CHAPTER I.

A DESCRIPTION OF ITS FURNITURE-ITS APARTMENTSITS PEOPLE.

The Tabernacle which God commanded Israel to construct in the Wilderness, and in connection with which, all their religious services and ceremonies were instituted, is, as Paul assures us, a shadow of good things to come. (Heb. 8: 5; 10: 1. Col. 2: 17.) In fact the whole nation of Israel, with their laws and their religious services and ceremonies, was typical of the spiritual Israel, with their higher privileges, developed during the Gospel Age.

This being true, our understanding of the plan and work of salvation now. in progress, as well as its future developments, cannot fail to be greatly increased and cleared by a careful study of that Jewish shadow, which they repeated year by year continually for our edification, who live in this Gospel Age. (1 Pet. 1: 12.)

It is not simply to gain a historical knowledge of the Jewish forms, ceremonies, and worship, that we come to the investigation of this subject, but that we may be edified by understanding the substance from an examination. of the shadow, as God designed in arranging it.

We would fail to attach sufficient weight and importance to the shadow, unless we realize how carefully God guided and directed all of its details: First, taking Moses up into the mount and giving him an illustration of just

how things were to be made; Secondly charging him to be very careful—"See, saith He, that thou make all things after the pattern showed thee in the mount." (Heb. 8: 5. Exod. 25: 40.) So too, with all the minutia of the service; every jot and tittle must be performed in the type, because it illustrated something great and grand coming after. And in order that these shadows might all be exactly performed, and that the people might not become careless, the usual penalty for any violation was death: For instance-2 Šam. 6:6, 7; Lev. 10:1; Ex. 28:43; Num. 4:15, 20; 17: 13.

Realizing God's care in making the "shadow," should not only give us confidence in its correctness-that not one jot or tittle of it shall fail until all shall be fulfilled (Matt. 5: 18.)-but, it should also awaken in us so great an interest in God's plan, as would lead us to examine closely, and search carefully, for the meaning of those shadows: And this, with God's promised blessing we now propose to do, assured that among those who are truly God's consecrated ones-children begotten of the Spirit-" He that seeketh findeth ; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened."

The Tabernacle represented spiritual (heavenly) conditions; the furthest-Most Holy-representing the perfect spiritual condition in which Jehovah's glory is seen. The Glory within, testified to the majesty of his presence, while the cloud without was a continual reminder of their separation from him.

The directions given to Moses for its construction, may be found in Exod. 25 to 27, and the account of the performance of the work, in Exod. 35 to 40. Briefly stated, the Tabernacle was constructed of a series of boards, overlaid" or plated with gold and set on end into sockets of silver, and firmly fastened together by bars of the same wood (Shittim) also covered with gold.

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This structure was 15 feet wide, 15 feet high, and 45 feet long, open at the front or east end. It was covered by a large linen cloth, with figures of cherubim woven

into it, in blue, purple and scarlet colors. The open end, or front of the structure was closed by a curtain of similar material to the covering cloth-called the door, or first vail. Another cloth of the same materials and colors, and similarly woven with figures of cherubs, called "the Vail" (or second vail was hung under the taches, thus dividing the Tabernacle into two apartments. The first or larger apartment (15 feet wide and 30 feet long) was called The Holy."*

The second apartment (15 feet wide and 15 feet long) was called "The Most Holy." Over this Tabernacle proper, was a tent to shelter it and protect it from the weather. It was made of a covering of goat's hair, another of ram skins dyed red, and another of badger skins-seal skins.

The Tabernacle was surrounded by a yard or court " toward the rear of which, it stood. This court 75 feet wide and 150 feet long was formed by linen curtains suspended from silver hooks, set in the tops of wooden posts 7% feet high, which were set in heavy sockets of brass (copper) and braced like the tent with cords and pins. This enclosure was all holy ground, and was therefore called the “holy place”—also the "court of the

*Frequently this in our translation is improperly called the "holy place" and in such instances the word place will be found in italics, indicating that it has been supplied by the translators, as for instance in Exod. 26: 33. This error is quite confusing as "the court was properly called "the holy place." When place, is not in italics, "the court" is always meant. See Lev. 14; 13 and 6; 27. In some instances "The Holy" is termed "The Tabernacle of the congregation" and the "Most Holy," the "Sanctuary" which is also sometimes called "the Holy place" [place in italics.] Instances, Lev. 16; 17, 20, 33. In our description we will call those apartments severally, "The Camp," "The Court," "The Holy" and "Most Holy."

A lack of knowledge as to our interest in these typical pictures on the part of the translators of Leviticus, must have been the cause of the varied and imperfect translations which have so aided in confusing the student.

Tabernacle." Its opening, like the door of the Tabernacle, was toward the east, and was called "the gate." It also was of linen embroidered with blue, purple and scarlet. It will be noticed that the three entrance passages, viz: "the gate" to the court or "holy place "—" the door" to the "holy" and "the vail" to the "Most Holy" were of the same material and colors.

THE FURNITURE OF THE COURT

consisted of but two pieces: the “Brazen Altar" and the "Laver."

THE BRAZEN ALTAR.

First on entering the gate and immediately in front of it stood the Brazen Altar. This altar was made of wood and covered with copper, it was 72 feet square, 42 feet high. It had various utensils belonging to its service-fire pans, called censers, for carrying the fire to the Incense Altar; basins to receive the blood; flesh-hooks, shovels, etc.

THE LAVER.

Next, between the Brazen Altar and the door of the Tabernacle, was the Laver. It was made of polished copper which served as a mirror, and was a receptacle for water for the washing of the priests before entering the Tabernacle.

THE FURNITURE OF THE TABERNACLE

consisted of a Table, a Candlestick and an Incense Altar in the Holy, and the Ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy.

THE TABLE OF SHEW BREAD.

Within the Tabernacle on the right (north) stood a wooden table overlaid with gold, and upon it were placed twelve cakes of unleavened bread in two rows or piles with frankincense on top of each pile. (Lev. 24:6) The bread was for the priests; it was holy, and was renewed every Sabbath day.