The Sanctuary

Beginning in Exodus 25, God told Moses to have the Israelites construct a holy place, or sanctuary (v. 8). It says the skilled workers were empowered by God's Spirit to do the work (31:1-11). The tabernacle plans were extremely detailed and specific, another way of teaching that approaching God was on his terms (obedience) and in his (holy) place, "make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you."

Materials (25:1-9)

Collect an offering from each man whose heart prompts him to give: gold, silver, and bronze; blue purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; ram skins dyed red and hides of sea cows; acacia wood; olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.

Ark and Atonement (25:10-22)

Make a chest of acacia wood, overlay it with gold. Cast four gold rings and fasten them at the four feet. Make four poles of acacia wood overlayed in gold; insert the poles into the rings of the ark; do not remove them. Inside this ark, put the Testimony, which I [the Lord] will give you. Make an atonement cover, or lid, "Mercy Seat," of pure gold. Put two cherubim of gold at the ends of the cover; they are to face each other with their wings upraised and overshadowing the cover; put the ark in it.

The Table for the Bread (25:23-30)

Make a table of acacia wood, overlay it with gold. Make molding and a rim one handbreadth wide with gold; four rings and poles in gold; make plates and dishes of gold and pitchers and bowls for the pouring out of offerings. Put the "bread of Presence" on the table always. There would be 12 flat cakes to equal the 12 tribes of Israel (Lev. 24:6).

The Lampstand (25:31-40)

Make a lampstand of gold and hammer it out; flowerlike cups, buds, and blossoms shall be of one piece. Six branches to extend (3 on each side). Wick trimmers and trays all of gold.

Replica of a Menorah

Depiction of the Menorah on the Arch of Titus in Rome.

In Exodus 26-27, further instructions are given for making curtains, frames, the placement of the curtains, table, lampstand, and the Mercy Seat and the Ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place.

In Exodus 27, detailed instructions are given for making the Bronze Altar and the courtyard. It says that in the Tent of Meeting, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening until morning as a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come.

The last photo and a greater in-depth study of this section of Exodus can be found here. ~ More later!