The Tabernacle

THE MARION COUNTY MANNA PROJECT explores what the Bible says about THE TABERNACLE

TABERNACLE / TENT OF MEETING Once a year, the high priest would enter the Most (a) (b) (c) (d) Holy Place as part of the ceremony of the Day of While Moses (1) was communing with God (2) atop Atonement (7) (Leviticus 16). At no other time was Mount Sinai (3) for forty days (4), God instructed anyone to enter the Most Holy Place, as the pres- him to build a Sanctuary. Also referred to as the ence of God dwelt with the Ark of the Covenant. "Tabernacle" or "Tent of Meeting", this Sanctuary was where God could dwell amongst the Twelve The Ark's items, as listed in (Hebrews 9:2-5), in- Tribes of Israel (5), His chosen children. As the cluded a golden jar of manna for future genera- structure was portable, God was in their midst tions (Exodus 16:33-34), the staff of Aaron (11) that during their journey to the Promised Land (6) had budded (Numbers 17:1-11), and the second set (Exodus 40:36-38). of stone tablets God gave Moses with the Ten Com- mandments (12) inscribed (Deuteronomy 10:1-5). The word "tabernacle" is a translation of the He- brew "mishkan," which means “dwelling-place.” For a wealth of continued information about the The Feast of Tabernacles (7) commemorates the Holy Place and Most Holy Place, to include the Israelites' time of wilderness wandering (8) before Mercy Seat/Atonement Cover and Cherubim, ex- they finally entered the land of Canaan (9). plore THIS (d) external link.

Exodus 25-31 and Exodus 35-40 covers the ex- TABERNACLE TRAVELS tremely detailed instructions God handed down on During the conquest of Canaan, the main Israelite how to build the Tabernacle, as well as the items to camp was at Gilgal (13) (Joshua 4:19, 5:8-10, 10:43) be built and placed within or outside the Tabernac- and, as per God's precise instructions, the Twelve le. They include the Ark of the Covenant (10), the Tribes encamped around the Tabernacle (ref Num- Table of Showbread, the Lampstand (Menorah), the bers 1:52–2:34). Altar of Incense, the Altar of Burnt Offering and a Basin (Laver) for Washing. Instructions for the out- Subsequent to the conquest and division of Canaan er Courtyard were as equally explicit. amongst the Twelve Tribes, the Tabernacle was moved to Shiloh (14) (Joshua 18:1, 19:51, 22:9). It re- The Tabernacle was divided into two rooms- the mained there during the period of the biblical judg- Holy Place and the Most Holy Place (aka Holy of es (15). According to Judges 20:26-28, the Ark of Holies)- which were separated by a veil (or cur- the Covenant, and thus possibly the Tabernacle, tain). The former contained the Altar of Incense, was at Bethel (16). the Table of Showbread and the Lampstand, while the latter housed the Ark of the Covenant. The subsequent history of the Tabernacle is sepa- rate from that of the Ark of the Covenant. Psalms The Basin for Washing was placed outside at the 78:60 reads, "He abandoned the Tabernacle of Shi- entrance to the Tabernacle, with the Altar of Burnt loh, the tent He had set up among humans." Offering a short distance further out. (continued on page two)

www.marionmannaproject.com/tabernacle

1 THE MARION COUNTY MANNA PROJECT THE TABERNACLE

The Ark of the Covenant was captured during a defeat by the Philistine (17) army, so King Saul (18) moved the Tabernacle to Nob (19). However, after he massacred the priests there (1 Samuel 21-22), it was moved to Gibeon (20) (1 Chronicles 16:39, 21:29; 2 Chronicles 1:2–6, 13).

The Altar of the Tabernacle at Gibeon was used for sacrificial worship (1 Chronicles 16:39, 21:29; 1 Kings 3:2- 4), until King Solomon (21) finally brought the structure and its furnishings to Jerusalem (22) to furnish and dedicate the first Temple (23) (1 Kings 8:1-66).

1 Chronicles 6:32 shares, "They ministered with music before the Tabernacle, the tent of meeting, until Solo- mon built the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them."

A NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT: At the very moment that Jesus Christ (24) died after being crucified (25), the veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38 and Luke 23:45). This signified that the blood of Christ removed the religious barrier between God and man. Just as He fulfilled the sacrificial requirements for all time, Jesus ushered us (26) into the presence of God.

RELATED RESOURCES: For continued exploration of the Israelites' Old Testament places of worship, be sure to check out our related links in the lower sidebar. All offer printer friendly documents!

+ + + + + + + + +

External Sources appear below and Footnotes (Internal Sources) appear on page three. Consider printing and sharing the offered PDF narrative and other listed resources with family, friends and strangers alike for use in Bible Studies (27), Home and/or Church Faith Sharing Groups (28), Discipleship Encounters (29) and/or Personal Faith Enrichment!

+ + + + + + + + +

Modifications are welcome at [email protected].

EXTERNAL SOURCES: (a) https://www.gotquestions.org/tabernacle-of-Moses.html

(b) https://www.gotquestions.org/temple-veil-torn.html

(d) https://www.gotquestions.org/Most-Holy-Place.html

(continued on page three)

www.marionmannaproject.com/tabernacle

2 THE MARION COUNTY MANNA PROJECT THE TABERNACLE

FOOTNOTES:

(1) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/moses (2) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/god-of-the-bible (3) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/mount-sinai (4) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/40-in-the-bible (5) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/twelve-tribes-of-israel (6) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/promised-land (7) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/festivals-of-the-lord (8) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/wilderness-wandering (9) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/canaan (10) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/ark-of-the-covenant (11) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/aaron (12) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/ten-commandments (13) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/gilgal (14) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/shiloh (15) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/judges-of-israel (16) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/bethel (17) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/philistines (18) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/they-clamored-for-a-king (19) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/nob (20) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/gibeon (21) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/solomon (22) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Jerusalem (23) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/temple-first (24) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/jesus-christ (25) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/crucifixion-of-christ (26) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/resurrection-of-jesus (27) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/bible-studies (28) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/christian-education (29) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/discipleship