The Tabernacle

Under the Mosaic Covenant G-d revealed truth to his people, the Children of Israel, in five chief areas:
(1) The Law (Ex 20): Which includes the Moral, Civil and Ceremonial Law.
(2) The Priesthood (Ex 28-30): which includes the High, Aaronic, and Levitical Priesthood
(3) The Five offerings or sacrificial ceremonials (Lev 1-7): which includes the Burnt, Meal, Peace, Sin, and Trespass offerings
(4) The Three chief Feasts (Lev 23): which includes the Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles
(5) The Tabernacle of the Lord with its particular service (Lev 1-7): which includes the Outer Court, Holy Place and Most Holy Place.

The Ten Commandments were given in the time of Moses, not once but twice. The ““Law”” was our ““schoolmaster”” to bring us to the G.A.O.T.U. (Gal 3:24) The Law was the external form of knowledge and truth (Rom 2:20) The Tabernacle, its measurements, furnishings, and its curtains were all ““separate revelations-each of which set forth a portion of truth (Heb 1:1-2). The Tabernacle of Moses was composed of many different elements of creation-gold, silver, brass, wood and precious stones. It had coverings and curtains. It had array of furniture from the Ark of the Covenant to the Brazen Altar. All of these things from creation now become symbols, hiding or revealing truth and different facets of revelation concerning G-d.

If you look at the Book of Exodus you see that it is basically divided into two sections. In Chapters 1-19 the material is Historical in nature. It deals primarily with the bondage and deliverance of the nation under G-d by the hand of Moses and Aaron who brought them through to Mt. Sinai in the wilderness. Chapters 20-40 are mainly legislative. That is, it deals primarily with the laws, which were to govern the life of the nation. These laws included the Moral, Civil, and Ceremonial Laws. The Moral basically involved the Ten Commandments. The Civil Law included the Book of the Law or the Book of the Covenant. The Ceremonial Law ordered the religious life of the nation manifest in giving of the Tabernacle, the Priesthood and Offerings.

The Tabernacle of Moses was simply a portable tent with various curtains and coverings over a wooden structure. It had three apartments or places to it. The Scripture refers to each of these as: (1) the Holiest of Holies or Most Holy Place, (2) the Holy Place and (3) the Outer Court. In each of these apartments were particular pieces of furniture:
(a) The Holiest of Holies contained the Ark of the Covenant. (b) The Holy Place contained the Golden Alter of Incense, the Table of Shewbread, and the Golden Candlestick. (c) The Outer Court contained the Brazen Altar and the Brazen Laver.

It was in the Holiest of Holies that G-d’’s very presence and Shekinah Glory dwelt. It was there that G-d communicated with man, dwelling in the midst of His people Israel. The Divine purpose in building the Tabernacle is summed up in the key verse found in Exodus 25:8 and 29:46-47. ““Let them make me a Sanctuary that I may dwell among them.”” This verse is the key thought of all that pertains to the Tabernacle.

In the Old Testament we see that there were many different names by which the Tabernacle of Moses was called. Each of these names brings out its own particular aspect of the truth. The Tabernacle was called:
a. The Tabernacle Ex 25:9-The word Tabernacle means ““tent or dwelling place.”” This Tabernacle was to be the dwelling place of the Most High.
b. The Sanctuary Ex 25:8- the word sanctuary means ““a holy place or place set apart.”” This Tabernacle was to be a place set apart for the habitation of a holy G-d.
c. The Tent of Testimony or Witness Num 9:15; 17:7; 18:2- The Tabernacle received this title because it contained the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the Tables of the Law. The Tables of the Law were called the testimony of a holy G-d. They were His moral standard for redeemed Israel.
d. The House of G-d Ex 34:26, Deut. 23:18, Josh 9:23; Judges 18:31-This was G-d’’s house in which He was to be Lord.
e. The Tent of Congregation Ex 40:34-35-This was to be the place where the congregation gathered together at the door for festival days and worship.
Note that in two of these titles the word ‘‘tent’’ occurs. Those that dwell in tents are called pilgrims. Tents are not permanent homes. All this is significant of the pilgrimage life in the Wilderness.

There were seven particular requirements necessary for the building of G-d’’s Sanctuary in the Old Testament. The dwelling place was to be built:
a. By Freewill Offerings-Exodus 25:2
b. By a people stirred up-Exodus 35:21, 26 and 36
c. By a people made willing Exodus 35: 5, 21-22, 29; 25 1-2
d. By a free-hearted people Exodus 36:3
e. By the wisdom of G-d Exodus 36: 1-8 and 35:10, 25 (The Tabernacle was built by the wisdom of G-d through Moses just as the Temple was later built by the wisdom of G-d through Solomon
f. By the Spirit of G-d Exodus 35: 30-35
g. According to the Divine Pattern Hebrews 8:5; Exodus 25:40, 26:30; 27:8

Builders of the Tabernacle
There were primarily two individuals involved in the construction of the Tabernacle. The first man was Bezaleel (Ex 31:1-5 and 35:30-35). He was a man filled with wisdom, understanding and knowledge. He was a skilled workman. Bezaleel was the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. Bezaleel means, ““in the shadow of G-d or G-d is my protection.”” The other man was Aholiab Exodus 31:6 and 35:34-35). He was also a skilled man who was filled with wisdom. Aholiab was the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. Aholiab means ““tabernacle or tent of my father.”” The Great I AM was the Divine Architect. Moses, Bezaleel and Aholiab built to the Divine Pattern.

The Nation of Israel is spoken of in the New Testament as being the ““Church in the Wilderness (Acts 7:38)”” Natural Israel is often referred to as the ‘‘Camp’’. This is a military term and speaks to us of the truth that Israel was to be the ““Armies of the Lord.”” Israel was under the leadership of the Lord, and as long as they obeyed the Word of the Lord there would be victory in the camp. Israel was a large camp and G-d set forth a prescribed order for the camp. The first thing to be noticed about the order is that the Tabernacle was ‘‘in the midst’’ of the Camp (Numbers 2:17 and 3:5-10)

In Israel there were twelve tribes. These twelve tribes were divided into four groups in regard to their positioning around the Tabernacle. Each group of three tribes had their own particular standard under which they encamped. The four groupings were as follows:
1. On the East side under the standard of the LION were positioned the tribes of Judah, Issachar and Zebulon (Numbers 2:3-9). These armies totaled 186,000 individuals and comprised the largest of the groups.
2. On the West side of the Tabernacle under the standard of the OX were the three tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin (Numbers 2:18-24). This was the smallest group of tribes involving 108,100 people.
3. On the North side the tribes of Dan, Asher and Naphtali camped under the standard of the EAGLE (Numbers 2:25-31). This camp was comprised of 157,000 individuals.
4. On the South side were the tribes of Rueben, Simeon and Gad under the standard of MAN (Numbers 2:10-16). The individuals in this camp have a similar total to that of the camp on the North. This totaled 151,450.
With all the tribes so arranged on the North, South, East and West with the Tabernacle in the midst from a heavenly view we would see the camp of Israel arranged in the shape of the Cross.

The Ark of the Covenant was positioned at the Head in the Holy of Holies.
The Staves were on the sides.
The cherubim were on the ends.
The Mercy Seat faced the East
The Staves were left in the rings and the Ark was placed with the Staves running North and South.
The Golden Altar of Incense was placed in the following position: It was before the Veil (Exodus 30:6) It was also before the Ark (Exodus 40:5). It is spoken of as being before the Mercy Seat. This would place the Incense Altar in line with the Ark of the Covenant, or at the ““Heart”” of the Tabernacle, in the Holy Place.
The Shewbread Table was placed on the North side of the Tabernacle.
The Golden Candlestick was placed on the South side of the Tabernacle. It is specifically placed opposite the Table.
Both were in the Holy Place. Thus Table and Candlestick were opposite each other (Exodus 26:35).

Coming out to the Outer Court you’’ll find that the Brazen Altar was placed before the Door. That is, at the ‘‘Foot’’, the beginning of man’’s approach to G-d. Then the Brazen Laver was placed in the Outer Court ‘‘between’’ the tent of the Tabernacle and the Brazen Altar…….in line with the Brazen Altar.

Though the Scripture does not expressly state all in their position, yet it can be seen that if a straight line is drawn from the Ark of the covenant, passing through the Incense altar, and through the Brazen Laver to the Brazen Altar, and then another straight line is drawn from the Golden Candlestick across to the Table of Shewbread, the revelation of the Cross is beheld in the positioning of the furnishings.

It is interesting to notice where the Children of Israel got all of this material to build the sanctuary. They got it from the Egyptians themselves. The actual materials of the Tabernacle of Moses are given in two places-Exodus 25:1-7 and Exodus 35:4-9.

The materials of the Tabernacle are the following:
Gold-In the Old as well as the New Testament, we find that gold speaks to us in Deity, Divine and Kingly nature.
Silver-This precious metal speaks to us of Redemption, atonement, and ransom money. What was the price paid for the betrayal?
Brass- This metal symbolizes strength, judgment against sin…….Deu 28:13-23
Precious Stones-were mainly used in connection with the priestly garments Fine Linen-Rev 19:7-8 tells that fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.
Shittim Wood- was a very durable wood used in connection with the Tabernacle and was translated as an incorruptible or non-decaying wood.

Other materials and colors used for the Tabernacle were Oil for Light, Spices for the Anointing Oil, spices for sweet incense, Blue, Purple, Scarlet, Goats’’ Hair, Rams’’ skin dyed red, and Badgers’’ skins.

If you correspond Exodus 19:1 and Numbers 9:1 with Jewish History, you find that the Tabernacle took approximately NINE months to complete.