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Running Head THE TABERNACLE AND ITS IMPORTANCE
A look at the Tabernacle of Moses symbolism's and controversies present
Abstract
The Tabernacle has been a pivotal marker for Religious belief and has influenced how religious beliefs are expressed today. The symbolism present within the physical structure of the tabernacle of Moses gives the reader many insights. As well, the controversies that have arisen as to the authenticity of the tabernacle leads the reader to question what really is true
A look at the Tabernacle of Moses symbolism's and controversies present
It has been a human venture to live ones lives by the words of God; in order to do this a place of worship was required. The Tabernacle is considered to be the first physical boundary in which God was present. The tabernacle and its significance remained an important theme for a large portion of the bible until the establishment of a permanent Temple in Jerusalem. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the physical structure of the Tabernacle of Moses. The significance and reasons for the materials, which were used, will be considered through out the paper. Secondly this paper will comment on some criticisms about the tabernacle and its depictions throughout the bible.
God had told Moses to warn Pharaoh that if he did not " let my people go" (Exodus 81) God would send plagues upon Egypt. The final plague would be to slay all the first-born sons of the Egyptians. Just prior to the final plague striking, God told Moses to tell the Children of Israel to ask for and obtain gold, silver and clothing from the Egyptians (Exodus 11 1-). After the angel of death had slain all their first born sons, the Egyptians were willing to do anything to get rid of the children of Israel and they gave them whatever they requested (Exodus 16). Thus it seemed they had received some recompense for their slave labor in Egypt. During the proceeding months in the desert wilderness high atop Mt. Sinai "God gave Moses two gifts. First was the Ten Commandments including judgments and ordinances the law. He also gave Moses the pattern for the tabernacle (see appendix A). Both of these are so-called gifts for they are given of God that we may live. Both the law and the tabernacle were given to us in linear form, and become spatial. The law lives through the tabernacle." (http//www.domini.org/tabern/chldisrl.htm) as god was revealing the design of the tabernacle to Moses, he also revealed that the source of the materials with which to build it would be this newly acquired wealth among his people (Exodus 5 1-7). The pattern of the tabernacle design had been fully revealed to Moses and its construction completed around 1450B.C. He had known the names of the skilful workmen, but it remained necessary for the children of Israel to receive the same vision. Moses spoke to them in Exodus 54- laying before them all the requirements for materials and encouraging them to have a willing and wise heart (Exodus 55,10). The response among the children of Israel was that " every one whose heart stirred hum up and every one whose spirit made him willing" brought the required materials to the Lord as a free-will offering (Exodus5 1)
"God speaks to us in symbols because His language is incomprehensible to us. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. A human language is a code consisting of words and numbers, which God uses to relate His thoughts. To do this, He must compress His incomprehensible thought way down into a very particular tiny little symbol that we can understand. We must, therefore search out His Word beyond its outward meaning for those inner and higher thoughts if we are to seek His face"()
The Courtyard of the Gentiles, or the Outer Court was a fenced in area outside the Tabernacle. It separated the tribes of Israel from the sanctified Holy ground of the Lord. Three curtain panels thirty feet across accessed it. The entrance faced the east and was called the gate. This enclosure was set in the midst of the twelve tribes of Israel, but it kept human eyes off the sacred work within. It was the first separation of God and man and represented the law. Note that as large as it was, there was only One Way in.
Everything that is given by God has a purpose and tells us something important about him and his will for man. The Courtyard was as close as most people could get to Gods presence in the Holy of Holies. But God was saying in all this, that there was a way. However, everyone was allowed to take the first step. This courtyard was the first step toward putting ones self-closer to God both physically and mentally. "Anyone who has faith to come through the Son, enters into holy ground. It was a solemn and reverent place. And the first thing you saw, was the alter of sacrifice." (Britannica student Encyclopedia)
God originally gave the measurements of the structure of the tabernacle to Moses in cubits. There has never been a standard cubit known to man. A cubit is generally thought to be the distance from the elbow to the fingertip. Most scholars assign from 18 inches to 5 inches in length to the cubit. This allows a great deal of flexibility when one considers that the long side of the court of the tabernacle enclosure/fence measured 100 linear cubits. That converts to between 150 to 08 feet. If the exact linear measurements were important for us to know, God would have given them to us for this present time. He is weaning us away from the linear into the spatial. What can best be said is that the tabernacle of Moses was a large structure. () The tabernacle of Moses is two rectangular shapes, one smaller and inside the other in parallel configuration. The outer rectangle is the court of the congregation enclosure/fence made of fine (white) linen, 5 cubits in height and measuring 50 cubits wide by 100 cubits long. The length runs from east to west and the width from south to north. The only opening in this enclosure/fence is a 0 cubit wide linen gate of colors on the east side. The gate consists of five linen strips of fine linen (white), blue, scarlet, and purple. Inside this outer linen enclosure/fence is another much smaller rectangular shape running parallel to the larger. This is the actual tabernacle or tent of Moses, as differentiated from the outer structure, which is the court of the congregation, also called the court of the tabernacle.
The tabernacle structure is a covered tent measuring 10 cubits wide by 0 cubits long. The length runs from east to west and the width from south to north. The only opening in the tabernacle is a 10 cubit wide linen door of many colors to the east. The door consists of five linen strips of fine linen (white), blue, scarlet, and purple.
Upon entering into the most holy place or the holiest of holies, the two sides to the right and left are constructed of shittim wood boards standing one against another. They are covered with gold. The ceiling is one layer of linen strips of fine linen (white), blue, scarlet, and purple. Atop the linen of many colors, hidden from sight, are three additional layers of animal coverings. They are in ascending order goats hair, ram skins dyed red, and badgers skins. To the right is the golden table with twelve loaves of unleavened bread upon it in two stacks of six. To the left over against the golden table is the candlestick of pure beaten gold with its seven bowls of oil aflame. A head and before the ark of covenant is the golden altar of burning incense. Covering the ark of covenant is the mercy seat. It is of two cherubims of pure gold facing one to another. The floor is nothing but the earth in which it lays on.
One of the most analyzed elements of the tabernacle is its use of wood and type of wood chosen. Many symbolisms can be related to man in regards to the wood used within the building of the tabernacle. Shittim wood is from a tree of the Acacia species. Shittim trees thrive in dry areas and were then found abundantly in Egypt and the Sinai peninsula, the wilderness country east of the Jordan river. Shittim translates into thorny; scourging thorns in Hebrew. It is a very hard, densely-grained tree, large, and with thorny rough gnarled bark. It was used for several other religious goods besides the Tabernacle of Moses. The ark of covenant, table of shewbread, 48 boards, staves, bars, nine pillars, brasen altar, and altar of incense were all partially constructed of shittim wood. Throughout the Bible men are likened unto trees. Jesus frequently referred to men and the fruit thereof as trees. Isaiah 551 relates that all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. As Jesus was being led to the cross he said to the people thronging about him For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? (Luke 1). This was a warning. Jesus was that green tree and those about him the dry. The green tree has leaves, bears fruit, and has the sap of life within. The dry tree has no leaves, bears no fruit, has no sap within, and is dead. The green tree bends with the wind, and cannot be burned for the water within. The dry tree cracks in the wind, and is burned.
The Word of God describes men as being stiff-necked, and with hearts hardened. Trees are stiff, unyielding, and have a hard heart. The heart of the densely grained shittim tree is especially hard. Trees have limbs, a trunk, and skin that we call bark. These particular shittim trees thrive in dry places. That is, places where there is no water of the Word, the Holy Spirit. Unclean spirits inhabit dry places. Dry places are the environment of choice for demonic spirits. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he [the unclean spirit] walketh through dry places, seeking rest. (Luke 114).
"We are every one of us, thorny shittim trees in a parched and dry land. What was the occupation of Jesus? He was a carpenter, a worker in wood. Was that a co-incidence, accidental, a chance occurrence? Well? Either it was or it wasnt. What do you think? There are no arbitrary happenstances with God (Rom 88)."
Gold was another material used with in the tabernacle that has a significant meaning. Gold is the symbol of God. The word means to shimmer in Hebrew. That brings Shekinah to my mind. Gold is a soft, bright yellow metal. It can be found and used in its pure state, without smelting. Gold never tarnishes. It is extremely malleable which means that it can easily be formed into thin strips, delicate objects, and coverings. Gold is too soft to be used for tools or weapons. The 48 boards of the tabernacle are covered with gold. They were completely overlaid with gold which is the covering of the glory of God. The ark of covenant was constructed of shittim wood and then completely overlaid inside and out with gold. The table of shewbread, altar of incense, and nine pillars of the tabernacle were of shittim wood completely overlaid with gold. In each of these we see man covered by the glory of God. The mercy seat in the Most Holy Place and the candlestick in the Holy Place were wholly of pure gold, as were the vessels and instruments of the tabernacle. In the mercy seat we see God. In the candlestick we see the Holy Spirit. These are pure. Other metals such as silver and brazen are also symbolic in purpose within the tabernacle of Moses. Silver means pale in Hebrew. It was valued next to gold in ancient times. It is silver-white in color and capable of a high polish. Silver never tarnishes, unless sulphur is present. It is found in its native state, but usually is smelted from lead ore. "Silver is the metal of redemption. It is the price our Lord paid for our sin. It is the atoning blood of Jesus. In Numbers chapter, the firstborn of Israel numbering ,7 were redeemed from God in exchange for ,000 Levites. The additional 7 firstborn of Israel over the equal trade of ,000 Levites were redeemed with silver shekels of the sanctuary."() The sockets upon which the boards of the tabernacle stood were silver. "The boards were separated from this world and redeemed by the silver sockets, by the blood of Jesus." (). Brasen is a biblical word used interchangeably with copper, brass or bronze. Copper is harder than gold or silver. When alloyed with zinc it becomes brass. When alloyed with tin it becomes bronze. Brasen was used to fashion, among other things, tools and weapons. Brasen is a symbol for judgment. The altar of sacrificial fire was shittim wood overlaid with brasen, called the brasen altar. The washbowl where the priests washed both hands and feet before ministering was an entirely brasen bowl containing water, called the brasen laver. Brasen is only found in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Daniel E. Fleming suggests that the tabernacles description has " little to do with any actual tent shrine from any period, and the biblical portrayal has been expanded to anticipate the later temples". (Fleming, 1) furthermore it's suggested that Israel's religious custom may have included tent worships well before the establishment of the tabernacle of Moses. Fleming's basis for his discussion are based on a short passage from the Mari text (M.687) in which it can be interpreted a large tent was used and many men needed to transport it. (Fleming, 1)
Another scholarly opinion is that the Tabernacle in Exodus is anachronistic and that its date of authorship is actually after the Babylonian Exile 586-58 B.C. that is after the destruction of Jerusalem. (Encyclopedia Britannica)
Another argument, highlights the differences between the Pentateuch's P and the E collection of documents in regards to the description of the tabernacle. On one hand P's text suggests the tabernacle " serves as the single legitimate place of worship. Not only does God approach Israel there, but Israel approaches God as well" Therefore " the priestly tabernacle is a sacred center, the capstone of the universe and there God is constantly and reliably manifest" On the other hand the idelology of the presence of the divine in the E collection is based on another set of views. The tabernacle is located " outside the Israelites camp and indeed at some distance from it, as Exodus. 7 makes clear. God did not dwell there but popped in on appropriate occasions to reveal himself to Moses and other Israelites." (Sommer 001)
The meeting between God and Moses atop Mount Sinai was the starting mount for how we today practice our religious beliefs in houses of God. The importance of the tabernacle can be seen in all the symbolism present within its physical properties. Furthermore controversies are evident in regards to the authenticity of the writings of the tabernacle. The one thing that is evident is that there was a place of worship in which god could be found.
Appendix A
Diagram of the Tabernacle
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