Meaning
The English word ''tabernacle'' is derived from theDescription
Historical criticism has identified two accounts of the tabernacle in Exodus, a briefer Elohist account and a longer Priestly one. Traditional scholars believe the briefer account describes a different structure, perhaps Moses' personal tent. The Hebrew nouns in the two accounts differ, one is most commonly translated as "tent of meeting," while the other is usually translated as "tabernacle."Elohist account
refers to "the tabernacle of the congregation" (in some translations, such as the King James Version) or "the tent of meeting" (in most modern translations), which was set up outside of camp with the "cloudy pillar" visible at its door. The people directed their worship toward this center. Historical criticism attributes this description to the Elohist source (E), which is believed to have been written about 850 BCE or later.Priestly account
The more detailed description of a tabernacle, located in Exodus chapters 25–27 and Exodus chapters 35–40, refers to an inner shrine (the most holy place) housing the ark and an outer chamber (holy place), with a six-branch seven-lamp menorah (lampstand), table for showbread, andTent of the Presence
Some interpreters assert the Tent of the Presence was a special meeting place outside the camp, unlike the Tabernacle which was placed in the center of the camp. According tBuilders
In Exodus 31, the main builder and maker of the priestly vestments is specified asPlan
During theHoly of Holies
Beyond this curtain was the cube-shaped inner room, the ''Qṓḏeš HaQŏḏāšîm'' ( Holy of Holies). This area housed the Ark of the Covenant, inside which were the two stone tablets brought down from Mount Sinai by Moses on which were written the Ten Commandments, a golden urn holding the '' manna'', and Aaron's rod which had budded and borne ripe almonds. (, , ; )Tachash
''Tachash'' is referred to fifteen times in theSubsequent history
During the conquest of Canaan, the main Israelite camp was at Gilgal (; ) and the tabernacle was probably erected within the camp: "…and returned into the camp" (''see'' "…they shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side"). After the conquest and division of the land among the tribes, the tabernacle was moved to Shiloh in Ephraimite territory (Joshua's tribe) to avoid disputes among the other tribes (; ; ; ). It remained there during the 300-year period of the biblical judges (the rules of the individual judges total about 350 years but most ruled regionally and some terms overlapped). According to , the Ark, and thus possibly the tabernacle, was at Bethel while Phinehas, grandson of Aaron, was still alive. The subsequent history of the structure is separate from that of the Ark of the Covenant. After the Ark was captured by the Philistines, King Saul moved the tabernacle to Nob, near his home town of Gibeah, but after he massacred the priests there (), it was moved to Gibeon, a Yahwist hill-shrine (; ; , 13). Just prior to David's moving the ark to Jerusalem, the ark was located in Kiriath-Jearim (). The Ark was eventually brought to Jerusalem, where it was placed "inside the tent David had pitched for it" (; ), not in the tabernacle, which remained at Gibeon. The altar of the tabernacle at Gibeon was used for sacrificial worship (; ; ), until Solomon finally brought the structure and its furnishings to Jerusalem to furnish and dedicate the Temple. () There is no mention of the tabernacle in the Tanakh after the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Babylonians in c. 587 BCE.Relationship to the golden calf
Some rabbis have commented on the proximity of the narrative of the tabernacle with that of the episode known as the sin of the golden calf recounted in . Maimonides asserts that the tabernacle and its accoutrements, such as the golden Ark of the Covenant and the golden Menorah were meant as "alternates" to the human weakness and needs for physical idols as seen in the golden calf episode. Other scholars, such as Nachmanides disagree and maintain that the tabernacle's meaning is not tied in with the golden calf, but instead symbolizes higher mystical lessons that symbolize God's constant closeness to the Children of Israel.Blueprint for synagogues
Synagogue construction over the last two thousand years has followed the outlines of the original tabernacle. Every synagogue has at its front an ark, ''aron kodesh'', containing theInspiration for churches
Some Christian churches are built like a tent, to symbolize the tent of God with men, including St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus, Brazil, Zu den heiligen Engeln (To the Holy Angels), Hanover, Germany and theNew Testament references
The tabernacle is mentioned several times in the Epistle to the Hebrews in the New Testament. For example, according to andMandaeism
A ''Mashkhanna'' (hebrew cognate );Secunda, Shai, and Steven Fine. Brill, 2012.p345 ''Beth Manda''; ''Beit Manda''; ''Mandi'' ('house of knowledge'), is a cultic hut and place of worship for followers ofSee also
* Church tabernacle * Priestly covenant *References
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