Description

The Tabernacle: Construction and Inauguration

These chapters detail the meticulous construction of the Tabernacle, its furnishings, and the priestly garments, followed by its official setup and the manifestation of God's glory within it. The consistent emphasis is on obedience to divine commands, as highlighted by the repeated phrase "as the Lord commanded Moses."

Key Areas & Specifics:

1. Construction of the Tabernacle Furnishings (Exodus 37):

• The Ark of the Covenant:Made of acacia wood, overlaid with pure gold inside and out, with a gold molding.
• Features four gold rings and acacia wood poles overlaid with gold for carrying.
• Includes the "atonement cover" (or mercy seat) of pure gold, with two hammered gold cherubim facing each other with wings spread upward.
• "Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high... He overlaid it with pure gold, both inside and out, and made a gold molding around it."
• The Table for the Bread of the Presence:Acacia wood overlaid with pure gold, with a gold molding and a handbreadth rim with a gold molding.
• Four gold rings and acacia wood poles overlaid with gold for carrying.
• Includes pure gold articles: plates, dishes, bowls, and pitchers.
• The Lampstand:Made of hammered pure gold with a base and shaft with flower-like cups, buds, and blossoms of one piece.
• Six branches extend from the sides, each with three sets of almond-shaped cups, buds and blossoms.
• Seven lamps, wick trimmers and trays of pure gold, with the entire lampstand and accessories made from one talent of pure gold.
• The Altar of Incense:Acacia wood, square, overlaid with pure gold, horns of one piece with it and with a gold molding.
• Gold rings below the molding to hold carrying poles of acacia wood overlaid with gold.
• The sacred anointing oil and pure, fragrant incense were made separately.

2. Construction of the Altar of Burnt Offering and the Courtyard (Exodus 38):

• The Altar of Burnt Offering:Acacia wood, square, overlaid with bronze.
• Horns at each of the four corners, with a bronze grating under its ledge.
• Bronze rings for carrying poles of acacia wood overlaid with bronze.
• Utensils of bronze, such as pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks, and firepans.
• Basin for Washing:Made of bronze, and its stand was made from the bronze mirrors of the women who served at the tent's entrance.
• The Courtyard:Curtains of finely twisted linen, posts with bronze bases, silver hooks and bands.
• Dimensions specified: south and north sides at 100 cubits each, west and east at 50 cubits.
• Entrance curtain with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen.
• Tent pegs were made of bronze.
• Materials Used:Detailed record of the total amount of gold, silver, and bronze used for the Tabernacle, showing significant quantities: "The total amount of the gold...was 29 talents and 730 shekels... The silver...was 100 talents and 1,775 shekels... The bronze...was 70 talents and 2,400 shekels."
• Specific mention of the source of materials, with items like the basin stand being constructed from bronze mirrors.
• A census is recorded in terms of the silver collected. One beka (half shekel) was collected per person which resulted in 100 talents of silver (3.4 metric tons).

3. Construction of Priestly Garments (Exodus 39):

• Ephod:Made with gold, blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely twisted linen.
• Features shoulder pieces with onyx stones engraved with the names of the sons of Israel.
• A skillfully woven waistband of the same materials.
• Breastpiece:Square, doubled, and made with gold, blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely twisted linen.
• Set with four rows of precious stones, each engraved with a name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
• Features braided chains of pure gold, gold filigree settings and rings to attach it to the Ephod
• Robe of the Ephod:Entirely blue, with pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn around the hem.
• Bells of pure gold alternating with the pomegranates.
• Other Priestly Garments:Tunics of fine linen, turban of fine linen, linen caps, and undergarments.
• Sash made of fine linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn.
• Sacred Plate:A plate of pure gold engraved with "Holy to the Lord", fastened to the turban with a blue cord.
• Completion and Inspection:"The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses."
• Moses inspected and blessed the work, confirming its adherence to divine instructions.

4. Setup and Inauguration of the Tabernacle (Exodus 40):

• Divine Instructions:The Lord instructed Moses to set up the tabernacle on the first day of the first month.
• Specific placement of the ark, table, lampstand, altar of incense, altar of burnt offering, and basin.
• Consecration through anointing with oil for the tabernacle, its furnishings, and the priests.
• Obedience to Instructions:Moses meticulously followed every command for setting up the Tabernacle and its contents.
• "Moses did everything just as the Lord commanded him." This is a consistent and repeated phrase throughout the process.
• Manifestation of God's Glory:"Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle."
• The cloud and the glory were signs of God's presence and dwelling among the Israelites.
• The cloud became a guide for their travels, moving when they should move and remaining when they should stay. "So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels."

Key Ideas and Takeaways:

• Divine Blueprint: The Tabernacle and its furnishings were constructed based on precise divine instructions, emphasizing the importance of obedience to God's will.
• Holiness and Consecration: The use of precious materials (gold, silver, bronze, precious stones, fine linen) and the act of anointing signifies the holiness and sacredness of the Tabernacle and the priesthood.
• Symbolism: Each element of the Tabernacle, its structure, furnishings, and the priestly garments, carried significant symbolic weight, representing God's presence, atonement, and the means of approaching Him.
• God's Presence: The ultimate purpose of the Tabernacle was to provide a place for God to dwell among His people, as evidenced by the cloud and the glory of the Lord filling it.
• The Importance of Precision: The specific dimensions, materials, and processes underscore the importance of following God's instructions with precision and dedication.