Furnishings of the Tabernacle

Furnishings of the Tabernacle:

• The Ark of the Covenant
• The Mercy Seat or Atonement Cover
• The Veil
• The Altar of Incense
• The Table of Showbread
• The Lampstand
• The Bronze Altar
• The Bronze Basin

Exodus 25

8

And they are to make a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them.

9

You must make the tabernacle and design all its furnishings according to the pattern I show you.

The Ark of the Covenant

Design

Exodus 25:10–16

Materials	acacia wood gold
Dimensions	two and a half cubits long a cubit and a half wide a cubit and a half high
Features	made of acacia wood overlaid with gold inside and out gold molding around it a gold ring on each feet two poles made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold poles inserted into two rings to carry it

Exodus 25

10

And they are to construct an ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.

11

Overlay it with pure gold both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it.

12

Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, two rings on one side and two on the other.

13

And make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.

14

Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, in order to carry it.

15

The poles are to remain in the rings of the ark; they must not be removed.

16

And place inside the ark the Testimony, which I will give you.

The Testimony  refers to the stone tablets in the ark of the covenant inscribed with the Ten Commandments.

The Mercy Seat or Atonement Cover

Design

Exodus 25:17–22

Materials	gold
Dimensions	two and a half cubits long a cubit and a half wide
Features	the mercy seat is made of pure gold and set atop the ark two cherubim made from one piece of gold at the ends two cherubim face each other and look toward the mercy seat wings of the cherubim spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat

Exodus 25

17

And you are to construct a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.

18

Make two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat,

19

one cherub on one end and one on the other, all made from one piece of gold.

20

And the cherubim are to have wings that spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the mercy seat.

21

Set the mercy seat atop the ark, and put the Testimony that I will give you into the ark.

22

And I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony; I will speak with you about all that I command you regarding the Israelites.

The Veil

Design

Exodus 26:31–34

Materials	blue, purple, and scarlet yarn finely spun linen acacia wood gold silver
Features	veil made of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen cherubim worked into it four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold stand on four silver bases

Exodus 26

31

Make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it.

32

Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood, overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases.

33

And hang the veil from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the veil. So the veil will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

34

Put the mercy seat on the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place.

The Altar of Incense

Design

Exodus 30:1–5

Materials	acacia wood gold
Dimensions	a cubit long a cubit wide two cubits high
Features	made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold a horn at the four corners a gold molding around it two gold rings under the molding on opposite sides of the altar to hold the poles to carry the altar two poles made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold

Exodus 30

1

“You are also to make an altar of acacia wood for the burning of incense.

2

It is to be square, a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high. Its horns must be of one piece.

3

Overlay with pure gold the top and all the sides and horns, and make a molding of gold around it.

4

And make two gold rings below the molding on opposite sides to hold the poles used to carry it.

5

Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.

6

Place the altar in front of the veil that is before the ark of the Testimony—before the mercy seat that is over the Testimony—where I will meet with you.

7

And Aaron is to burn fragrant incense on it every morning when he tends the lamps.

8

When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he must burn the incense perpetually before the LORD for the generations to come.

9

On this altar you must not offer unauthorized incense or a burnt offering or grain offering; nor are you to pour a drink offering on it.

10

Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on the horns of the altar. Throughout your generations he shall make atonement on it annually with the blood of the sin offering of atonement. The altar is most holy to the LORD.”

The Table of Showbread

Design

Exodus 25:23–30

Materials	acacia wood gold
Dimensions	two cubits long a cubit wide a cubit and a half high
Features	made of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold gold molding around it a rim with gold molding a gold ring at the four corners of the table at each of its legs two poles made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold inserted into the two rings on opposite sides to carry the table plates and dishes, pitchers and bowls made of pure gold

Exodus 25

23

You are also to make a table of acacia wood two cubits long, a cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high.

24

Overlay it with pure gold and make a gold molding around it.

25

And make a rim around it a handbreadth wide and put a gold molding on the rim.

26

Make four gold rings for the table and fasten them to the four corners at its four legs.

27

The rings are to be close to the rim, to serve as holders for the poles used to carry the table.

28

Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold, so that the table may be carried with them.

29

You are also to make the plates and dishes, as well as the pitchers and bowls for pouring drink offerings. Make them out of pure gold.

30

And place the Bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times.

Exodus 26

35

And place the table outside the veil on the north side of the tabernacle

The Showbread

Leviticus 24

5

You are also to take fine flour and bake twelve loaves, using two-tenths of an ephah for each loaf,

6

and set them in two rows—six per row—on the table of pure gold before the LORD.

7

And you are to place pure frankincense near each row, so that it may serve as a memorial portion for the bread, an offering made by fire to the LORD.

8

Every Sabbath day the bread is to be set out before the LORD on behalf of the Israelites as a permanent covenant.

9

It belongs to Aaron and his sons, who are to eat it in a holy place; for it is to him a most holy part of the offerings made by fire to the LORD—his portion forever.”

The Lampstand

  Design

Exodus 25:31–37

Materials

gold

Features

made of one piece of pure, hammered gold three branches extend from both the sides of the lampstand; six in all three cups shaped like almond blossoms with buds and petals on each of the six branches that extend from the lampstand four cups shaped like almond blossoms with buds and petals on the lampstand a bud under the three pairs of branches that extend from the lampstand seven lamps on the lampstand

Exodus 25

31

Then you are to make a lampstand of pure, hammered gold. It shall be made of one piece, including its base and shaft, its cups, and its buds and petals.

32

Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other.

33

There are to be three cups shaped like almond blossoms on the first branch, each with buds and petals, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches that extend from the lampstand.

34

And on the lampstand there shall be four cups shaped like almond blossoms with buds and petals.

35

For the six branches that extend from the lampstand, a bud must be under the first pair of branches, a bud under the second pair, and a bud under the third pair.

37

Make seven lamps and set them up on the lampstand so that they illuminate the area in front of it.

The Oil for the Lamps

Exodus 27

20

And you are to command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually.

Exodus 27

21

In the Tent of Meeting, outside the veil that is in front of the Testimony, Aaron and his sons are to tend the lamps before the LORD from evening until morning. This is to be a perpetual statute for the Israelites for the generations to come.

Exodus 26

35

and put the lampstand opposite the table, on the south side.

The Bronze Altar

Design

Exodus 27:1–8

Materials	acacia wood bronze
Dimensions	five cubits long five cubits wide three cubits high
Features	made of acacia wood and overlaid with bronze a horn on four of its corners a grate of bronze mesh with a bronze ring at four of its corners two poles made of acacia wood and overlaid with bronze inserted in the two rings on opposite sides to carry the altar all utensils made of bronze

Exodus 27

1

“You are to build an altar of acacia wood. The altar must be square, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high.

2

Make a horn on each of its four corners, so that the horns are of one piece, and overlay it with bronze.

4

Construct for it a grate of bronze mesh, and make a bronze ring at each of the four corners of the mesh.

5

Set the grate beneath the ledge of the altar, so that the mesh comes halfway up the altar.

6

Additionally, make poles of acacia wood for the altar and overlay them with bronze. 7

The poles are to be inserted into the rings so that the poles are on two sides of the altar when it is carried.

8

Construct the altar with boards so that it is hollow. It is to be made just as you were shown on the mountain.

3

Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots for removing ashes, its shovels, its sprinkling bowls, its meat forks, and its firepans.

The Bronze Basin

Exodus 30

18

“You are to make a bronze basin with a bronze stand for washing. Set it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it,

19

with which Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet.

20

Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister by presenting an offering made by fire to the LORD, they must wash with water so that they will not die.

21

Thus they are to wash their hands and feet so that they will not die; this shall be a permanent statute for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.”

Bezalel and Oholiab

Exodus 31

1

Then the LORD said to Moses,

2

“See, I have called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.

3

And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship,

4

to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze,

5

to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every craft.

6

Moreover, I have selected Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, as his assistant.

Exodus 35

34

And the LORD has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others.

35

He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and as weavers—as artistic designers of every kind of craft.

Exodus 31

6

I have also given skill to all the craftsmen, that they may fashion all that I have commanded you:

7

the Tent of Meeting,

the ark of the Testimony and the mercy seat upon it,

and all the other furnishings of the tent—

8

the table with its utensils,

the pure gold lampstand with all its utensils,

the altar of incense,

9

the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils,

and the basin with its stand

Duties of the Kohathites

Numbers 3

sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, Merari

Numbers 3:31,  Numbers 4:1–20

Kohathites

Their duties involved the service for these items:

1. the ark,
2. the table,
3. the lampstand,
4. the altars,
5. the articles of the sanctuary used with them,
6. the veil