Tabernacle Symbolism

The note on Exodus 25:1-31:17 in the ESV Study Bible points out two important keys to understanding the symbolism of the tabernacle:

First, the tabernacle is seen as a tented palace for Israel’s divine king. He is enthroned on the ark of the covenant in the innermost Holy of Holies (the Most Holy Place). His royalty is symbolized by the purple of the curtains and his divinity by the blue. The closer items are to the Holy of Holies, the more valuable are the metals (bronze→silver→gold) of which they are made. The other symbolic dimension is Eden. The tabernacle, like the garden of Eden, is where God dwells, and various details of the tabernacle suggest it is a mini-Eden. These parallels include the east-facing entrance guarded by cherubim, the gold, the tree of life (lampstand), and the tree of knowledge (the law). Thus God’s dwelling in the tabernacle was a step toward the restoration of paradise, which is to be completed in the new heaven and earth (Revelation 21-22).

Douglas Stuart, in his commentary on Exodus (NAC, 2006), p. 572, brings out another nuance:

The tabernacle represented Yahweh’s house among the Israelites—he would soon encamp in his large house in their midst, and they would encamp around his house according to their tribes in concentric circles (Num 2). He himself was symbolically represented as dwelling in the “back room” of his house by means of the ark. In the tabernacle’s “front room” were several pieces of furniture, the sorts of things that represented the furniture of a home, though on a grander scale. The first of these pieces of household-style furniture to be described is the table. It was primarily for food—a dining table of sorts, symbolizing the fact that Yahweh really did live among his people and inhabit his house in much the same way that they inhabited theirs.

And as the storyline of redemptive history progresses, we see that Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of these shadows:

Jesus is the true tabernacle.

John 1:14 tells us that “the Word became flesh and dwelt [Gk. σκηνόω] among us,” and the Greek translation of “tent of meeting” is σκηνὴ μαρτυρίου (Ex. 33:7). In other words, when Jesus became the God-man he “tabernacled” among us. (And of course Jesus spoke about “the temple of his body” [John 2:19, 21], and Paul taught that because we are united to the risen Messiah “we are the temple of the living God” [2 Cor. 6:16].)

Jesus’ body is the curtain ripped in two that brings us to the holy presence of God.

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh. . . .” (Heb. 10:19-20). (See also Matthew 27:51: “the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.”)

Jesus is the great high priest over the house of God.

“. . . and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Heb. 10:21-22)

Jesus is the full and final sacrifice.

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

“. . . We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. . . . Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins . . . By a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” (Heb. 10:10, 12, 14)

Acts 7:44 ““Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen.”

What is the "tabernacle of witness in the wilderness" (Acts 7:44)? The tabernacle was an elaborate, portable tent that served as the Jews' temple of the LORD while they wandered in the wilderness for forty years until they could settle in the promised land. The tabernacle was custom designed by God Himself, who gave precise instructions on its construction to Moses.

How large was the tabernacle? The most sacred place of the tabernacle, called "Most Holy Place," was a 15 feet x 15 feet (4.6 meters x 4.6 meters) square. It housed the Ark of the Covenant that contained the stone tablets on which God had written the Ten Commandments. Extending eastward from the Most Holy Place and separated by a veil from it was the tabernacle's "Holy Place," which had the same width (15 feet or 4.6 meters) as the Most Holy Place but was twice as long (30 feet or 9.1 meters). The Holy Place housed the Altar of Incense, the Lampstand, and the Table of Showbread. Together, the tabernacle's Most Holy Place and the Holy Place measured 15 feet (4.6 meters) wide and 45 feet (13.7 meters) long. Surrounding the tabernacle was its outer courtyard, which measured 75 feet (22.9 meters) wide and 150 feet (45.7 meters) long and was enclosed by a fence. Located inside the Outer Courtyard and facing the tabernacle's entrance from the east was the Alter of Burnt Offering where sacrifices of animals were offered to the LORD. See Exodus 25:1-27:21 for precise details.

ACTS 7:45-46 45 which our fathers, having received it in turn, also brought with Joshua into the land possessed by the gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers until the days of David, 46 who found favor before God and asked to find a dwelling for the God of Jacob.

What did the Jews bring into the promised land? The tabernacle.

What did King David want to do? Build a permanent temple for God in Jerusalem.

ACTS 7:47-50 47 But Solomon built Him a house. 48 “However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: 49 ‘Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the Lord, Or what is the place of My rest? 50 Has My hand not made all these things?’

Who ended up building God's temple in Jerusalem? "Solomon" (Acts 7:47), but Stephen is quick to point out that God, the divine Creator for whom the earth is merely a "footstool" (Acts 7:49), doesn't actually live in temples made with human hands.

Why does he say that? Stephen wasn't speaking to give a history lesson to those who already knew it. They had accused him of blaspheming against Moses, the law and the temple in Jerusalem. Stephen was pointing out that Moses and the temple weren't to be worshipped. Moses was a murderer who couldn't even speak properly (see Moses), and the temple wasn't holy. God doesn't live in it and it doesn't even house the bones of the ancestors whom they revere. Those bones are in the land of the Samaritans (see Shechem), whom the Jews despised as unclean half-breeds. As for the law, while God was giving it to Moses, their ancestors were busy worshipping idols (see Exodus 32 and Moloch). Stephen is clearing the idols of his audience off the table, and is about to bring down the hammer.

John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Dwelt means Tabernacled

Hebrews 10 Jesus Christ the Sacrifice “Once and for all”

STUDY 3: The Tabernacle Construction: The Holy & The Most Holy

The directions given to Moses for the construction of the Tabernacle are found in Exodus chapters 25 to 27, and the account of the performance of the work, in Exodus chapters 35 to 40.

Acacia Wood The Tabernacle was a house constructed of a series of boards of shittim (acacia) wood, “overlaid” or plated with gold, set on end into sockets of silver, and firmly fastened together by bars of the same wood, also covered with gold.

Measurements The Tabernacle proper was 10 cubits (15 feet; 4.5m) wide, 10 cubits high and 30 cubits (45 feet; 13.5m) long, with it’s opening (entrance) on the east side. NOTE: Bible Measurements are calculated in cubits.

The Boards The boards of the Tabernacle proper were put as near together as possible. They were mortised into the sockets, and moisture would swell the joint and tighten it. The fact that they were joined in the same way in the Most Holy as they were in the Holy, illustrates that the union and fellowship which we now enjoy are a counterpart and foretaste of what we will have when united with our Lord. There were 20 boards on the north side, and 20 on the south side; plus there were six boards in the back of the Tabernacle, as well as two corner boards—so a total 48 boards making up the Tabernacle proper. Each board was set in two sockets of silver, so we have 96 sockets of silver. Plus four sockets of silver for the pillars that held up the vail giving a total of 100 sockets of silver in relation to the Tabernacle Proper.

Calculating the Tabernacle Proper The outside length of the structure is calculated from the figures respecting the side boards in Exodus 26:16-18 which says each side contained 20 boards, each 1½ cubits wide, yielding 30 cubits overall for the Tabernacle’s outer side measurement. The inside width of the Tabernacle was 9 cubits, judging by verse 22 which says the back end of the Tabernacle contained 6 boards, presumably spanning the interior width between the two side walls. But as the Temple measures are given as 60 cubits long and 20 cubits wide in 1 Kings 6:2 (presumably exterior measurements), the inference from the proportions is that the Tabernacle would have been 10 cubits wide (exterior measurement), as the Tabernacle floor plan was half the size of the Temple of Solomon. Thus the boards were evidently ½ cubit thick.

Exodus 26:33 tells us the interior was divided by a vail (“curtain”—NIV) hung under the golden taches (“hooks”—NIV) connecting the two parts of the white linen tapestry forming the ceiling of the Tabernacle proper (Exodus 26:1).

Exodus 26:2-3 explains that each of the two parts of that tapestry was composed of five strips, with each strip measuring 4 cubits wide and 28 cubits long. Five strips would be 20 cubits wide. When the two five-strip sections were joined together with golden taches, the length would be 40 cubits. This covering began at the front of the Tabernacle structure, which means the taches fell 20 cubits from the entrance of the structure. Under these taches the vail was hung. Thus do we reason that the Holy was 20 cubits long. (Diagram: The Herald of Christ’s Kingdom, Nov./Dec. 2002, “The Holy,” Br. David Rice).

The Number Two (2) The Gospel Age is often represented by the NUMBER 2, or its greater magnitudes 20, 200, 2,000. A 20-cubit length for the Holy fits the symbolism. Perhaps two is used because the fruits of this age of the spirit are nourished by the two sources of instruction, the Old and New Testaments. The following examples of two in the Bible all relate in one way or another to the Gospel age, or to the nourishment and care of the saints during it :- two fishes (Matthew 14:17)two pence (Luke 10:35)20 years oppression by Jabin (Judges 4:3)20 years of Samson (Judges 15:20)20 years of the ark at Kirjath-Jearim (1 Samuel 7:2)200 pennyworth of bread (Mark 6:37)200 cubits to shore (John 21:8)2,000 cubits from the ark to the Israelites (Joshua 3:4)The Crossbars

In both Exodus 26:26-29 and Exodus 36:31-34, we read of the instructions God gave Moses regarding the making of crossbars that held the boards together for the three frames of the Tabernacle. Here is an illustration of this:

As illustrated above, on three sides of the Tabernacle’s frames there were two bars end to end spanning the length on the upper side, two on the lower side, and one bar went end to end in the middle. Thus five bars altogether on each of the three frames/sides, which equals a total of 15 crossbars

The Number Five The NUMBER 5 in the Bible represents the Church, (the new creation) because it depends on the two elements indispensable for its development, the spirit (two) and blood (three).

Here are several instances where five is symbolic of the new creation: the five wise virgins in Matthew 25, Christ feeding 5000; in the time of Joseph the proportion of grain stored was one part in five (Genesis 41:34); in Numbers 31:27-31 the Lord’s share of the goods collected by the Israelites was 1 part out of 50 or out of 500 depending on the circumstance. As with the 2, 20, 200, and 2,000 discussed earlier, this number also appears in various orders of magnitude: 5, 50, 500, and 5,000.

The Number Fifteen (15) The NUMBER 15 appears to symbolize deliverance, with the associated ideas of restoration, restitution, and healing. Here are some other Biblical examples of this:

Hosea 3:1-5—Fifteen pieces of silver were paid by Hosea for the deliverance of the woman who represents the nation of Israel.2 Kings 20:1-6—Hezekiah’s prayer was answered, his life was spared, and God granted him fifteen additional years of life.John 11:18—When Lazarus was raised from the dead, the distance between Bethany and Jerusalem was mentioned as “fifteen furlongs” symbolizing the journey of mankind from the misery of sin to the deliverance of Peace.Genesis 7:20—The waters of the Great Flood covered the tallest mountains by fifteen cubits reminding us that the flood of knowledge in the kingdom covering everything will effect the full deliverance, healing, and restoration of mankind by destroying every imperfection of sin. Genesis 7:24 says “the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days”—ten times fifteen. Ten often symbolizes earthly wholeness or completeness. Perhaps this one hundred fifty indicates the complete deliverance of Noah and his family.Genesis 31:41—Jacob served Laban fourteen years as debt for acquiring Laban’s two daughters as wives. Thus the fifteenth year was one of final deliverance from this debt to his father-in-law.Leviticus 23:6, 34—The Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Tabernacles both commenced on the fifteenth day of the month (Nisan 15 and Tishri 15).Ezekiel 40:22, 31—In Ezekiel’s Temple, there were fifteen steps to the Sanctuary of the House of the Lord—the place of deliverance, healing, and restoration.Numbers 33:3—Israel’s deliverance from Egypt occurred on Nisan 15.Micah 5:5—the deliverers of Israel when the “Assyrian” attacks are seven shepherds and eight principal men (princes)—a total of fifteen deliverers.Esther 9:18—the Jews celebrate their deliverance from the enemy on the fifteenth day of the twelfth month.Often symbols of the sacrifice of Jesus are implicitly associated with the number fifteen. Let us now go back to our original verses from Exodus 26 and 36 concerning the fifteen crossbars in total. This may beautifully represent how love binds the church together. “The love of Christ constraineth us.” (2 Corinthians 5:14). The crossbars, covered with gold, represent the divine love Jesus has for the church, the same love expressed by those in the church. That there were fifteen bars suggests deliverance. Perhaps the most dramatic deliverance effected by love is deliverance from fear. Love delivers from fear and substitutes trust. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear” (1 John 4:18). The Tabernacle proper represents the two conditions of all who undergo a change of nature from human to spiritual. There are 2 phases or stages of the new life to which we are begotten by the holy Spirit. The tabernacle was composed of 2 compartments (see Exodus 26:33):

The Holy (Leviticus 16:17, 20, 23) The Holy was 10 cubits wide x 20 cubits long. It was the first compartment of what is sometimes termed the “Tabernacle of the congregation” (Exodus 38:8, KJV) or “Tent of Meeting.” The Holy represents the present condition of all those begotten of GOD through the Word of Truth (James 1:18) who FULLY consecrate their human nature to death, that they might become partakers of the Divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). During the Gospel age, such are called to consecrate and sacrifice their human nature in God’s service, and to inherit instead the spiritual nature—as members of the Body of Christ. These enjoy the inner light of the golden candlestick, while others are in outer darkness; these eat of special spiritual food, represented in the unleavened bread of presence, and offer incense at the golden altar, acceptable through Christ Jesus. The spiritually-minded creature in the Holy BY FAITH looks forward through the rent vail into the Most Holy, catching glimpses of the glory, honor and immortality beyond the flesh; which HOPE is—as an anchor to the soul, sure and steadfast, entering into that which is beyond the vail. (Hebrews 6:19; 10:20) Only those of the Levites who were consecrated to the work of sacrificing (the Priests only) had access to the Tabernacle; so only those of the household of faith who are consecrated to WILLINGLY SACRIFICE, even unto death, enter the divine conditions represented in the Tabernacle. Only those whose consecrations have been accepted “in the Beloved” are represented as being in this Holy condition. If we would attain the prize of the high calling which is of God in Christ Jesus, and enter through the Holy into the Most Holy, we must follow in the footsteps of Jesus, our Leader and Head—the High Priest whom we confess (Hebrews 3:1 NIV). Here are the ways in attaining the prize and please our Heavenly Father:- (1) By faith in Christ’s ransom-sacrifice, represented in the Brazen Altar, we enter through the gate to the Courtyard—the veil of unbelief and sin is passed. This step is one which our Lord Jesus never took, because not being of Adamic stock, but holy, harmless, separate from sinners, he never was outside the Court condition. (2) Renouncing our justified human wills, and all our human aspirations and hopes, we pass the first vail, or veil of human-mindedness—counting the human will as dead; henceforth consulting not it, but the will of God only. We now find ourselves as “new creatures” in the Holy—in the first of the “Heavenlies” or Holies (Ephesians 2:6—see Diaglott), and begin to be enlightened by the golden candlestick (God’s Word) respecting spiritual things, “the deep things of God,” and to be refreshed and strengthened daily with the Truth, as represented in the shew-bread, lawful for only the Priests to eat (Matthew 12:4). Thus enlightened and strengthened, we should daily offer up sacrifices at the golden altar, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ—a sweet perfume to our Father (1 Peter 2:5).

The Most Holy The Most Holy was a perfect cube measuring 10 cubits on all sides—the only part of the tabernacle that was BALANCED, which represents the condition of divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). We attain to the Most Holy by faithfully overcoming in the Gospel Age. We enter there, beyond the second veil, through death. These, after having completed their consecration in death, are fully changed, born from the dead in the first resurrection (Revelation 20:6, Hebrews 10:20, 1 John 3:2). The volume of the ark of the covenant (the only furnishing within the Most Holy) was 5.625 cubic cubits (1½ x 1½ x 2½). The volume of the interior of the Most Holy was 810 cubic cubits (9 x 9 x 10). Dividing this volume of the Most Holy by the volume of the ark of the covenant produces a significant number: 144, a number relating to the church. Revelation 14:1 describes a group of 144,000 standing upon symbolic “Mount Sion” with the symbolic “Lamb.” This refers to the overcoming Bride of Christ. Since the ark represents the Church that will gain the prize of the high calling in the condition that the Most Holy represents (the presence of God, the divine nature), the appearance of 144 does not seem accidental. The number 144 is not 144,000, for the scale of the Tabernacle does not permit the building of a Most Holy containing 144,000 arks. However, the factor of 1,000 is contained in the picture, since the exterior dimensions of the Most Holy were 10 cubits by 10 cubits by 10 cubits or 1,000 cubic cubits.

The (second) vail (as discussed in Study 9 of “Beauties of the Tabernacle” on this website and titled “The Gate. The Door. The Vail.”) was “a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim worked into it” hung “with gold hooks on 4 posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on 4 silver bases.” .” (See Study 4 of “Beauties of the Tabernacle.”) It was hung “from the clasps.” (Exodus 26:31-33, NIV)

The (second) vail represents Christ (as do the gate and door). Passing through this second vail into the Most Holy, involves “the death of the HUMAN body” (Tabernacle Shadows, p.22). Both the fleshly mind and fleshly body must be left behind before we can enter into the “holiest of all.” We will then be in the spirit realm, for flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:50).