Chapter X: Part TWO: The Tabernacle

1. When the family of A'bra-ham grew into a people its unity was maintained by regarding the altar--and but one altar for all the Twelve Tribes--as the religious center of the nation.

2. To the thought of the altar as the meeting place with God was added the conception of God dwelling among his people in a sanctuary and receiving homage as the King of Is'ra-el (Exod. 25. 8).

3. Thus the altar grew into the Tabernacle, which was the sanctuary where God was supposed to dwell in the midst of the camp. As was necessary among a wandering people, it was constructed of such materials as could be easily taken apart and carried on the march through the wilderness.

In considering the Tabernacle and its furniture we notice the following particulars:

I. =The Court=, an open square surrounded by curtains, 150 by 75 feet in extent, and occupying the center of the camp of Is'ra-el (Exod. 27. 9-13). In this stood the Altar, the Laver, and the Tabernacle itself.

II. =The Altar of Burnt Offerings= stood within the court, near its entrance. It was made of wood plated with "brass" (which is supposed to mean copper), was 71/2 feet square and 41/2 feet high. On this all the burnt sacrifices were offered (Exod. 27. 1; 40. 29), except the sin offering.

III. =The Laver= contained water for the sacrificial purifyings. It stood at the door of the tent, but its size and form are unknown (Exod. 30. 17-21).

IV. =The Tabernacle= itself was a tent 45 feet long, 15 feet wide. Its walls were of boards, plated with gold, standing upright; its roof of three curtains, one laid above another. Whether there was a ridge-pole or not is uncertain. It was divided, by a veil across the interior, into two apartments, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies (Exod. 36. 8-38).

V. =The Holy Place= was the larger of the two rooms into which the tent was divided, being 30 feet long by 15 wide. Into this the priests entered for the daily service. It contained the Candlestick, the Table, and the Altar of Incense (Heb. 9. 2).

VI. =The Candlestick= (more correctly, "lampstand") stood on the left side of one entering the Holy Place; made of gold, and bearing seven branches, each branch holding a lamp (Exod. 25. 31-37).

VII. =The Table= stood on the right of one entering the Holy Place; made of wood, covered with gold; 3 feet long, 11/2 feet wide, 21/4 feet high; contained 12 loaves of bread, called "the bread of the presence" (Exod. 37. 10, 11).

VIII. =The Altar of Incense= stood at the inner end of the Holy Place, near the veil; made of wood, covered with gold; 11/2 feet square and 3 feet high. On it the incense was lighted by fire from the Altar of Burnt Offerings (Exod. 30. 1, 2).

IX. =The Holy of Holies= was the innermost and holiest room in the Tabernacle, into which the high priest alone entered on one day in each year (the Day of Atonement); in form a cube of 15 feet. It contained only the Ark of the Covenant (Heb. 9. 3).

X. =The Ark of the Covenant= was a chest containing the stone tablets of the Commandments; made of wood, covered on the outside and inside with gold; 3 feet 9 inches long, 2 feet 3 inches wide and high. Through gold rings on the sides were thrust the staves by which it was borne on the march. Its lid, on which stood two figures of the cherubim, was called "the mercy seat." On this the high priest sprinkled the blood on the Day of Atonement (Exod. 25. 17, 18; Heb. 9. 7).

Blackboard Outline

THE TABERNACLE

I. =Cou.= sq. 150. 75. (Al. Lav. Tab.)
II. =Alt.= woo. br. 71/2. 41/2.
III. =Lav.= do. ten.
IV. =Tab.= 45. 15. bds. cur. (H.P. H.H.)
V. =Ho. Pl.= 30. 15. (Can. Tab. Alt. Inc.)
VI. =Can.= go. 7 bran.
VII. =Tab.= 3. 11/2. 21/4. 12 loa.
VIII. =Alt. Inc.= woo. gol. 11/2. 3.
IX. =Ho. Hol.= 15. 15. 15. (Ar. Cov.)
X. =Ar. Cov.= wo. go. 3,9. 2,3. "mer. se."

Review Questions

How was the unity of the Is'ra-el-ite people
maintained? What was the conception or thought in the
Tabernacle? Why was it constructed of such material?
What was the court of the Tabernacle? What were the
dimensions of the court? What stood in the court? What
were the materials of the Altar of Burnt Offerings?
What was the size of this altar? What was the laver,
and where did it stand? What was the Tabernacle
itself? Into what rooms was it divided? How was it
covered? What were the dimensions of the Holy Place?
What did the Holy Place contain? What was the form of
the candlestick? Where did the candlestick stand? Of
what was the Altar of Incense made? What were its
dimensions? For what was this altar used? What were
the dimensions of the Holy of Holies? What did the
Holy of Holies contain? Who alone entered this room,
and how often? What was the Ark of the Covenant? What
was the "mercy seat"?