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Question

What is the structural layout of the tabernacle (Exodus 25-27, 36-38), what do the materials signify, and what theological truths does the directional movement (east to west, outer to inner) teach?

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TABERNACLE

  • One existed before Moses received the pattern authorized on Mount Sinai EXO 33:7-11
  • The one instituted by Moses was called
  • SANCTUARY EXO 25:8
  • TABERNACLE (A.V.), TENT OF MEETING (R.V.) EXO 27:21
  • TABERNACLE (A.V.), TENT (R.V.) EXO 33:7; 2CH 5:5
  • OF TESTIMONY EXO 38:21; NUM 1:50
  • TENT OF TESTIMONY (R.V.) NUM 17:7,8; 2CH 24:6
  • TEMPLE OF THE LORD 1SA 1:9; 3:3
  • HOUSE OF THE LORD JOS 6:24
  • Pattern of, revealed to Moses EXO 25:9; 26:30; 39:32,42,43; ACT 7:44; HEB 8:5
  • Materials for, voluntarily offered EXO 25:1-8; 35:4-29; 36:3-7
  • Value of the substance contributed for EXO 38:24-31
  • Workmen who constructed it were inspired EXO 31:1-11; 35:30-35
  • Description of
  • The frame EXO 26:15-37; 36:20-38
  • The outer covering EXO 25:5; 26:7-14; 36:14-19
  • The second covering EXO 25:5; 26:14; 35:7,23; 36:19; 39:34
  • The curtains of EXO 26:1-14,31-37; 27:9-16; 35:15,17; 36:8-19,35,37
  • The courtyard of EXO 27:9-17; 38:9-16,18; 40:8,33
  • The Holy Place of EXO 26:31-37; 40:22-26; HEB 9:2-6,8
  • The Most Holy Place EXO 26:33-35; 40:20,21; HEB 9:3-5,7,8
  • The furniture of EXO 25:10-40; 27:1-8,19; 37; 38:1-8
  • Completed EXO 39:32
  • Dedicated NUM 7
  • Sanctified EXO 29:43; 40:9-16; NUM 7:1
  • Anointed with holy oil EXO 30:25,26; LEV 8:10; NUM 7:1
  • Sprinkled with blood LEV 16:15-20; HEB 9:21,23
  • Filled with the cloud of glory EXO 40:34-38
  • How prepared for removal during the travels of the Israelites NUM 1:51; 4:5-15
  • How and by whom carried NUM 4:5-33; 7:6-9
  • Strangers (foreigners) forbidden to enter NUM 1:51
  • Duties of the Levites concerning (See LEVITES)
  • Defilement of, punished LEV 15:31; NUM 19:13,20; EZK 5:11; 23:38
  • Israelites worship at NUM 10:3; 16:19,42,43; 20:6; 25:6; 1SA 2:22; PSA 27:4
  • Offerings brought to LEV 17:4; NUM 31:54; DEU 12:5,6,11-14
  • Carried in front of the people of Israel in the line of march NUM 10:33-36; JOS 3:3-6
  • The Lord reveals himself at LEV 1:1; NUM 1:1; 7:89; 12:4-10; DEU 31:14,15
  • Pitched at Gilgal JOS 4:18,19; at Shiloh JOS 18:1; 19:51; at Nob 1SA 21:1-6; at Gibeon 1CH 21:29
  • Renewed by David, and pitched upon Mount Zion 1CH 15:1; 16:1,2; 2CH 1:4
  • Solomon offers sacrifice at 2CH 1:3-6
  • Brought to the temple by Solomon 2CH 5:5; with 1KI 8:1,4,5
  • Symbol of spiritual things PSA 15:1; HEB 8:2,5; 9:1-12,24

ALTAR

  • Built by Noah GEN 8:2; Abraham GEN 12:7,8; 13:18; 22:9; Isaac GEN 26:25; Jacob GEN 33:20; 35:1-7; Moses EXO 17:15; 24:4
  • Mosaic commandments prescribing the construction of EXO 20:24-26; DEU 27:5-7; JOS 8:30,31
  • OF BURNT OFFERINGS (Bronze Altar)
  • Called BRAZEN ALTAR EXO 39:39; 1KI 8:64
  • Called ALTAR OF GOD PSA 43:4
  • Called ALTAR OF THE LORD MAL 2:13
  • IN THE TABERNACLE:
    • Pattern of EXO 27:1-8
    • Constructed by Bezaleel EXO 38:1-7; with 37:1
    • Location of EXO 40:6,29; EZK 8:16; MAT 23:35
    • Furniture of EXO 27:3-7; 38:3-7; 1SA 2:13,14
    • Horns of EXO 27:2; PSA 118:27
    • How sanctified EXO 29:36,37,44; 30:26-28; 40:10; LEV 8:10,11; NUM 7
    • Sanctified everything that touched it EXO 29:37; 30:29; MAT 23:18,19
    • A place of refuge EXO 21:14; 1KI 1:50; 2:28
  • IN SOLOMON'S TEMPLE: Description 2CH 4:1
  • OF INCENSE (Golden Altar)
  • Called the GOLDEN ALTAR EXO 39:38; NUM 4:11
  • ALTAR OF SWEET INCENSE LEV 4:7
  • ALTAR BEFORE THE LORD LEV 16:18
  • Pattern of EXO 30:1-5
  • Constructed EXO 37:25-28
  • Location of EXO 30:6; 40:5,26
  • Uses of EXO 30:7-10,26,27; 40:27; LEV 4:7,18; 8:15; 9:9; 16:12,18
  • In Solomon's temple 1KI 6:19,20; 7:48; 1CH 28:18
  • Seen in John's vision REV 8:3; 9:13

MERCY-SEAT

  • Description of EXO 25:17-22
  • Placed on the ark of the testimony EXO 26:34; 30:6; 31:7; 40:20; HEB 9:5
  • Materials of, to be a freewill offering EXO 35:4-12
  • Made by Bezaleel EXO 37:1,6-9
  • Sprinkled with blood LEV 16:14,15
  • The shekinah upon EXO 25:22; 30:6,36; LEV 16:2; NUM 7:89; 17:4; 1SA 4:4; 2SA 6:2; 2KI 19:15; 1CH 13:6; PSA 80:1; 99:1; ISA 37:16; HEB 4:16

ARK OF THE COVENANT

  • Named: NUM 10:33; DEU 31:26; JOS 4:7; 1SA 4:3; 2SA 15:24; 1CH 15:25; 17:1; JER 3:16; HEB 9:4
  • OF THE TESTIMONY EXO 30:6
  • OF THE LORD JOS 4:11; 1SA 4:6; 6:1; 2SA 6:9; 15:12; 16:4
  • OF GOD 1SA 3:3; 4:11,17,22; 6:3; 14:18; 2SA 6:7; 7:2; 15:25; 1CH 13:12; 15:1,2,15,24; 16:1
  • Sanctification of EXO 30:26
  • Ceremonies on the day of atonement LEV 16:13-15
  • Holy 2CH 8:11; 35:3
  • An oracle of God NUM 10:33; 14:44; JOS 7:6-15; JDG 20:27,28; 1SA 4:3,4,7; 1CH 13:3; 16:4,37; 2CH 6:41; PSA 132:8
  • Directions for making EXO 25:10-15; 35:12
  • Construction of EXO 37:1-5; DEU 10:3
  • Contents of:
  • The law EXO 25:16,21; 40:20; DEU 10:5; 31:26; 1KI 8:9; 2CH 5:10
  • Aaron's rod NUM 17:10; HEB 9:4
  • Pot of manna EXO 16:33,34; HEB 9:4
  • Place of EXO 26:33; 40:21; 1SA 3:3; 2SA 7:2; HEB 9:2-4
  • In John's vision REV 11:19

CANDLESTICK (LAMPSTAND)

  • OF THE TABERNACLE
  • Made after divine pattern EXO 25:31-40; 37:17-24; NUM 8:4
  • Place of EXO 26:35; 40:24,25; HEB 9:2
  • Furniture of EXO 25:38; 37:23; NUM 4:9,10
  • Burned every night EXO 27:20,21
  • Trimmed every morning EXO 30:7
  • Carried by Kohathites NUM 4:4,15
  • Called THE LAMP OF GOD 1SA 3:3
  • OF THE TEMPLE: Ten branches 1KI 7:49,50; of gold 1CH 28:15; 2CH 4:20
  • SYMBOLICAL ZEC 4:2,11; REV 1:12,13,20; 2:5; 11:4

LAVER

  • Directions for making EXO 30:18-20
  • Situation of, in the tabernacle EXO 40:7
  • Sanctified EXO 30:28; 40:11; LEV 8:11
  • Used for washing EXO 40:30-32
  • Brazen (bronze), made by Solomon for the temple 1KI 7
  • FIGURATIVE REV 4:6; 15:2
  • In connection with EXO 38:8 (made from mirrors); 1KI 7:23

SHEWBREAD (SHOWBREAD)

  • Also called THE BREAD OF THE PRESENCE HEB 9:2
  • Called HALLOWED BREAD 1SA 21:6
  • Ordinance concerning LEV 24:5-9
  • Required to be kept before the Lord continually EXO 25:30; 2CH 2:4
  • Provided by a yearly per capita tax NEH 10:32,33
  • Prepared by the Levites 1CH 9:32; 23:29
  • Unlawfully eaten by David 1SA 21:6; MAT 12:3,4; MRK 2:25,26; LUK 6:3,4
  • Placed on the Table of Shewbread EXO 40:22,23
  • TABLE OF HEB 9:2
  • Ordinances concerning EXO 25:23-28; 37:10-15
  • Its position in the tabernacle EXO 26:35; 40:22
  • Furniture of EXO 25:29,30; 37:16; NUM 4:7
  • Consecration of EXO 30:26,27,29
  • For the temple 1KI 7:48,50; 2CH 4:19,22

VAIL (VEIL/CURTAIN)

  • Hangings used in the tabernacle to separate the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place
  • Called the second veil HEB 6:19; 9:3
  • Ordinances prescribing EXO 26:31-33
  • Made by Bezaleel and Aholiab EXO 36:35,36
  • A covering for the ark of the covenant EXO 35:12; 39:34; 40:21; NUM 4:5
  • Of the temple 2CH 3:14
  • Torn from top to bottom at the crucifixion MAT 27:51; MRK 15:38; LUK 23:45
  • FIGURATIVE HEB 10:20

LINEN

  • Exported from Egypt 1KI 10:28; EZK 27:7; from Syria EZK 27:16
  • Curtains of the tabernacle made of EXO 26:1; 27:9
  • Vestments of priests made of EXO 28:5-8,15,39-42
  • Livery of royal households GEN 41:42; EST 8:15
  • Mosaic law forbade its being interwoven with wool LEV 19:19; DEU 22:11
  • The corpse of Jesus was wrapped in MRK 15:46; JHN 20:5
  • FIGURATIVE: Pure and white, of righteousness REV 15:6; 19:8,14

SILVER

  • From Tarshish EZK 27:12
  • Refining of PRO 17:3; 25:4; 26:23; EZK 22:18-22; JER 6:29,30; ZEC 13:9; MAL 3:3
  • Used for money GEN 13:2; 17:12; 20:16; 23:13-16; AMO 8:6; MAT 10:9; 26:15
  • For ornamentation of, and in the manufacture of, the utensils for the tabernacle EXO 26:19; 27:17; 35:24; 36:24; 38:25; NUM 7:13,19,25,31,37,43,49,55,61,67,73,79,85
  • Of the temple 1CH 28:14; 29:2-5; EZR 5:14; 6:5; 8:26; DAN 5:2
  • Trumpets NUM 10:2
  • SYMBOLICAL DAN 2:32,35

GOLD

  • Exported from Havilah GEN 2:11,12; Ophir 1KI 9:28; 10:11
  • Refined JOB 28:19; 31:24; PRO 8:19; 17:3; 27:21; ZEC 13:9; MAL 3:3
  • Overlaying with EXO 25:11,13,24,28; 26:27,29; 30:5; 36:34,36,38; 37:2,4,11,15; 1KI 6:20-22,28,30,32,35
  • The lampstands made of, for the tabernacle EXO 25:31-38; 37:17-24
  • Crowns made of EXO 25:25; 37:2-11; 39:30
  • Vessels and utensils made of, for the tabernacle EXO 25:26,29,38,39; 37:16
  • FIGURATIVE ECC 12:6; JER 51:7; LAM 4:1; 1CO 3:12
  • SYMBOLICAL DAN 2:32-45; REV 21:18,21

CHERUBIM

  • Eastward of the garden of Eden GEN 3:24
  • In the tabernacle EXO 25:18-20; 37:7-9
  • The ark rested beneath the wings of 1KI 8:6,7; 2CH 5:7,8; HEB 9:5
  • Figures of, embroidered on the walls of the tabernacle EXO 26:1; 36:8
  • And on the curtain EXO 26:31; 36:35
  • In the temple 1KI 6:23-29; 2CH 3:10-13
  • In Ezekiel's vision of the temple EZK 41:18-20,25
  • FIGURATIVE EZK 28:14-16
  • SYMBOLICAL EZK 1; 10

EMBROIDERY

  • In blue and purple and scarlet on the curtains of the tabernacle EXO 26:1,36; 27:16
  • On the girdle and coat of the high priest, intermingled with gold EXO 28:4,39
  • Bezaleel and Aholiab divinely inspired for, in the work of the tabernacle EXO 35:30-35; 38:22,23

CURTAINS

  • For the tabernacle EXO 26; 27:9-18; 36:8-18
  • FIGURATIVE ISA 40:22; 54:2; JER 4:20; 10:20; 49:29

HOLINESS

  • General scriptures concerning GEN 17:1; 35:2; EXO 19:6; 22:31; 28:36; 39:30; LEV 10:8-10; 11:44,45,47; 19:2; 20:7,26; DEU 13:17; 14:2; 18:13; 26:19; 28:9; 30:2,10; JOS 7:12,13; PSA 4:4; 15:1-5; 24:3-5; 32:2; 37:27; 97:10; 119:1-3; ISA 4:3; 26:2,8,9; 32:17; 35:8; 51:7; 52:1,11; 57:2; 60:1,21; 61:3,9-11; MIC 6:8; ZEP 2:3; ZEC 8:3; 14:20,21; MAT 5:6,8,29,30,48; ROM 6:1-23; 12:1,2; 1CO 3:16,17; 6:19,20; 2CO 6:14-17; 7:1; GAL 5:22-25; EPH 1:4; 4:20-24; 5:1,3,8-11; COL 1:22; 3:5-10,12-15; 1TH 4:3,4,7; HEB 12:1,10,14,15; 1PE 1:14-16; 2:1,5,9; 2PE 1:2-8; 3:11,12,14; REV 19:8

WASHING

  • Of hands, a token of innocence DEU 21:6; PSA 26:6; 73:13; MAT 27:24
  • FIGURATIVE of regeneration PSA 51:7; PRO 30:12; ISA 1:16; 4:4; ZEC 13:1; 1CO 6:11; EPH 5:26; TIT 3:5

SANCTUARY

  • (The Holy of Holies)
  • In the tabernacle HEB 9:2
  • Divine dwelling place EXO 25:8
  • Reverence for LEV 19:30; 26:2
  • In the charge of high priest EXO 27:21; LEV 24:3; NUM 18:5
  • The Holy Place in the temple LAM 2:7,20; EZK 42:20
  • FIGURATIVE EZK 11:16
  • Symbolical HEB 8:2,5

GARMENT

  • Of righteousness ISA 61:10; MAT 22:11; 2CO 5:3; REV 3:18; 7:14; 16:15; 19:8
  • TABERNACLES, FEAST OF (EXO 23:16; LEV 23:34-43) -- annual celebration involving temporary dwellings
  • ARCHITECTURE (HEB 3:3,4; EPH 2:21,22) -- God as builder
  • GOLDEN ALTAR -- (See ALTAR OF INCENSE above)
  • HOLY PLACE -- (See TABERNACLE entry above)
  • CONSECRATION -- PSA 51:17; ROM 6:13,16,19; 12:1
  • VEIL -- EXO 34:33,35; 2CO 3:13-16 (Moses' veil, separate from tabernacle veil)