Topical Encyclopedia The Tabernacle, also known as the "Tent of Meeting," was a portable sanctuary that served as the dwelling place of God among the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness and until the construction of Solomon's Temple. The instructions for building the Tabernacle were given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai, as recorded in the Book of Exodus.Biblical Description and Construction The detailed instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle are found in Exodus 25-31 and 35-40. God commanded Moses, "And they are to make a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them. You must make it according to all that I show you—the pattern of the Tabernacle as well as the pattern of all its furnishings" (Exodus 25:8-9). The Tabernacle was to be constructed from specific materials, including gold, silver, bronze, blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, fine linen, goat hair, ram skins dyed red, and acacia wood. The structure consisted of three main parts: the Outer Court, the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies). The Outer Court contained the Bronze Altar for burnt offerings and the Bronze Basin for ceremonial washing. The Holy Place housed the Table of Showbread, the Golden Lampstand, and the Altar of Incense. The Most Holy Place, separated by a veil, contained the Ark of the Covenant, which held the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, Aaron's rod, and a jar of manna. Symbolism and Function The Tabernacle served as the focal point of Israelite worship and the symbol of God's presence among His people. It was the place where sacrifices were offered, and where the high priest would enter the Most Holy Place once a year on the Day of Atonement to make atonement for the sins of the nation (Leviticus 16). The design and function of the Tabernacle were rich in symbolism. The materials and colors used in its construction symbolized various aspects of God's nature and His relationship with His people. The gold represented His divine glory, the silver His redemption, and the bronze His judgment. The veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place symbolized the barrier between a holy God and sinful humanity, a barrier that was ultimately torn down through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ (Matthew 27:51). Theological Significance The Tabernacle is a profound foreshadowing of Jesus Christ and His redemptive work. The Gospel of John states, "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us" (John 1:14), with the term "dwelling" echoing the concept of the Tabernacle. Jesus is seen as the ultimate fulfillment of the Tabernacle, as He is the true meeting place between God and humanity. The Epistle to the Hebrews further elaborates on the Tabernacle's significance, explaining that it was a "copy and shadow of what is in heaven" (Hebrews 8:5). The earthly Tabernacle was a temporary and imperfect representation of the heavenly reality, which Christ entered as the perfect High Priest, offering Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 9:11-12). Historical Context The Tabernacle was central to Israelite worship from the time of its construction at Mount Sinai until the building of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. It was transported and set up at various locations, including Shiloh, where it remained for a significant period (Joshua 18:1). The Tabernacle's design and function influenced the later construction of the Temple, which continued to serve as the center of Jewish worship until its destruction. In summary, the Tabernacle was not only a physical structure but also a profound theological symbol pointing to God's desire to dwell among His people and the ultimate fulfillment of this desire in Jesus Christ. Library CM Alford. God Our Refuge. Book iv. --Of Marcion's Antitheses. Thesaurus Tabernacle's (2 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance Tabernacle's (2 Occurrences). Numbers 3:36 The appointed duty of the sons of Merari shall be the tabernacle's... /t/tabernacle's.htm - 7k Bars (50 Occurrences) Crossbars (8 Occurrences) Posts (68 Occurrences) Frames (47 Occurrences) Boards (50 Occurrences) Sockets (44 Occurrences) Pillars (132 Occurrences) Duty (90 Occurrences) Tabernacles (43 Occurrences) Resources What was the brazen altar? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of a scarlet thread? | GotQuestions.org What was the significance of the bronze laver? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Tabernacle's (2 Occurrences)Numbers 3:36 Numbers 4:31 Subtopics Related Terms |
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