The Bible Book

86

THE PLACE WILL

BE CONSECRATED

BY MY GLORY

EXODUS 29:43,

THE ARK AND THE TABERNACLE

G

od takes 40 verses of

Exodus to explain to

Moses the Tabernacle’s

purpose and how it must be

built. A portable sanctuary, where

the Israelites could commune with

God, it accompanies them during

their 40 years in the wilderness.

It is the focus of their worship

until Solomon’s Temple is built in

around 960 bce.

Portable temple

At each place they camp, the

Israelites erect a linen tent with

acacia wood poles to create a

courtyard around the Tabernacle.

This courtyard contains the altar

of sacrifice, on which offerings are

made, and the laver, a bronze basin

filled with water in which the

priests purify themselves.

The Tabernacle itself is a tent

with acacia wood poles set in silver

bases and a roof with four layers.

The outermost layer is made of

porpoise skins, the next rams’

skins dyed red, the third goats’

hair, and the innermost layer is

made of linen embroidered with

depictions of cherubim—hybrid

creatures with human faces.

IN BRIEF

PA S SAGE

Exodus 25–27

THEME

Creating a sacred dwelling

place for God

SETTING

14th–13th century bce

The wilderness in which the

Israelites wander for 40 years.

KEY FIGURES

Moses Prophet and leader of

the Israelites who was chosen

by God to receive the Ten

Commandments on top of

Mount Sinai.

Aaron The older brother of

Moses and the Israelites’ first

high priest.

The Tabernacle is a portable temple

where God meets with His people. It is

placed at the western end of an oblong

courtyard with a single gateway

on its eastern side.

Laver

Altar of

incense

Entrance

gate

Veil

Courtyard

Holy

place

Holy of

Holies

Ark of the Covenant

Tabernacle

Menorah

Altar of

sacrifice

Table of

showbread

N

Door

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