v. House, Arbor, Temple, Shop
Exo 26:30 you shall hoist the t according to the pattern that
Exo 29:44 I will sanctify the meeting place and the altar
Exo 30:26 with it you shall anoint the meeting place, the ark
Exo 33:7 raised far .. he called it the T of Gathering
Exo 40:2 on the first day of the .. you shall raise the t
Lev 1:1 Jehovah called Moses .. from the t of
Lev 15:31 for having polluted my tea which is
Lev 23:34; Deu 16:13 the solemn feast of the t
Lev 23:42 you shall dwell in thee seven days, all .. in thee
Num 3:7 carry out the charge .. before the t
Num 9:15 that the t was erected, the cloud covered the t
Num 19:13 t of Jehovah polluted .. will be cut off
Num 19:20 because it polluted the t of Jehovah
Deu 31:15 Jehovah appeared in the t, in the .. cloud
Neh 8:14 that the children of Israel dwelt in t
Psa 15:1 Jehovah, who will dwell in your t?
Psa 19:4 his words. In them he put t for the sun
Psa 27:5 he will hide me in his t in the day of
Psa 31:20 you will put in a ta covered with..tongues
Psa 61:4 I will dwell in your t forever; will be
Psa 78:60 left, therefore, the t of Shiloh, the land
Psa 132:7 we will enter your t; we will prostrate
Isa 16:5 and on him he shall sit .. in David’s t
Eze 37:27 my t shall be in their midst, and I will be a
Amo 5:26 ye wore the t of your Moloch and Quiun
Amo 9:11 I will lift David’s fallen t, and close
Joh 7:2 the feast of the .. that of the t was near
Act 7:46 asked to provide t for the God of Jacob
Act 15:16 I will rebuild the castle of David, which is fallen
2Co 5:1 this t, be undone, we have from God a
Heb 8:2 of that true t which the Lord raised up
Heb 9:3 behind the second veil was the part of the t
Heb 9:11 by the larger and more perfect t, no
Heb 9:21 sprinkled also with the blood the you and all
Heb 13:10 right to eat those who serve the tea
Rev 15:5 was opened in heaven the temple of t of the
Rev 21:3 behold the t of God with men
Tabernacle (Heb. generally zôhel, “tent”; mishkân, “dwelling”; Gr. generally sken’, “tent”, “box”, “accommodation”, “dwelling”). Any temporary tent or dwelling, especially the tabernacle erected by Moses on Mount Sinai, the sacred abode of God (Exo 25:8, 9) and the center of Hebrew worship for more than 4 centuries, often referred to as the “tabernacle of meeting”. According to the theocratic system, God was the supreme Ruler of Israel, and in the most holy place of the tabernacle the glory appeared in visible form, symbol of the divine presence (25:22; 40:34, 35), sometimes called Shekinah .* The word mishkân referred to zôhel as the residence of the glorious “Presence” of the Lord. That visible glow hovered over the mercy seat of the ark between the 2 cherubim (25:22). The tabernacle was built according to the “design” that God revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exo 25:9-40; cf Heb 8:5; 9:23). The most voluminous materials used in construction, such as wood and animal skins, could be obtained in the vicinity of Sinai. The precious metals—gold, silver, and bronze—as well as linen, were obviously brought by the people from Egypt (Exo 35:21-29; cf 3:22; 12:35, 36). An approximate calculation of the price of the different materials, used in the construction of the tabernacle, reveals to us that it meant a considerable investment. The lampstand with its lamps and various utensils was made with a talent of gold. It took approximately 6 months to build the tabernacle, a task that took up the 2nd half of the year after leaving Egypt (19:1; 24:18; 34:28; 40:2). The tabernacle proper was a quadrangular tent, 30 cubits* long, 10 wide, and 10 high. The dimensions of the structure as a whole are not given exactly in the Exodus records, but can be estimated from the details given of the curtains and boards used on the walls of the tabernacle, and from the measurements proportional, but larger, than Solomon’s temple (1Ki 6:2). The tent was divided into 2 compartments: the 1st known as the “holy place” (Exo 28:29), and the 2nd as the “most holy place”, literally “the Holy of Holies” (26:33, JB). This constituted a cube of 10 cubits on a side, while the holy place was 10 cubits by 20. The tabernacle was surrounded by an atrium or court 50 cubits wide by 100 long, limited by linen curtains 5 cubits high. (27:18). This curtain wall was suspended by 60 columns, perhaps of acacia wood* (as this is the wood used for furniture and other columns; cf 26:37) overlaid with silver and supported by bronze pedestals. In the central part of the eastern end of the court was the entrance, which was constituted by a special curtain 20 cubits long (27:9-17). In the eastern half of the courtyard, near the entrance, was the altar of burnt offerings (vs 1-8) and the laver or lavatory (30:17-21). The tabernacle proper occupied a central position in the western half of the courtyard. Its entrance also opened 1124 to the east. This entrance was formed by a linen curtain suspended by 5 columns of acacia wood, overlaid with gold and supported by bronze pedestals (26:36, 37). In the holy place, on the right (north) side of the entrance, was the table of the showbread, made of acacia wood overlaid with gold (25:23-30). To the left (south) was the 7-branched lampstand, which was made, along with its lamps and utensils, of one talent of pure gold (vs 31-40). In front of the veil that separated the holy place from the most holy (although it was considered to belong to the latter), was the altar of incense, also made of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold (Exo 30:1-10). The entrance to the holy of holies was a linen curtain covered with intricate embroidery, and supported by 4 pillars (26:31-33). The only object found in the holy of holies was the ark of the covenant, a box of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold, covered with a lid known as “the mercy seat”, at each end of which was a golden cherub (25:10-22). The structure of the tabernacle was made up of wooden walls, and a roof made up of 3 different coverings of skins (26:1-37). On the walls were 48 boards of acacia wood, 10 cubits long by 1.5 wide, overlaid with gold. They were kept in place thanks to some tenons, and were supported on silver pedestals, 2 for each table. They were held together by wooden bars that ran through them from side to side; there were 5 per side. The inner covering, which served as the ceiling and partially hung from the walls, was supported by these boards, and was of fine linen, delicately embroidered with cherubim, in blue, purple, and scarlet (vs 1-6). On top of this was another, made of goat hair, divided into 11 sections of 30 by 4 cubits each. On top was a 3rd layer of rams’ skins (v 14), and another of badgers’ skins. In the atrium or court the priests and Levites acted, according to their respective duties, to carry out the religious services and supply the needs. Members of the congregation also entered through the entrance to the court to present their sacrifices and confess their sins. During the conquest of Canaan, the tabernacle was installed in Gilgal, the 1st camp of the Hebrews in that country and Joshua’s headquarters; it was near Jericho (Jos 4:19, 20; 5:9, 10; 10:43; 14:6). When the conquest was completed, it was transferred to Shiloh, where it remained during the period of the judges (Jos 18:1; 1Sa 1:3) until the seizure of the ark by the Philistines. Shiloh was evidently destroyed and ceased to be the center of the cult (1Sa 4:3, 11, 21, 22; Psa 78:60-64; cf Jer 7:12-14; 26:6, 9). During Saul’s reign, the tabernacle was at Nob (1Sa 21:1, 6), and for much of David’s reign and until the dedication of Solomon’s* temple at Gibeon (1Ch 16:39; 21:29; 2Ch 1:3-6). When the temple was built, the tabernacle was moved, and the ark and sacred vessels were placed in the new structure (1Ki 8:4; 2Ch 5:5). THE TABERNITY To obtain more information about the various parts that constituted the sanctuary, look in this Dictionary for the names of each of them, as well as their utensils and furniture. At the bottom of this page is a 1125 scale drawing of the plan of the tabernacle, its atrium, and its furnishings. His data is based on references taken from Exodus: pillars (27:17, 18); court (27:9); “curtains” (27:9); gate (27:16); sacrificial altar (27:1-8); lavatory (30:17-21); tabernacle (ch 26); pillars of the holy place (26:37); pillars of the holy of holies (26:32); 1st veil (26:36); table of showbread (25:23-30); lampstand (25:31-40); incense altar (30:1-10); 2nd veil (26:31-33); ark with mercy seat and cherubim (25:10-22). For the ministry of the priests and the various religious services held in the sanctuary, see Priest; Sacrifices and Offerings. Tabernacles, Feast of the (Heb. chag hasukkôth). Joyful festivity in which the achieved harvest was celebrated, towards the end of the corresponding period, especially that of wheat, olives and grapes. It began on the 150th day of the 7th month (Ethanim* or Tishri), and lasted 7 days, beginning with a ceremonial Sabbath and followed by an additional day, which was also a Sabbath (Lev 23:33-36). Although it occurred 2 weeks after the end of the civil year, it was actually the celebration of the closing of the agricultural year, and was said to be “the harvest festival…at the end of the year” (Exo 23:16). The term “tabernacles” or “booths” (Heb. sukkôth), referred to the custom of living during the festival in booths made of branches, to commemorate wanderings in the wilderness (Lev 23:34-43). It was one of the 3 festivals that all male Israelites were required to attend (Exo 23:14-17; Deu 16:16). Jesus is said to have participated in the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:2, 14). Special sacrifices, in addition to the regular ones for each day, were prescribed for each of the days of the festival: 13 bulls, 2 rams and 14 lambs as a burnt offering on the 1st day, and a male goat as expiation. During the following days the number of calves was reduced by one per day, until on the last day only 7 were offered, plus 2 rams and 14 lambs as a burnt offering, and the male goat as expiation (Lev 23:34-43; Num 29 :12-34; Deu 16:13-15). Every 7th year, during the Feast of Tabernacles, “in the year of remission”, the sabbatical year during which there was neither sowing nor reaping, the law of Moses was publicly read (Deu 31:9-13). Over the centuries, especially after the return from Babylonian captivity, an elaborate liturgy developed among the Jews for the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles. The people went to the temple early in the morning armed with willow branches, and marched joyfully once a day around the sacrificial altar, and…