22. THE TABERNACLE-GOD'S MEETING PLACE WITH ISRAEL

"Let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them"

Aim

To learn about the Tabernacle which God commanded

Moses to build as His dwelling-place in Israel. The children of Israel camped in their tents at the foot of Mount Sinai and there they spent many months preparing the materials and furniture for a beautiful Tabernacle. Moses had been shown a pattern of it and given the plans by God when he went up into the mountain. God instructed him to make it exactly as He had shown. "According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the Tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it" (Ex. 25:9). It was a sanctuary, or holy place, where God would meet with Israel and they would come to worship Him there.

Exodus 25:1-9; 26; 35; 36:8-19; Numbers 1:49-54; 2

MATERIALS USED FOR THE TABERNACLE: Ex. 25:1-9

A building such as this required a great deal of material. The people were asked to bring the following items listed in Exodus 35:5-9:

• Gold, silver, brass

• Blue, purple, scarlet

• Goat's hair, rams' skins dyed red, badgers' skins

• Shittim wood

• Oil for the light and spices

• Precious stones

• Fine twined linen for curtains.

God told Moses, "of every man that bringeth it willingly with his heart ye shall take My offering" (v. 2). The people were so enthusiastic about the work that there was "much more than enough" (Ex. 36:5) and God was very pleased. God had been very careful to make Moses understand that the whole Tabernacle must be made exactly as he had been shown. Skilled craftsmen and women were needed who were clever enough and wise enough to follow God's instructions.

God chose two men and gave them special wisdom so that they might see that all the work was done in the best possible way. They were Bezaleel and Aholiab (Ex. 35:30, 34). All the women who were willing, made curtains, coverings for the building and the beautiful clothes, which were the holy garments for Aaron the High Priest, and his sons. Some of the men made tools, and God "filled them with wisdom of heart to work all manner of work" (Ex. 35:35).

THE PLAN, OF THE BUILDING: Exodus 26

The Tabernacle, or dwelling place, had four walls made of boards of shittim wood covered with gold. A beautifully embroidered curtain was draped over it to make the ceiling. Then over the top of the whole building were coverings of animals' skins. It was 30 cubits long, 10 cubits wide and 10 cubits high. (Note: a cubit is about 50 cm. So the whole building measured about 15 m by 5 m.) The entrance to the Tabernacle was at the eastern end, through a curtain of fine linen, embroidered with blue, purple and scarlet. There were two rooms, the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, divided from each other by another curtain, called the vail. The Holy Place was 20 cubits long and 10 cubits wide. It was twice the size of the Most Holy Place which measured 10 cubits by 10 cubits. (As it was also 10 cubits high, it was a perfect cube.)

Surrounding the dwelling-place itself was an area measuring 100 cubits long and 50 cubits wide. This was enclosed by curtains made from fine white linen fixed to wooden pillars set in sockets of brass. The entrance in this surrounding wall was also at the eastern end, and was made of linen, beautifully embroidered with blue, purple and scarlet.

THE POSITION OF THE TABERNACLE IN THE CAMP: Numbers 1:49-54; 2

When all was finished, the Tabernacle was placed in the very centre of the camp of Israel. At all times God was to be in the midst of His people. A large area was left around the Tabernacle where the people of Israel could be called together to hear the words of God.

The tents of the Levites were pitched on three sides of the Tabernacle, but facing eastward and in front of the curtained gateway were the tents of Moses and Aaron. Then the tents of all the people were pitched according to their tribes, always set out in the same order. The whole camp was arranged in a square with God in the midst and the cloud forming a covering from the heat of the sun. When it was time to remove the camp, the cloud rose up and went before Israel and the nation moved off with the tribes in the order God had instructed (Ex. 40:34-38).

The tribe of Judah always led the nation followed by five more tribes. Then came Ephraim and the remaining tribes, making twelve in all. In Numbers 10:14-28 we can read the order in which the tribes moved forward.

LESSON FOR US

We have seen how that God would only accept gifts for the Tabernacle from those who were willing. The apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 9:7 that "God loveth a cheerful giver". Let us learn to give always in a good spirit, sharing whatever things we may have and giving our time and ability without grumbling. If we give as we are able, it does not matter how much or how little we give, but it must be our best and it must be given willingly.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

God chose special workmen to oversee the building of the Tabernacle. In addition, He required that "every wise hearted among you shall come and make all that Yahweh hath commanded" (Ex. 35:10, 25-26). In these people, both men and women, He "put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary" (Ex. 36:1).

God has given us the Scriptures that we may learn to be workmen for Him (2. Tim. 3:15-17). The more we read His Word the better equipped we will be to serve Him. As the apostle Paul exhorted Timothy, so we can be encouraged by these words: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15).

QUESTIONS

Short Answers

1. Who gave Moses the plans for the Tabernacle ?

2. Who were* chosen and guided especially in the work?

3. What did the women do towards the work?

4. What kind of people gave material for the building of the Tabernacle?

5. What were the main divisions of the Tabernacle?

6. What colours were used in the Tabernacle?

7. What were the coverings of the Tabernacle made of?

8. Where was God's position in the camp of Israel?

9. How did the nation know when to remove their camp?

10. In what order did the tribes move off from their camp?

Detailed Answers

1. What was the reason for a Tabernacle being built for God?

2. What materials were used for the Tabernacle and who provided them?

Additional Answers

1. Briefly describe the plan of the Tabernacle using a
   drawing and notes.

2. A) What sort of people worked in the building of the Tabernacle?

2. How did God prepare them for the work?

3. How can we be prepared to be workmen in God's
   service?

MARCHING ORDER OF THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL

JUDAH

ISSACHAR

ZEBULUN

LEVITES

(Gershon & Merari with Tabernacle)

REUBEN

SIMEON

GAD

LEVITES

(Kohath with furniture, vessels and the Ark)

EPHRAIM

MANASSEH

BENJAMIN

DAN

ASHER

N

APHTALI