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The Tabernacle: YHWH Dwelling with His People
Israel, bonded by covenant with YHWH, made kin by a solemn oath; living arrangements must now be made. Although there are similarities between the sanctuaries the Canaanites made and the Hebrew Tabernacle, the one central idea driving the following building instructions is this: Moses must construct it according to the pattern YHWH has shown him…
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The Ark of the Covenant and the Kappȏret
They shall make an ark of acacia wood … Exodus 25:10 The first thing described is the most holy of all, the ark and the “covering” (Heb. Kappȏret) upon which the two cherubim were stationed. The ark itself was a rather small box 2.5 cubits long, 1.5 wide, and 1.5 high. We should not confuse…
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The Table for the Bread of the Presence
And you shall make a table of acacia wood … you shall overlay it with pure gold and make a molding of gold around it … and you shall make its plates and dishes for incense, and its flagons and bowls with which to pour libations; of pure gold you shall make them. And you…
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The Lampstand
And you shall make a lampstand of pure gold. Exodus 25:31 As one enters the Holy Place from the outside and looks to the left along the south wall, one sees the Lampstand (Hebrew menȏrâ), directly opposite of the Table of the Bread of Presence. It was made of one solid piece of gold, weighing…
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The Tapestries and Framework
The tabernacle itself you shall make out of ten sheets woven of fine linen twined and of violet, purple, and scarlet yarn, with cherubim embroidered on them. Exodus 26:1 The foundational “furniture,” or articles, of the tabernacle described, Moses’ vision takes us to the walls, interior tapestries, and exterior coverings of this tent sanctuary. The description…
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The Altar and the Laver
You shall make an altar of acacia wood, on a square, five cubits long and five cubits wide; it shall be three cubits high. Exodus 27:1 For ablutions you shall make a bronze basin with a bronze stand. Place it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. Exodus 30:17 In…
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Priestly Garments and the ′ûrîm & Tummîm
For the glorious adornment of your brother Aaron you shall have sacred vestments made. Therefore, tell the various artisans whom I have endowed with skill to make vestments for Aaron to consecrate him as my priest. These are the vestments they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a brocade tunic, a turban,…
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The Ministry of the High Priest
This is the rite you shall perform in consecrating [Aaron and his sons] as my priests. Exodus 29:1 Up to this point in ancient Israel, we surmise that the firstborn, the primogenitor, functioned as the priest of the family unit in its original semi-nomadic setting (so Hahn). We have no reason to doubt this would…
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Conclusion to the Tabernacle
We are struck with the beauty of the Tabernacle; outside it did not look like much, but inside it was glorious. Its beauty and design were inspired by the vision of its heavenly counterpart revealed to Moses. This makes this sanctuary more than a historic artifact of an antiquated culture, but foundational for worship of…