Building the Tabernacle
I. FORSHADOW OF A PERFECT COVERING AND ACCEPTANCE
Separation From Old To New
Hebrews 9:23-25 (VOICE)
23. Since what was given in the old covenant was the earthly sketch of the heavenly reality, this was sufficient to cleanse the earthly sanctuary; but in heaven, a more perfect sacrifice was needed.
24. The Anointed One did not enter into handcrafted sacred spaces—imperfect copies of heavenly originals—but into heaven itself, where He stands in the presence of God on our behalf.
25. There He does not offer Himself over and over as a sacrifice (as the high priest on earth does when he enters the most holy place each year with blood other than his own)
This scripture makes the point very clear, that under the Old Covenant, it was only a foreshadow of a better sacrifice to come. The Old Covenant was a continual sacrifice.
Whereas Jesus (God in flesh (Jn. 1:14), only had to be sacrificed one time because it was an eternal sacrifice once and for all, not a temporal (Time Based) sacrifice.
II. WHO BUILT THE TABENACLE
Exodus 35:30-31 (Context Chapter 35) (NAS)
30. Then Moses said to the sons of Israel, See, the LORD has called by name Bezael the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
The word יְהוּדָה Yehudah is usually translated as "Judah" in English Bibles.
He is the fourth son of Jacob and the founder of the “Tribe of Judah". The Meaning of Judah is “To Thank,” it also means to “Praise.”
31. “And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding and in knowledge and in all craftsmanship;
HOLY SPIRIT IN ACTION
This scripture clearly states that the Holy Spirit was very active and present in people’s lives; for God the Spirit gave them all the tools required to do the work that God called them to do. The Holy Spirit was the architect, designer, supervisor, and foreman while the Israelites were the laborers.
We the body of Christ need to remember whose work and ministry it is, and who should be in control of the work / ministry.
The Holy Spirit gave certain individuals the anointed gift of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and the ability in all craftsmanship, which translates to following a particular design and pattern from GOD.
The message still applies to us today, “Follow God’s Plan,” not man’s.
III. THE PATTERN TO FOLLOW AND MATERIALS USED
Exodus 25:8, 9 (VOICE)
8. Direct them to build a holy sanctuary in My honor so that I can dwell among them.
9. Instruct the people to follow the pattern I am about to show you for the congregation tent and its furnishings.
Note: “follow the pattern”, the original is in the throne room of God. Remember when Mary recognized Jesus and He said, “Do not touch Me for I have not ascended to My Father”. In the ancient Greek it translates to “Do not delay Me”. Jesus had to cleanse all the Holy articles in the throne room where sin originated from Lucifer.
Measurements
Exodus 26:15, 17 (NKJ)
15. And for the tabernacle you shall make the boards of acacia wood, standing upright.
16. Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the width of each board.
One cubit is approximately 18”, it is based upon an average size of a man. They measure from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow.
The upright board standing on it's end is 15’ tall. The width is 24” wide.
17. Two TENONS shall be in each board for binding one to another. Thus you shall make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
The word Tenons are projections from the end of the plank / board to fit into the silver sockets.
The following verses are in the Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) translation which gives us a clearer meaning of the word tenons. This scripture gives a complete detailed design in the building of the tabernacle as well.
Exodus 26:17-30 (CJB)
17. There are to be two projections on each plank, and the planks are to be joined one to another. That is how you are to make all the planks for the tabernacle.
18. And you shall make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side.
19. You shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards: two sockets under each of the boards for its two tenons.
20. And for the second side of the tabernacle, the north side, there shall be twenty boards
21. and their forty sockets of silver: two sockets under each of the boards.
The sockets of silver are the foundation of the planks which has a very tight fit. Remember that the boards are wood (Humanity) and the covering of Gold (Deity) all come together based upon and enclosed within the sockets of silver (Redemption).
Additional Information to get an idea of the work it takes to move from one place to another
1. The talent was the heaviest or largest biblical unit of measurement for weight, equal to about 75 pounds or 35 kilograms according to the conversion chart.
The Hebrew term for "talent" was kikkār, meaning a round gold or silver disk, or disk-shaped loaf. In the Greek language the word comes from tálanton, a large monetary measurement equal to 6,000 drachmas or denarii, the Greek and Roman silver coins.
2. Forty sockets of silver is a total weight of approximately 4,800 lbs. which had to be carried whenever God told them to move the Tabernacle. The tabernacle could only be handled and move by the tribe of the Levites. To Be Discussed Later (TBDL).
Therefore one plank that fit into two sockets of silver would weigh approximately 150 lbs.
22. For the far side of the tabernacle, westward, you shall make six boards.
23. And you shall also make two boards for the two back corners of the tabernacle.
24. They shall be coupled together at the bottom and they shall be coupled together at the top by one ring. Thus it shall be for both of them. They shall be for the two corners.
25. Thus there will be eight planks with their silver sockets, sixteen sockets, two sockets under one plank and two under another.
26. “Make crossbars of acacia-wood, five for the planks of the one side of the tabernacle,
The crossbars give stability to the upright planks. They are to be made out of acacia-wood, which is symbolic of the humanity of Jesus and since it grows predominately in the wilderness where it is dry and very little water also identifies the purpose of Jesus coming to earth (John 1:14).
27. five crossbars for the planks of the other side of the tabernacle, and five crossbars for the planks at the side of the tabernacle at the rear toward the west.
28. The middle crossbar, halfway up the planks, is to extend from end to end.
Notice that the scripture is very detailed as it gives reference to the North, South, East, and West.
This is very important being that the Gate has to be facing the East at all times, the rising of the Sun. This is symbolic of Jesus, who is coming upon the Earth.
29. Overlay the planks with gold, make gold rings for them through which the crossbars will pass, and overlay the crossbars with gold.
All the acacia-wood that was used to build the tabernacle represents humanity and the gold covering the wood represents Deity. This speaks to us that mankind has to be covered by the deity (blood) of Jesus Christ in order to be in the presence and or ministry of God.
30. And you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain.
Now remember that silver was symbolic of redemption, so the courtyard fence, the Holy place and the Holy of Holies are anchored and supported upon redemption.
To further your study about the tabernacle read also Exodus chapters 36 and 37.
