1. When the family of A'bra-ham grew into a people its unity was
maintained by regarding the altar--and but one altar for all the Twelve
Tribes--as the religious center of the nation.
2. To the thought of the altar as the meeting place with God was added
the conception of God dwelling among his people in a sanctuary and
receiving homage as the King of Is'ra-el (Exod. 25. 8).
3. Thus the altar grew into the Tabernacle, which was the sanctuary
where God was supposed to dwell in the midst of the camp. As was
necessary among a wandering people, it was constructed of such materials
as could be easily taken apart and carried on the march through the
wilderness.
In considering the Tabernacle and its furniture we notice the following
particulars:
I. =The Court=, an open square surrounded by curtains, 150 by 75 feet in
extent, and occupying the center of the camp of Is'ra-el (Exod. 27.
9-13). In this stood the Altar, the Laver, and the Tabernacle itself.
II. =The Altar of Burnt Offerings= stood within the court, near its
entrance. It was made of wood plated with "brass" (which is supposed to
mean copper), was 71/2 feet square and 41/2 feet high. On this all the
burnt sacrifices were offered (Exod. 27. 1; 40. 29), except the sin
offering.
III. =The Laver= contained water for the sacrificial purifyings. It
stood at the door of the tent, but its size and form are unknown (Exod.
30. 17-21).
IV. =The Tabernacle= itself was a tent 45 feet long, 15 feet wide. Its
walls were of boards, plated with gold, standing upright; its roof of
three curtains, one laid above another. Whether there was a ridge-pole
or not is uncertain. It was divided, by a veil across the interior, into
two apartments, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies (Exod. 36. 8-38).
V. =The Holy Place= was the larger of the two rooms into which the tent
was divided, being 30 feet long by 15 wide. Into this the priests
entered for the daily service. It contained the Candlestick, the Table,
and the Altar of Incense (Heb. 9. 2).
[Illustration: DIAGRAM SHOWING LOCATION OF THE OBJECTS WITHIN THE
TABERNACLE COURT.]
VI. =The Candlestick= (more correctly, "lampstand") stood on the left
side of one entering the Holy Place; made of gold, and bearing seven
branches, each branch holding a lamp (Exod. 25. 31-37).
VII. =The Table= stood on the right of one entering the Holy Place; made
of wood, covered with gold; 3 feet long, 11/2 feet wide, 21/4 feet
high; contained 12 loaves of bread, called "the bread of the presence"
(Exod. 37. 10, 11).
VIII. =The Altar of Incense= stood at the inner end of the Holy Place,
near the veil; made of wood, covered with gold; 11/2 feet square and 3
feet high. On it the incense was lighted by fire from the Altar of Burnt
Offerings (Exod. 30. 1, 2).
IX. =The Holy of Holies= was the innermost and holiest room in the
Tabernacle, into which the high priest alone entered on one day in each
year (the Day of Atonement); in form a cube of 15 feet. It contained
only the Ark of the Covenant (Heb. 9. 3).
X. =The Ark of the Covenant= was a chest containing the stone tablets of
the Commandments; made of wood, covered on the outside and inside with
gold; 3 feet 9 inches long, 2 feet 3 inches wide and high. Through gold
rings on the sides were thrust the staves by which it was borne on the
march. Its lid, on which stood two figures of the cherubim, was called
"the mercy seat." On this the high priest sprinkled the blood on the Day
of Atonement (Exod. 25. 17, 18; Heb. 9. 7).