- VASHTI beautiful, the queen of Ahasuerus, who was deposed from her
royal dignity because she refused to obey the king when he desired her to
appear in the banqueting hall of Shushan the palace (Esther 1:10-12). (See
ESTHER.) - VATICANUS, CODEX is said to be the oldest extant vellum manuscript.
It and the Codex Sinaiticus are the two oldest uncial manuscripts. They
were probably written in the fourth century. The Vaticanus was placed in
the Vatican Library at Rome by Pope Nicolas V. in 1448, its previous
history being unknown. It originally consisted in all probability of a
complete copy of the Septuagint and of the New Testament. It is now
imperfect, and consists of 759 thin, delicate leaves, of which the New
Testament fills 142. Like the Sinaiticus, it is of the greatest value to
Biblical scholars in aiding in the formation of a correct text of the New
Testament. It is referred to by critics as Codex B. - VEIL, VAIL (1.) Hebrews mitpahath (Ruth 3:15; marg., “sheet” or
“apron;” R.V., “mantle”). In Isaiah 3:22 this word is plural, rendered
“wimples;” R.V., “shawls” i.e., wraps.
(2.) Massekah (Isaiah 25:7; in Isaiah 28:20 rendered “covering”). The word
denotes something spread out and covering or concealing something else
(comp. 2 Corinthians 3:13-15).
(3.) Masveh (Exodus 34:33, 35), the veil on the face of Moses. This verse
should be read, “And when Moses had done speaking with them, he put a
veil on his face,” as in the Revised Version. When Moses spoke to them he
was without the veil; only when he ceased speaking he put on the veil
(comp. 2 Corinthians 3:13, etc.).
(4.) Paroheth (Exodus 26:31-35), the veil of the tabernacle and the temple,
which hung between the holy place and the most holy (2 Chronicles 3:14).
In the temple a partition wall separated these two places. In it were two
folding-doors, which are supposed to have been always open, the entrance
being concealed by the veil which the high priest lifted when he entered
into the sanctuary on the day of Atonement. This veil was rent when
Christ died on the cross (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45).
(5.) Tza’iph (Genesis 24:65). Rebekah “took a vail and covered herself.”
(See also 38:14, 19.) Hebrew women generally appeared in public without
veils (12:14; 24:16; 29:10; 1 Samuel 1:12).