The four Old Testament (or vetero-testamentary ) scenes of the pillar (shaft) foreshadow the Crucifixion and Redemption. Kaleb and Joshua bring back from the land of Canaan an enormous bunch of grapes announcing the fertility of the Land promised by God to the Hebrews. Elijah asks Zarephath's widow for bread while she is gathering wood. Aaron marks the sign of Tau on the forehead of the Israelites who will be saved. Isaac, the son of Abraham, carries the wood of the sacrifice. These episodes are allusions to the body and blood of Christ in the form of bread and wine or the wood of the cross.
P