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TABERNACLE / TENT OF MEETING
(a) (b) (c) (d)
While Moses (1) was communing with God (2) atop Mount Sinai (3) for forty days (4), God instructed him to build a Sanctuary. Also referred to as the "Tabernacle" or "Tent of Meeting", this Sanctuary was where God could dwell amongst the Twelve Tribes of Israel (5), His chosen children. As the structure was portable, God was in their midst during their journey to the Promised Land (6) (Exodus 40:36-38).
The word "tabernacle" is a translation of the Hebrew "mishkan", which means “dwelling-place.” The Feast of Tabernacles (7) commemorates the Israelites' time of wilderness wandering (8) before they finally entered the land of Canaan (9).
Exodus 25-31 and Exodus 35-40 covers the extremely detailed instructions God handed down on how to build the Tabernacle, as well as the items to be built and placed within or outside the Tabernacle. They include the Ark of the Covenant (10), the Table of Showbread, the Lampstand (Menorah), the Altar of Incense, the Altar of Burnt Offering and a Basin (Laver) for Washing. Instructions for the outer Courtyard were as equally explicit.
The Tabernacle was divided into two rooms- the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place (aka Holy of Holies)- which were separated by a veil (or curtain). The former contained the Altar of Incense, the Table of Showbread and the Lampstand, while the latter housed the Ark of the Covenant.
The Basin for Washing was placed outside at the entrance to the Tabernacle, with the Altar of Burnt Offering a short distance further out.
Once a year, the high priest would enter the Most Holy Place as part of the ceremony of the Day of Atonement (7) (Leviticus 16). At no other time was anyone to enter the Most Holy Place, as the presence of God dwelt with the Ark of the Covenant.
The Ark's items, as listed in (Hebrews 9:2-5), included a golden jar of manna for future generations (Exodus 16:33-34), the staff of Aaron (11) that had budded (Numbers 17:1-11), and the second set of stone tablets God gave Moses with the Ten Commandments (12) inscribed (Deuteronomy 10:1-5).
For a wealth of continued information about the Holy Place and Most Holy Place, to include the Mercy Seat/Atonement Cover and Cherubim, explore THIS (d) external link.
diagram courtesy of https://rogersco90.wordpress.com/
TABERNACLE TRAVELSDuring the conquest of Canaan, the main Israelite camp was at Gilgal (13) (Joshua 4:19, 5:8-10, 10:43) and, as per God's precise instructions, the Twelve Tribes encamped around the Tabernacle (ref Numbers 1:52–2:34).
Subsequent to the conquest and division of Canaan amongst the Twelve Tribes, the Tabernacle was moved to Shiloh (14) (Joshua 18:1, 19:51, 22:9). It remained there during the period of the biblical judges (15). According to Judges 20:26-28, the Ark of the Covenant, and thus possibly the Tabernacle, was at Bethel (16).
The subsequent history of the Tabernacle is separate from that of the Ark of the Covenant. Psalms 78:60 reads, "He abandoned the Tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent He had set up among humans."
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 Solomon built the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them."
A NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANTAt 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!
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Footnotes and Page Sources appear below. 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!
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Modifications are welcome at goodnews@marionmannaproject.com.
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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
EXTERNAL SOURCES:
(a) https://www.gotquestions.org/tabernacle-of-Moses.html
(b) https://www.gotquestions.org/temple-veil-torn.html