Exodus!!

Lesson*#13*“The*Tabernacle”*

(Exodus(25:(1–(27:(21)((

(( ((( (((Review!

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Up(to(now(in(our(study(of(Exodus—Lessons(1>12—our(text(has(offered(a(riveBng,(dramaBc(narraBve:((((

• The(Israelites,(numbering(two(million(people,(are(enslaved(in(Egypt,(subject(to(Pharaoh’s(order(that(all(the(male(Israelite(babies(be(drowned(in(the(Nile(River,(thinning(the(threatening(Israelite(populaBon;((• God(raises(up(Moses,(a(prince(of(Egypt((now(a(wanted(felon(on(the(run),(to(liberate(the(Israelites;(• (Moses(confronts(Pharaoh((while(God(confronts(the(EgypBan(gods)(in(a(devastaBng(series(of(escalaBng(plagues(that(destroy(Egypt(and(bring(Pharaoh(to(his(knees;((• The(Israelites(escape(Egypt(through(the(parted(Red(Sea,(with(the(EgypBan(army(in(hot(pursuit;((• Once(at(Mt.(Sinai,(in(a(spectacular(scene(of(thunder,(flashing(fire(and(celesBal(pyrotechnics,(God(reaffirms(with(the(Israelites(the(covenant(he(made(with(Abraham,(Isaac(and(Jacob;((• From(the(top(of(Mt.(Sinai(God(delivers(the(Ten(Commandments(in(a(voice(of(thunder;((• and(finally,(Moses(disappears(into(the(fire(and(smoke(atop(Mt.(Sinai,(where(he(receives(a(dazzling(vision(of(God(enthroned.((

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Pre^y(good(stuff!(((

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As(we(arrive(at(Lesson(#13(the(narraBve(acBon(stops(dead(in(its(tracks,(put(on(hold(as(we(turn(our(a^enBon(to(the(Tabernacle,(examining(the(intricate,(minute(details(of(the(Tabernacle’s(structure,(measurements,(building(materials(and(construcBon,(a(sequence(of(material(that(spans(the(final(15(chapters(of(Exodus,(save(for(the(“golden(calf”(episode(of(chapters(32>34.(((

What(was(a(gripping,(dramaBc(narraBve(becomes(something(more(akin(to(pageantry,(the(display(of(mulB>colored(tapestries(hung(on(golden(loops,(wrought(precious(metals(and(inlaid(gems.((The(rough(and(tumble(narraBve,(with(its(complex(characters,(mulB>layered(moBvaBons,(seething(emoBons(and(calculated(deceit,(gives(way(to(a(quiet,(perfectly(orchestrated(harmony,(enacted(through(the(meBculous(cragsmanship(of(architecture,(weaving,(dying,(woodcarving(and(metalwork—human(arBsans(following(divine(direcBves,(craging(a(beauBfully(ordered(vision(of(sacred(space.((

What’s(up(with(that?((

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The(Tabernacle(((

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When(God(reaffirms(his(covenant(with(Israel(in(Exodus(19(he(gives(his(covenant(people(two*great(gigs:(

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The(Law(God’s(comprehensive*teaching(on(all(aspects(of(human(life.(

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The(Tabernacle((A(physical(structure(by(which(a(sinful(people((

gains(access(to(an(infinitely(holy(God.((

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The(Tabernacle(is(far(more(than(a(simple(structure(built(in(the(desert,(however.((Listen(to(our(author(of(Hebrews,(who(has(been(discussing(the(priest(Melchizedek((Genesis(14:(18>20)(as(the(archetype(of(Christ,(our(great(high(priest:(

(“The*point*of*what*has*been*said*is*this:**we*have*such*a*high*priest,*who*has*taken*his*seat*at*the*right*hand*of*the*throne*of*the*Majesty*in*heaven,*a*minister*of*the*sanctuary*and*of*the*true*[Greek(=(alethinos,(“genuine”]*tabernacle*that*the*Lord,*not*man,*set*up*.*.*..**They*[the(priests(who(minister(at(the(earthly(tabernacle]*worship*in*a*copy*and*shadow*of*the*heavenly*sanctuary,*as*Moses*was*warned*when*he*was*about*to*erect*the*tabernacle.**For*he*says,*‘See*to*it*that*you*make*everything*according*to*the*paIern*shown*you*on*the*mountain.’”*

* * * * * * * * * * * *(Hebrews(8:(1>2;(5)(

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According(to(Scripture,(the(Tabernacle(built(in(Exodus(is(a(“copy(and(shadow”(of(the(genuine*Tabernacle(which(is(in(heaven.((

Indeed,(our(author(of(Hebrews(goes(on(to(say(that(as(the(priests(minister(at(the(earthly(Tabernacle(by(offering(the(blood(of(bulls(and(goats(as(sacrifices,(so(does(Christ(minister(at(the(genuine*Tabernacle(in(heaven(by(offering(his(own(blood(as(a(sacrifice,(once(and(for(all((Hebrews(9:(11>28).((((

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Plato’s(Allegory(of(the(Cave(( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((

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In(his(Republic*(514a>520a)(Plato(has(Socrates(describe(a(gathering(of(people(who(have(lived(their(enBre(lives(chained(to(the(wall(of(a(cave,(facing(a(blank(wall.((The(people(watch(shadows(projected(on(the(wall(by(things(passing(in(front(of(a(fire(behind(them.((Over(Bme,(the(people(assign(names(to(the(shadows(they(see.((The(shadows(are(the(closest(the(prisoners(get(to(viewing(reality.((

Plato’s*Cave,(Flemish(School((oil(on(panel),(16th(century.((Musée(de(Chartruese,(Douai,(France.(

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Just(so(with(Scripture.((As(St.(Paul(observes(in(his(1st(epistle(to(the(Corinthians:((

“If*there*are*prophesies,*they*will*be*brought*to*nothing;*if*tongues,*they*will*cease;*if*knowledge,*it*will*be*brought*to*nothing.**For*we*know*parPally*and*we*prophesy*parPally,*but*when*the*perfect*comes,*the*parPal*will*pass*away*.*.*..**At*present*I*know*parPally;*then*I*shall*know*fully,*as*I*am*fully*known.”*

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As(we(learned(in(Lesson(#12,(this(“allegorical”(approach(to(Scripture(is(rooted(deeply(in(St.(AugusBne’s(Confessions*and(De*doctrina*chrisPana;(it(is(foundaBonal(to(biblical(exegesis(throughout(the(Middle(Ages,(and(it(is(part(of(the(rich(tradiBon(of(biblical(interpretaBon(affirmed(today(by(the(Roman(Catholic(Church.(((

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Thus,(as(we(study(the(Tabernacle(in(Exodus(25>40(we(will(keep(in(mind(that(the(Tabernacle(being(described(in(such(detail(in(our(text(is(a(“copy(and(shadow(of(the(heavenly(sanctuary,”(and(that(the(priests(who(minister(at(the(Tabernacle(on(earth(are(but(a(copy(and(shadow(of(Christ,(who(ministers(at(the(genuine(Tabernacle(which(is((in(heaven.(

LifeSsized*model*of*the*Tabernacle*at*Timna*NaPonal*Park,*Eliat,*Israel.*

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“Let*them*receive*contribuPons*for*me.**From*each*you*shall*receive*the*contribuPon*that*their*hearts*prompt*them*to*give*.*.*.”*

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There(you(go,((Moses!(

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The(Tabernacle((

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We(start(inside(the((Holy(of(Holies((and(work(outward((in(concentric(circles.(

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“You(shall(make(an(ark(of(acacia(wood(.(.(.”(( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((

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Acacia*trees*in*the*Sinai*wilderness,*Egypt.*

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“You(shall(make(an(ark(of(acacia(wood(.(.(.”(( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((

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Acacia*trees*are*hardwood*with*VERY*sharp*thorns!*

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Cubit(=(18”((Bp(of(the(middle(finger(to(elbow)((

Handbreadth(=(4”(((palm(of(the(hand)((

Span(=(9”((Tip(of(li^le(finger(to(Bp(of(thumb)((

Talent(=(75(lbs.((The(Israelites(divided(a(talent(into(60(mina((1.25(lbs.(or(20(oz.),(each(of(which(was(divided(into(60(shekels((1/3(oz.)(

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The(Ark(of(the(Covenant,(Interior(( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((

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.("(Golden(jar(of(manna(

Aaron’s(staff((that(blossomed(#(

Ten(Commandments(

! The(Ark,(acacia(wood((((((overlaid(with(pure(gold.(

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The(Ark(of(the(Covenant,(Lid(( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((

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The(Ark(of(the(Covenant,(Assembled(( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((

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The(Altar(of(Incense((30:(1>10)(( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((

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The(Table(of(Showbread(( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((

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The(Menorah(( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((

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The(Menorah(( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((

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Arch*of*Titus,*Via*Sacra,*Rome.**Commemorates*Titus’s*victory*in*Jerusalem,*A.D.*70.**This*is*the*only*contemporary*image*of*the*menorah*from*the*2nd*Temple.*

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The(Tent(Cloth(( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((

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“The*Tabernacle*itself*you*shall*make*out*of*ten*sheets*woven*of*fine*linen*twined*and*of*violet,*purple,*and*scarlet*yarn*.*.*.”**

• Fine(twined(linen(made(of(flax(dates(back(to(ancient(Mesopotamia.((Very(expensive,(Pharaoh(Ramses(II’s(mummy(was(wrapped(in(twined(linen,(which(is(sBll(perfectly(preserved(ager(3,000(years!(((

• Violet(and(purple(dye(were(extracted(from(the(Tyrian(murex(which(has(a(small(bladder(containing(juice(that(when(extracted(is(purified(and(made(into(varying(shades(of(purple(dye.(In(the(New(Testament,(St.(Paul’s(friend,(Lydia,(imported(such(expensive(“purple(cloth”(into(Philippi.((Crimson(dye(was(derived(from(the(eggs(of(scale(insects(found(on(oak(trees.((((

• Violet,(purple(and(crimson(dye(producBon(was(immensely(laborious(and(very(costly;(consequently,(such(cloth(was(used(exclusively(by(royalty(and(the(very(wealthy.(((*((

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The(Tent(Cloth,(4(layers(( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((

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! Linen(embroidered(with(((((((violet,(purple(&(scarlet(yarn((

"(Goat(hair(

"(Ram(skins(dyed(red(

“Tahash”(skins((dolphin?)#(!

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The(Frames(( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((

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The(Veils(( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((

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The(Bronze(Altar(( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((

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The(Bronze(Altar,(Utensils(( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((

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The(Basin((30:(17>21)(( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((

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The(Courtyard(( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((

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The(Courtyard,(Gate(( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((

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The(Tabernacle,((fully(assembled(and(operaBng(

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QuesBons(for(discussion(and(thought(**

1.   Ager(God(reaffirms(the(covenant(with(the(Israelites,(he(gives(them(two(great(gigs.((What(are(they?(

2.   Why(does(God(go(to(such(great(lengths(to(prescribe(exactly(how(the(Israelites(are(to(build(the(Tabernacle?(((

3.   Viewing(the(Tabernacle(through(an(“allegorical”(lens,(of(what(is(it(a(“copy(and(shadow”?(

4.   Looking(through(the(same(“allegorical”(lens,(what(do(the(four(tent(cloths(that(cover(the(Tabernacle(represent?(

5.   As(we(move(outward(from(the(Holy(of(Holies(the(metals(used(in(the(Tabernacle(move(from(gold(to(silver(to(bronze.((Why?(((

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Copyright(©(2014(by(William(C.(Creasy(( All( rights( reserved.( No( part( of( this( course—audio,( video,(photography,( maps,( Bmelines( or( other( media—may( be(reproduced(or(transmi^ed(in(any(form(by(any(means,(electronic(or( mechanical,( including( photocopying,( recording( or( by( any(informaBon( storage( or( retrieval( devices( without( permission( in(wriBng(or(a(licensing(agreement(from(the(copyright(holder.((

[All(Tabernacle(illustraBons(in(these(lectures(are(taken(from:(((Paul(F.(Kiene.( (The*Tabernacle*of*God*in*the*Wilderness*of*Sinai,(trans.( by( John(S,( Crandall.(Grand(Rapids,(Michigan:( ( Zondervan(Publishing(House,(1977.((Used(by(permission.](((

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