The Red Thread: Part 5
Estimated reading time: 19 minutes
The Tabernacle: Part 1
The Way, the Truth, and the Life: Design of the tabernacle and its application to Christ.
Today, we’ll look at the pieces and patterns of the Tabernacle. In the next session, we’ll explore the Offerings, and in the session after that, we’ll examine the Feasts.
Here are two short YouTube videos that will help you visualize the design and layout of the Tabernacle (there’s a third video at the bottom of this page).
Animation of the Construction of the Tabernacle:
A 3D Visualization of the Tabernacle:
The Shekinah glory was the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night that led the children of Israel.
Exodus 25:1–2 KJV:
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.
The Tabernacle began with an offering.
Exodus 25:3–8 KJV:
3 And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass, 4 And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, 5 And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood, 6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, 7 Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. 8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
The part that’s covered over is the sanctuary, which just means a holy place. The purpose of the holy place was so that God could dwell among them. God wanted to dwell among His people.
Exodus 25:9 KJV:
9 According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.
The pattern is a shadow of the real thing; it’s not the real thing.
Hebrews 8:1–2 KJV:
1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
The Tabernacle was a picture of the heavenly dwelling place of God. Now, Jesus is the high priest and is set at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 8:3– KJV:
3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. 4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: 5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
The Tabernacle was a shadow of the heavenly sanctuary. Today, we are the Temple or Tabernacle.
Ephesians 2:22 NRSV1:
in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.
The shadows are like a visual aid for the plan of redemption.
You enter either the Tabernacle or the Temple from the East. The doorway or entrance to the outer court was about 30 feet wide and built with four pillars.
The Tabernacle has three sets of curtains. The first curtain is around the outer court area. The curtain at the entrance to the sanctuary was built with five pillars. The third curtain, inside the sanctuary, had four pillars.
Each of the curtains had scarlet, blue, and purple colors embroidered into white linen. The first two were just embroidered onto the curtains. The third curtain, between the holy place and the holy of holies, was both embroidered and included pictures of cherubim. The curtains were exquisitely beautiful.
The way, the truth, and the life
John 14:6a KJV:
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life
The three sets of curtains in the Tabernacle were called “the way, the truth, and the life!”
The way. A way just means a road. You can’t get to the Tabernacle except through that (outer) door. Today, we cannot get into God’s presence without Jesus Christ. Without the way or road (Jesus Christ), you can’t get through the outer gate, which has five pillars (the number for grace).
The truth. You can’t get to the doorway to the holy place except by grace and through the curtain called truth. The Hebrew word for truth includes the idea of faithfulness or believing.
The life. You can’t get to the presence of God, the holy of holies, without going through the third curtain, called “the life.”
The way into the presence of God (symbolically and actually) is through the way, the truth, and the life.
The children of Israel were camped all around the Tabernacle. Moses would speak to them at the entrance to the outer court. That first curtain was like a fence around the Tabernacle. Some would be able to enter the outer court to watch the sacrifices.
Only the priests could enter the holy place. And only the high priest, under very restrictive conditions, could go into the holy of holies once a year.
Because of Jesus Christ, we can freely walk straight into the holy of holies, the very presence of God, anytime. For us it is completely different from what it was for Israel.
For Israel, the Tabernacle was very grand. But it was only a shadow pointing to what we enjoy today.
When you enter the outer court, the first thing you encounter is the altar where the sacrifices were performed. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission (Hebrews 9:22).
1 John 1:7 KJV:
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
We have to accept the sacrifice that was made for us—Jesus Christ.
The Brazen Laver
After the altar, you come to the brazen laver, where the priests would wash their hands and feet.
YouTube Video of the Brazen Laver:
Exodus 38:8 KJV:
And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the lookingglasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
The lookingglasses were not eyeglasses like we think of today. They were mirrors made from pounded and polished brass. You could see your reflection in it (though not as clearly as with a modern mirror).
2 Corinthians 3:18:
KJV: But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
NET: And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
You get the idea of the renewed mind here. Once our sins are cleansed, we no longer need to be cleaned from head to toe. When you see the reflection you see that you have been cleansed.
Romans 12:2 KJV:
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
1 Peter 3:21 KJV:
The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Ephesians 5:26 KJV:
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Titus 3:5 KJV:
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
The making of the brazen laver with mirrors may be a shadow of (certainly reminds us of) the renewed mind.
The Holy Place
The curtain into the holy place hung from five pillars. There are three things behind the curtain. On the north side was the table of the shewbread. On the south side was the candlestick. In front of the third curtain was the altar of incense.
The table of the shewbread. Called the bread of the presence or the bread of the faithful God. Twelve loaves were made fresh weekly out of fine flour. There was to always be bread there as a symbol of God’s provision.
YouTube Video of the Table of Showbread:
The plan of redemption requires God’s provision. Jesus Christ is the bread of life.
John 6:35 KJV:
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
John 6:48 KJV:
I am that bread of life.
The candlestick or Menorah. It had seven branches and bowls that held oil. Oil represents anointing. It was the only light in the sanctuary. Jesus Christ is the light of the world. There was no additional light in the holy of holies.
YouTube Video of the Menorah:
John 8:12 KJV:
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 9:5 KJV:
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
Altar of Incense. Incense represents prayers.
A visualization of the Altar of Incense:
Revelation 8:3 KJV:
And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne
The Tabernacle was a pattern or shadow of the heavenly reality. In Revelation, John received a vision of that heavenly reality.
Acacia or Shittim wood is a hard would that could be found in the desert. The things made in the Tabernacle lasted for over 400 years! The wood was overlaid with gold and was very heavy.
The Holy of Holies
Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would enter into the Holy of Holies.
Remember, in Hebrew, they didn’t have superlatives—like good, better, and best—the same way we do in English. If you wanted to say the best pizza, you would say pizza of pizza. Examples of superlatives in Hebrew include King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and Holy of Holies. The Holy of Holies was the most holy place on all the earth.
The only thing in the holy of holies was what we call the ark of the covenant, or what God calls the ark of the testimony.
YouTube Video of the Ark of the Covenant:
Exodus 25:21–22 KJV:
21 And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. 22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
The ark was a permanent testimony, a witness. It contained the stone tablets with the law on them, a pot of manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded. Ezekiel talks about the cherubim having eight wings.
Ezekiel 10:20–21 KJV:
20 This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubims. 21 Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.
The cherubim had four faces. The face of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle
Ezekiel 1:10 KJV:
As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.
The four gospels highlight different aspects of Jesus Christ. Matthew is about the King (that’s the lion). Mark is about the Servant (that’s the ox). Luke is about the man. John is about the Son of God (that’s the eagle).
| Tribe | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Judah | Lion |
| Ephraim | Ox |
| Reuben | Man |
| Dan | Eagle |
Those four symbols are in the stars. They were symbols (on the banners) of the tribes of Israel.
Those four tribe’s banners would be right there by the Tabernacle.
The Mercy Seat. God said He would be there at the mercy seat, beneath where the cherubim’s wings touched. That’s where the high priest would sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice on the Day of Atonement.
The word “propitiation” in Romans 3:25 is translated from the same word as mercy seat.
Romans 3:25 KJV:
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Romans 3:25 NET2:
God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith. This was to demonstrate his righteousness, because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed.
Jesus Christ is the place of the payment for sin.
The Four Coverings
YouTube Video of the Coverings of the Tabernacle:
Fourth covering. The top covering of the Tabernacle, translated as “badger skins,” was probably sea cows or something like that—a very thick but bland hide. Besides protecting the contents, it wouldn’t have looked like much to strangers, and certainly no hint of the treasures inside.
Third covering. The next covering layer, beneath the outer covering, would be ram skins dyed red. The entire covering of the sanctuary is symbolic of blood.
Remember when Abraham was going to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah, where the Temple would eventually be built, and he found a ram caught in a thicket? The second layer of the Tabernacle covering was the ram’s skins. The rams were an important part of the offerings.
Second covering. The next covering was of goat’s skin and goat hair. Goats were a very common offering that most people could afford.
First covering. Fine linen embroidered with cherubim and scarlet, blue, and purple. This is what you would see on the ceiling if you walked into the holy place and looked up. You also see those colors and the cherubim on the entrance curtain.
Scarlet represents blood. Blue represents grace. Purple signifies kings or reigning. White symbolizes righteousness.
From the outside, it didn’t look like much, but there was so much more inside, hidden from view. Only the priests saw the inside, and we are made priests (Revelation 5:10).
The golden boards (acacia wood covered in gold) were set in sockets. The bases were of silver.
Remember that the materials for the Tabernacle came from the free will offerings of the people. But God also asked for a special offering.
Exodus 30:11–15 KJV:
11 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 12 When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. 13 This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD. 14 Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the LORD. 15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.
The word for atonement is like a ransom payment and carried the idea of covering.
The silver, derived from the atonement money of the numbered Israelites, was chiefly appropriated to the sockets of the Tabernacle. —Henry Soltau
Exodus 38:25–28 NET:
25 The silver of those who were numbered of the community was 100 talents and 1,775 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel, 26 one beka per person, that is, a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, for everyone who crossed over to those numbered, from twenty years old or older, 603,550 in all. 27 The 100 talents of silver were used for casting the bases of the sanctuary and the bases of the special curtain—100 bases for 100 talents, one talent per base. 28 From the remaining 1,775 shekels he made hooks for the posts, overlaid their tops, and made bands for them.
Numbers 1:44–46 NET:
44 These were the men whom Moses and Aaron numbered along with the twelve leaders of Israel, each of whom was from his own family. 45 All the Israelites who were twenty years old or older, who could serve in Israel’s army, were numbered according to their families. 46 And all those numbered totaled 603,550.
A half-shekel from 603,550 came to 301,775 shekels. It took 3,000 shekels (one talent) for each silver socket. So the top and bottom of each board represented 6,000 men. All the silver sockets cost 300,000 shekels.
Because of the coverings, the people couldn’t see the details of the Tabernacle—but they could see the sockets! They could see themselves there. They could see the ransom paid, the redemption.
The number 12 is remarkably connected with the boards and sockets. There were 48 boards (four 12s) on 96 sockets. Each board rested on the atonement money of the Israelites.
Ephesians 2:19–22 KJV:
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Those silver sockets were the foundations, but they were also in the corners. When the priests were in there, they could look in the corner, at the head of the corner would be a silver socket. With all the beautiful gold covering the boards (thicker than gold plating), the thing that stood out would be the silver sockets indicating the redemption payment. This foreshadowed Jesus Christ as the whole foundation as well as the corner.
When it was all completed and dedicated, then God’s shekinah glory settled over it.
Picture it. You enter through the east door. The holy of holies is always on the west. “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed [make or exhibit the distance between] our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). The distance between being on the outside, versus being within the holy of holies was a long way for the children of Israel—they never got there.
But we get to go through “the way” (the brazen alter and laver), “the truth” (manifestations), and walk straight through the veil (his flesh) to the mercy seat beneath the cherubim. And everywhere we look, every piece is all about Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 9:1–14 KJV:
1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. 2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. 3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; 4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; 5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. 6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. 7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: 9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; 10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. 11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
The Tabernacle is the pattern of redemption.
Related Video:
Here is yet another (third) visualization of the Tabernacle, a little different than the two at the top of this page.
A Virtual Reality Tour of the Biblical Tabernacle:
Another visualization of the Altar of Incense:
Footnotes:
- Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are from New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition, copyright © 2021 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. ↩︎
- Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from The NET Bible® Copyright © 1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. www.netbible.com. All rights reserved. ↩︎
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