scriptures. For the fiftieth year is that which is called the jubilee among the Hebrews, in which remission is made both of possessions and of servitude and of debt; and the fiftieth day after the Passover is handed down as a festival in the law. But the Lord too in the Gospel, when he was teaching the parable…

But let us return to the matter proposed. The Levites, then, must work in the holy things up to fifty years—the lower ones indeed the works, but the better ones the works of works; and the higher of these must serve in spiritual duties and enter into the holy of holies, and there cover the things that must be covered, and hand them over to the sons of Kohath to be carried on their shoulders and conveyed by their hands. But the rest too, each one, are ordered according to those things which have already often been discussed above. But lest this excessive caution of coverings and veils beget a certain despair and sadness in the hearers, we shall attempt to open up some few things, which it may be both safe for us to disclose and lawful for you to look upon—since indeed, as we said before, we are called a royal race and priesthood, a holy nation and a people for possession. Let us understand, then, by the tabernacle of testimony all the saints who are reckoned under the covenant of God, and that in this tabernacle there are certain ones loftier in merits and higher in grace, and that some of these are indeed called the candlestick—perhaps the Apostles themselves, who enlighten those approaching God. But if there are also any others who in this tabernacle of God show the light of knowledge and doctrine to all who enter, let all these be named the mystical candlestick. Let others be the sacred table—whoever have the loaves of God and refresh and feed the souls that hunger for righteousness. Let others be the altar of incense—whoever are free for prayers and fastings day and night in the temple of God, praying not only for themselves, but also for the whole people. But those to whom God has entrusted the secret mysteries and to whom he has committed the secrets of the hidden judgments of his providence, let them be called the ark of the covenant of God. Furthermore, those who with all confidence, through the sacrifices of prayers and the victims of supplications, reconcile God to men and intervene for the sins of the people, let them be named the mercy-seat. But those who have merited a multitude of knowledge and abundant riches in the recognition of God can be understood as the cherubim; for "cherubim" in our language is interpreted as "multitude of knowledge." But all these, who are designated by these several things which have been enumerated above, must be…