The description of the actual building of the tabernacle is recorded in Exodus chapter 35 to 40. The workers were first enlisted as God had commanded. Following the enlistment, recorded in Exodus 35, the building of each item of the the tabernacle is described in Exodus 36 to 39. The record of the tabernacle's construction occurs in Exodus 40. Just how central the tabernacle was in the life of Israel is graphically portrayed in the Book of Numbers.
Responsibilities for the care and moving of the tabernacle were delegated to various families of the tribe of Levi. The Levitical family of Kohath was to disassemble the structure and cover the tabernacle furnishings with the badger skin. The tapestries were the responsibility of the family of Gershon. Merari's family in charge of the boards, pillars, foundations, pins and cords. All these Levitical families were commissioned to care for the sanctuary.
The first day of tabernacle worship is described in Numbers chapter 7 to 9. The guiding pillar of cloud and fire rested upon the tabernacle when the people were encamped. When the people were on the march with the pillar serving as their guide, the tribes which camped on the east of the tabernacle were first in marching order, These were Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. The tabernacle was carried by the assigned family members of Gershon and Merari.
The next group in the marching order were the tribes which camped on the south of the tabernacle. These were Reuben, Simeon and Gad. Following these, the family of Kohath carried the holy objects of the tabernacle.
Then came the tribes which camped on the west of the tabernacle. These were Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin.
The rear guard of the march was composed of the tribes which camped on the north of the tabernacle. These were Dan, Asher and Naphtali.
When the tribes were camped, two silver trumpets were used to summon the tribes to gather at the tabernacle. The tabernacle was also the place where the 70 elders advised and counseled the people. - Num. 11:16 - It was also the place of specific judgments - Num. 12:4 - and appointments. - Deut. 31:14 -
As the years passed, certain other structures were added to the tabernacle while it remained at Shiloh. These included living quarters for the priests and Levites who served at the tabernacle. By the end of the period of the judges, during the administration of Eli, at least some of the attendants lived on the premises. - 1Sam. 3:3 -
During the Israelites battle against the Philistines at Aphek, the ark of the covenant was removed from the tabernacle and taken into battle. Lost to the Philistines, it finally came to rest at Kirjath Jearim. It remained here until the time of David's reign. - 1Sam. 4:1-7:1 -
With the departure of the ark, the tabernacle lost some of its esteem in the eyes of the Hebrew people. - Ps. 78:60 - During the reign of Saul, the tabernacle was at Nob. - 1Sam. 21:1 - From the latter part of David's reign throughout the fourth year of Solomon's reign, the tabernacle was at the high place of Gibeon. - 1Chr. 16:39, 21:29 - When the Temple was completed, Solomon had the Levites bring the tabernacle to Jerusalem, presumably to be stored in the Temple area. - 1King 8:4; 2Chr. 5:5 -
The New Testament uses some terminology and concepts drawn directly from the tabernacle. The supreme event of all the ages is the existence of God's son in human form. The Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible declares that the Word became flesh among us. - The Word was made flesh, he lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory that is his as the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:14 -
Stephen, one of the first seven deacons of the early Church and the first Christian martyr accepted the Old Testament account of the tabernacle as historical. While apostle Paul used the word propitiation or to appease which might be translated 'mercy seat'. - Rom. 3:21-26 - Book of Revelation speaks of the golden incense altar and reference is made to the heavenly tabernacle. - Rev. 8:3-5, 13:6, 15:5 - Practically every feature of the tabernacle is found in the Book of Hebrews.
While they were in the desert our ancestors possessed the Tent of Testimony that had been constructed according to the instructions God gave Moses, telling him to make an exact copy of the pattern he had been shown. It was handed down from one ancestor of ours to another until Joshua brought it into the country we had conquered from the nations which were driven out by God as we advanced. Here it stayed until the time of David. He won God's favour and asked permission to have a temple built for the House of Jacob, though it was Solomon who actually built God's house for him. Even so the Most High does not live in a house that human hands have built: for as the prophet says:
With heaven my throne
and earth my footstool,
what house could you build me,
what place could you make for my rest?
Was not all this made by my hand? - Acts 7:44-50 -
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Sunday, May 24, 2009
I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!
I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.
HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -
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