Definition and Terminology:
Shewbread, also known as "showbread" or "bread of the Presence," refers to the twelve loaves of unleavened bread that were placed on a special table in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle and later in the Temple. The Hebrew term for shewbread is "lechem haPanim," which translates to "bread of the Presence" or "bread of the faces," signifying its perpetual presence before God.

Biblical References:
The concept of shewbread is introduced in the book of Exodus. God commands Moses regarding the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings, including the table for the shewbread. In Exodus 25:30 , it is stated, "And place the Bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times." This command underscores the continuous nature of the offering, symbolizing God's eternal covenant with Israel.

Description and Rituals:
The shewbread consisted of twelve loaves, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. These loaves were made of fine flour and were arranged in two stacks of six on the table of shewbread, which was overlaid with pure gold. The table was located in the Holy Place, opposite the golden lampstand and near the altar of incense.

Every Sabbath, the priests would replace the old loaves with fresh ones, as described in Leviticus 24:5-9 : "You are to take fine flour and bake twelve loaves with it, two-tenths of an ephah per loaf. Arrange them in two rows—six per row—on the table of pure gold before the LORD. And you are to place pure frankincense near each row, so that it may serve as a memorial portion for the bread, an offering made by fire to the LORD. Every Sabbath day the bread is to be set out before the LORD on behalf of the Israelites as a perpetual covenant. It belongs to Aaron and his sons, who are to eat it in a holy place, because it is a most holy part of their perpetual share of the food offerings made to the LORD."

Symbolism and Significance:
The shewbread holds deep symbolic meaning within the context of Israel's worship and covenant relationship with God. It signifies God's provision and sustenance for His people, as well as His desire for fellowship with them. The bread's presence before God continually reminded the Israelites of their dependence on Him for both physical and spiritual nourishment.

The shewbread also prefigures the New Testament understanding of Jesus Christ as the "Bread of Life." In John 6:35 , Jesus declares, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst." This connection highlights the fulfillment of the Old Testament symbolism in the person and work of Christ, who provides eternal sustenance and life to believers.

Priestly Consumption:
The consumption of the shewbread was reserved for the priests, who ate it in a holy place after it was replaced with fresh loaves. This practice emphasized the holiness of the offering and the sanctity of the priestly role. The incident involving David and the shewbread, recorded in 1 Samuel 21:1-6, illustrates the bread's sacred status and the principle of mercy over ritual, as David and his men were allowed to eat the bread due to their need.

Conclusion:
The shewbread serves as a profound symbol of God's provision, presence, and covenant with His people. It points forward to the ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who embodies the true spiritual sustenance for all who believe.Shewbread

(Exodus 25:30; 35:13; 39:36) etc. literally "bread of the face" or "faces." Shew-bread was unleavened bread placed upon a table which stood in the sanctuary together with the seven-branched candlestick and the altar of incense. See (Exodus 25:23-30) for description of this table. Every Sabbath twelve newly baked loaves, representing the twelve tribes of Israel, were put on it in two rows, six in each, and sprinkled with incense, where they remained till the following Sabbath. Then they were replaced by twelve new ones, the incense was burned, and they were eaten by the priests in the holy place, out of which they might not be removed, The title "bread of the face" seems to indicate that bread through which God is seen, that is, with the participation of which the seeing of God is bound up, or through the participation of which man attains the sight of God whence it follows that we have not to think of bread merely as such as the means of nourishing the bodily life, but as spiritual food as a means of appropriating and retaining that life which consists In seeing the face of God.

Exodus 25:30 (R.V. marg., "presence bread"); 1 Chronicles 9:32 (marg., "bread of ordering"); Numbers 4:7: called "hallowed bread" (R.V., "holy bread") in 1 Samuel 21:1-6.

This bread consisted of twelve loaves made of the finest flour. They were flat and thin, and were placed in two rows of six each on a table in the holy place before the Lord. They were renewed every Sabbath (Leviticus 24:5-9), and those that were removed to give place to the new ones were to be eaten by the priests only in the holy place (see 1 Samuel 21:3-6; Comp. Matthew 12:3, 4).

The number of the loaves represented the twelve tribes of Israel, and also the entire spiritual Israel, "the true Israel;" and the placing of them on the table symbolized the entire consecration of Israel to the Lord, and their acceptance of God as their God. The table for the bread was made of acacia wood, 3 feet long, 18 inches broad, and 2 feet 3 inches high. It was plated with pure gold. Two staves, plated with gold, passed through golden rings, were used for carrying it.

(n.) See Showbread.SHEWBREAD, TABLE OF

(shulchan (Exodus 25:25-30, etc.); he trapeza kai he prothesis ton arton (Hebrews 9:2)): For construction, see TABERNACLE; TEMPLE. A rude representation of the table is given on the Arch of Titus in Rome. The bas-relief was measured by Professor Boni in 1905, and the height and width of the represented tables were found to be 48 centimeters, or nearly 19 inches. The table represented is, of course, that of Herod's temple, taken at the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. See the author's article on "The Temple Spoils" in PEFS, 1906, 306;.

The table of shewbread is to be distinguished from the altar of incense. It has become the fashion of the newer criticism to deny the existence of the altar of incense in preexilic times, and to explain the allusion to it in 1 Kings 6:20 as the table of shewbread (so in Ezekiel 41:22). The other references (1 Kings 6:22; 1 Kings 7:48; 1 Kings 9:25) are dismissed as interpolations. The procedure is radically vicious. The table of shewbread is not an "altar," though the altar is once spoken of as a "table" (Ezekiel 41:22). There was only one altar of incense (1 Kings 6:20), but (in 2 Chronicles 4:8) ten tables of shewbread.

See SHEWBREAD.

W. Shaw Caldecott

SHEWBREAD, THE

sho'-bred lechem ha-panim, "bread of the presence"; he prothesis ton arton (Hebrews 9:2); the American Standard Revised Version "showbread").

See SHEW:

1. The Term:

The marginal reading of Exodus 25:30; Exodus 35:13, the Revised Version (British and American) "Presence-bread," exactly gives the meaning of the Hebrew. In 2 Chronicles 2:4 it is spoken of as the "continual showbread," because it was to be before Yahweh "alway" (Exodus 25:30).

2. Mosaic Regulations:

Later Judaism has much to say as to the number and size of the loaves, more properly thin cakes, which bore this name, together with many minute regulations as to the placing of the loaves, the covering of them with frankincense, and other ritualistic vapidities. All that the Mosaic legislation required was that, once in every week, there should be twelve cakes of unleavened bread, each containing about four-fifths of a peck of fine flour, placed in two piles upon a pure table with frankincense beside each pile and changed every Sabbath day (Leviticus 24:5-9). From the description of the table upon which the fiat cakes were to lie (Exodus 25:23-30; Exodus 37:10-16), it held a series of golden vessels comprising dishes, spoons, flagons and bowls. As it is unlikely that empty cups were set before Yahweh-they being described as "the vessels which were upon the table"-we may conclude that the table held presentation offerings of "grain and wine and oil," the three chief products of the land (Deuteronomy 7:13). The "dishes" were probably the salvers on which the thin cakes were piled, six on each. The "flagons" would contain wine, and the bowls (made with spouts, "to pour withal"), the oil; while the "spoons" held the frankincense, which was burned as a memorial, "even an offering made by fire unto Yahweh." The cakes themselves were eaten by the priests on every Sabbath day, as being among the "most holy" sacrifices. Each of the synoptists refers to the incident of David and his companions having eaten of the shewbread (hoi artoi tes protheseos), as told in 1 Samuel 21:4-6 (Matthew 12:4 Mark 2:26 Luke 6:4).

3. On Journeyings:

At such times as the removal of the tabernacle took place, the separate appointments of the table of incense were not parted from it, but were carried with it-dishes, spoons, bowls, and cups (Numbers 4:7). These, like the other furniture, were borne by the Kohathite Levites, but a few articles of lighter weight were in the personal care of the high priest. These comprised the oil for the candlestick, the sweet incense, the holy oil of consecration, and the meal for the continual bread offering (Numbers 4:7, 8, 16). Small quantities of these alone would be borne from place to place, such as would be needed with the least delay to refurbish the vessels of the sanctuary on every reerection of the tent of meeting.

4. Significance:

With this view of the nature, we have a natural and adequate sense of the meanings and importance of the shewbread, in the economy of the temple ritual and service. It was a continual reminder to the worshippers of the truth that man does not live by bread alone, emphasized by the fact that these most holy offerings were afterward eaten. It was the Old Testament version of the prayer, "Give us this day our daily bread"; and in the fact that the holy table was never for a moment left without some loaves lying on it, we have the symbol of man's continued and unbroken dependence upon God. Even during the travels of the table of shewbread with the tabernacle, the "continual bread" was required to be in its place thereon (Numbers 4:7).

It has been usual to say that "frankincense in golden urns stood beside the twelve loaves" (EB, IV, col. 4212). But this is a mere repetition of a Jewish legend, as spoons were the recognized holders of the frankincense to be burned (compare Numbers 7:14;). Such spoons formed a part of the equipment of the shewbread table, and on the removal of the week-old cakes the spoons were carried forth and the frankincense in them burned on the great altar on the Sabbath day. If this were done while the grain and wine and oil were being consumed, it would derive additional significance, as betokening the gratitude and adoration of the representative recipients of the bounties of Nature, just as the daily burning of incense in the holy place betokened the worship and adoration of the praying multitudes without the temple (Luke 1:10).

See SHEWBREAD, TABLE OF.

W. Shaw Caldecott

4635. maareketh -- a row, line
... row, showbread. From arak; an arrangement, ie (concretely) a pile (of loaves) --
row, shewbread. see HEBREW arak. 4634, 4635. maareketh. 4636 . ...
/hebrew/4635.htm - 6k

6440. panim -- face, faces
... out of, over against, the partial, person, + please, presence, propect, was purposed,
by reason of, + regard, right forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state ...
/hebrew/6440.htm - 8k

The Sabbath
... How he entered into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest, and did eat
the shewbread, which it is not lawful to eat save for the priests, and gave ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 2 23-28 the sabbath.htm

What is the Sanctuary?
... For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and
the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the great controversy/chapter 23 what is the.htm

Works which Hallow the Sabbath
... How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did
eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/works which hallow the sabbath.htm

The Two Sabbath-Controversies - the Plucking of the Ears of Corn ...
... When, on his flight from Saul, David had, when an hungered,' eaten of the shewbread,
and given it to his followers, [3567] although, by the letter of the ...
/.../chapter xxxv the two sabbath-controversies.htm

The New Covenant.
... For there was a tabernacle prepared, the first, wherein were the candlestick, and
the table, and the shewbread; which is called the Holy place. ...
/.../chapter viii the new covenant.htm

A Letter from Origen to Gregory.
... kind would be used for the solid golden candlestick near the inner veil, and its
branches, and the golden table on which were the pieces of shewbread, and the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origens letters/a letter from origen to 2.htm

Letter of Origen to Gregory.
... perhaps, the solid golden candlestick which stood near the inner veil, and the lamps
on it, and the golden table on which stood the shewbread, and between ...
/.../unknown/the passion of the scillitan martyrs/letter of origen to gregory.htm

A Teacher with Authority
... How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did
eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave ...
/.../mark/jesus of nazareth a biography/chapter ii a teacher with.htm

All that Scripture Therefore, which is Called the Old Testament...
... saith He, "what David did when he was an hungered, and they that were with him;
how he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not ...
/.../augustine/on the profit of believing /section 5 all that scripture.htm

The Exile Continued.
... for his appearance with a slender retinue, and unarmed; and the priest, after some
feeble scruples, supplies the handful of hungry fugitives with the shewbread ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/v the exilecontinued.htm

Shewbread (16 Occurrences)
... (n.) See Showbread. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SHEWBREAD, TABLE OF. ... The table
of shewbread is to be distinguished from the altar of incense. ...
/s/shewbread.htm - 20k

Table (125 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SHEWBREAD, TABLE OF. (shulchan ... 306;. The table
of shewbread is to be distinguished from the altar of incense. ...
/t/table.htm - 62k

Utensils (72 Occurrences)
... DBY NAS RSV NIV). Exodus 35:13 the table and its staves, and all its utensils,
and the shewbread; (DBY NAS RSV). Exodus 35:14 and ...
/u/utensils.htm - 28k

Whereon (45 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 7:48 And Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of Jehovah:
the golden altar; and the table of gold, whereon was the shewbread; (DBY). ...
/w/whereon.htm - 20k

Candlestick (34 Occurrences)
... This candlestick was placed on the south side of the Holy Place, opposite the table
of shewbread (Exodus 27:21; 30:7, 8; Leviticus 24:3; 1 Samuel 3:3). It was ...
/c/candlestick.htm - 27k

Tabernacle (333 Occurrences)
... the tabernacle. Here were placed the table for the shewbread, the golden
candlestick, and the golden altar of incense. Round about ...
/t/tabernacle.htm - 101k

Shew (226 Occurrences)
... in the English Revised Version), and it should be carefully noted that "shew" is
never pronounced "shoo," not even in the combination "shewbread"; Compare "sew ...
/s/shew.htm - 39k

Unless (102 Occurrences)
... Luke 6:4 how he entered into the house of God and took the shewbread and ate, and
gave to those also who were with him, which it is not lawful that any eat ...
/u/unless.htm - 36k

Goblets (12 Occurrences)
... Numbers 4:7 And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue; and
put thereon the dishes, and the cups, and the bowls, and goblets of the drink ...
/g/goblets.htm - 10k

Frankincense (22 Occurrences)
... A specially "pure" kind, lebhonah zakkah, was presented with the shewbread
(Leviticus 24:7). EWG Masterman. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/f/frankincense.htm - 19k

What was the bread of the Presence (Exodus 25:30)? | GotQuestions.org

Shewbread: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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