Tabernacle and Temple Comparison

The Tabernacle was a sanctified place where God chose to meet his people, the Israelites, during the 40 years they roamed in the desert under Moses’ guidance. The leaders and people came together to worship and offer sacrifices. The detailed layout of the Tabernacle and its courtyard is important because it shows God’s given way for man to approach Him. This setup informed the Israelites they could only come to God in the way he prescribed.

The Tabernacle entailed a tent-like structure covered by rug-like layers for a roof, and an exterior courtyard. The Tabernacle was separated into the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies (The Tabernacle Place, 2006). It was made of acacia wood boards coated with gold and fitted together to form the walls. On top, four layers of curtains represented a roof to protect the Tabernacle from sun and rain, the innermost layer was knitted with good linen and embroidered with angel figures, the second layer was made of goat’s hair, the third layer was made of rams’ skins dyed red, and the outermost layer was made of porpoise skins (The Tabernacle Place, 2006). The curtains were held to the ground with loops and clasps.

The Tabernacle was enclosed by a tall fence made of lined draperies (The Tabernacle Place, 2006). The whole compound was surrounded by a high fence with only one entrance. The gate was concealed by a curtain or screen made of finely twisted linen with the colors blue, purple and scarlet (The Tabernacle Place, 2006). No one could simply come from any direction into the Tabernacle as pleased. They had to enter through one gate, which was located to the east. Upon entering the gate, there was the brazen altar that stood raised on a mound of earth, higher than its surrounding furniture (The Tabernacle Place, 2006). It was made of wood from the acacia tree and coated with bronze. Four horns projected from the top four corners and a bronze grating was inside to hold the animal, to present offerings (The Tabernacle Place, 2006).

Inside the Tabernacle was a laver made fully of bronze. It was filled with water located midway between the brazen altar and the Holy Place (The Tabernacle Place, 2006). There was only three pieces of furniture in the Holy Place. The first piece of furniture was the menorah made out of one piece of pure gold and stood on the left side of the Holy Place (The Tabernacle Place, 2006). The lampstand had a central branch from which three branches extended from each side, forming a total of seven branches. Seven lamps holding olive oil and wicks stood on top of the branches (The Tabernacle Place, 2006). Each branch looked like an almond tree, containing buds, blossoms and flowers. The second piece of furniture was the table of showbread, made of acacia wood and coated with pure gold (The Tabernacle Place, 2006). It was on the right side of the Holy Place across from the lampstand and held 12 loaves of bread. Lastly the golden altar of incense made of acacia wood and coated with pure gold and four horns protruded from the four corners (The Tabernacle Place, 2006). The second piece of furniture sat in front of the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies (The Tabernacle Place, 2006). It was the inner room and was a perfect cube in length. A thick curtain, known as the “veil” made of fine linen, blue, purple and scarlet yarn divided the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place (The Tabernacle Place, 2006). The Holy of holies signified heaven and the Holy Place signified earth; there were figures of angels embroidered onto it (The Tabernacle Place, 2006).

Within the Holy of Holies, was one piece of furniture containing two parts: the Ark of the Covenant and the atonement cover on top of it. The ark was a chest made of acacia wood, coated with pure gold inside and out (The Tabernacle Place, 2006). In the ark there were three items: a golden pot of manna and the two stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments were written. The atonement cover was the top for the ark. It had two angels at the two ends, facing each other. The whole structure was made out of one piece of pure gold (The Tabernacle Place, 2006.

Solomon’s Temple followed the basic design layout of the Tabernacle. Both the temple and the earlier Tabernacle are patterned on Syrian temples. The temple was a brilliant assembly (The Tabernacle Place, 2006). The temple had recessed windows all over. There were complex rooms three stories high connected to the walls by beams resting on ledges built out from the wall (Life Application Study Bible, 2004). . The entrance of the temple had four sided doorposts of wild olive wood and two folding doors of cypress wood and was on the south side (Life Application Study Bible, 2004). Winding stairs led to the second floor and third floor.

The ceiling and walls were made of cedar and the floor made with planks of cypress (Life Application Study Bible, 2004). The inner sanctuary and the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant were separated from the Most Holy Place which was at the far end of the temple. The Main room of the temple was covered with cedar paneling decorated with carvings of gourds and open flowers (Life Application Study Bible, 2004). The inside of the sanctuary and the entire temple was coated with gold. The double doors of sanctuary were made of wild olive wood decorated with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers with five-sided doorpost (Life Application Study Bible, 2004).

Inside there were two cherubim made of wild olive and coated with gold. The walls of the sanctuary and main room were also decorated with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers and both doors were gold. The walls of the inner courtyard had one layer of cedar beams between every three layers of finished stone. The furnishing on the inside of the temple consisted of a Cherubim (gold plated), Curtains (blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen), doors (wood coated with gold), golden tables (wood coated with gold), gold lampstands (with seven lamps on each stand), alter of incense (wood coated with gold), Bronze pillars (named Jakin and Boaz), an altar (bronze), a sea (gad 16,500-capacity), Bronze basins (water basins on wheeled bases), and a Portico (the entry room) (Life Application Study Bible, 2004).

Bibliography

Publishers, T. (2004). 1 Kings. Life application study Bible: New Living Translation. (2nd ed., pp. 520-525). Wheaton, Ill: Tyndale House Publishers.

What is the Tabernacle? - The Ark of the Covenant in the wilderness tabernacle. (n.d.). Tabernacle Model Kit, Tabernacle of Moses Videos and Free Sunday School lessons. Retrieved February 4, 2012, from http://www.the-tabernacle-place.com/tabernacle_articles/tabernacle_ark_of_the_covenant.aspx