The Tabernacle
The High Priest
The Ark of the Covenant
The Clothing of the Priests and High Priest
Every Israelite is directed to make a fringe in the border of his
garment, of dark-blue purple thread. When he looks at the
fringe he is to remember the commandments of God and to
keep them.
The testimony of God was also found in the pomegranates and
bells attached to the high priest’s robe.
The pomegranate with it’s pleasant odor, sweet and refreshing
juice, and the richness of it’s delicious kernel, were symbols of
the word and testimony of God as sweet and pleasant spiritual
food.
The bells were symbols of the sounding of this word, or the
revelation and proclamation of the word.
The pattern for the official clothing of the high priest, or presiding head of the
Aaronic Priesthood (not the Melchizedek Priesthood office of high priest),
like that for the tabernacle, was given by revelation and had symbolic as well
as practical significance. It consisted of the following items:
Ephod:
Worn over a blue robe, was made of blue, purple, and scarlet material, with
designs of gold. It was fastened at each shoulder and around the waist. In
gold settings on each shoulder were onyx stones engraved with the names
of the twelve sons of Israel as a memorial as the priest served before the
Lord.
The symbolism was that the priest (the Lord) carried Israel on his shoulders
(Exodus 28:12).
The Lord directed that they were not to wear ordinary clothing during their
service, but they were to have “holy garments.”
Fastened to the ephod was a breastplate into which the Urim and Thummim
could be placed (Exodus 28:15-30).
The Breastplate
It attached to the ephod with golden chains and ouches
(fasteners). It was made of fabric. It was twice as long as it
was wide and when folded became a square pocket unto which
the Urim and Thummim was placed.
Upon the exposed half of the breastplate were precious stones
inscribed with the names of each of the tribes of Israel.
Thus, the high priest bore “the names of the children of Israel in
the breastplate of judgment upon his heart…for a memorial
before the Lord continually.”
The Robe
It was blue (heavenly origin) and was woven
without seams with a hole (spiritual integrity) for
the head to go through.
Jesus was in a similar seamless garment prior
to his crucifixion.
Along the hem of the robe were placed,
alternately, bells and fringes woven to look like
pomegranates.
The Golden Diadem and the MITRE
The MITRE (or hat, or bonnet) was made of fine
linen and worn by each priest.
In addition, the high priest wore a golden band on
the front of his miter, upon the forehead.
Engraved on the band were the words “Holiness to
the Lord,” signifying, first that the high priest should
be characterized by this attribute, and, second, that
Christ, the Great High Priest, would be perfectly holy
before God.
Simple floor plan of the Tabernacle
The floor plan of the Tabernacle revealed that
the structure was oblong with three zones of
holiness. In ascending order, the three zones
were:
1. The outer court yard, often called the court
of the congregation.
2. The holy place.
3. The holy of holies.
The floor plan of the Tabernacle
Veil #1 – symbolized overcoming fallen conditions, Veil#2 - Entering Celestial
Exodus 26:31-37
“Two veils”
The two veils, or hangings for the door,
described here are the outer door to the
tabernacle (the front entrance) and the veil
which separated the holy place, or first
room, from the inner Holy of Holies. This
latter veil is properly called the veil of the
tabernacle.
Purpose:
From being alienated from God, to
one of full companionship.
Holy of Holies
=
Celestial, gold,
presence of God
Holy Place
=
Terrestrial, gold
Courtyard
=
Telestial, the world,
bronze, overcoming the
obstacles of mortality
Floor plan – “two squares”
The floor plan showed that the Tabernacle - which
was 50 cubits by 100 cubits - could be divided into two
equal squares.
The first zone of holiness - the outer courtyard - lied in
the first square with the altar of sacrifice as the central
sacred furnishing. The second and third zones of
holiness - the holy place and holy of holies - lay in the
second square with the ark of the covenant at the
center of the square (Nahum M. Sarna, Exodus [JPS
Torah Commentary]).
The Floor plan, “2 squares”
“Tabernacle
cut away”
Tabernacle cutaway - dimensions and description
The Courtyard
The gate
Entrance into the courtyard was through a
multi-colored gate.
The Altar of Burnt Offering
7 ½ by 7 ½ by 5 feet. It had four horns. It was made of shittim
wood and overlaid with brass. Represented obedience and
sacrifice.
Holy instruments of sacrifice:
The pan was a large brazen dish placed under the
altar to receive the ashes as they fell through.
Brazen fire shovels were used for emptying the pans.
The basins were receptacles used to catch the blood
from the sacrifice.
The flesh-hook was a three-pronged hook that the
priest used to dip into the sacrificial container. That
which he brought up was to be kept for himself.
The fire-pan was the container in which was kept the
continuously burning fire for sacrifice.
This is where the Priest cleansed and washed preparatory to
entering the Tabernacle. It was made of brass. Symbolic of
baptism and the remission of sin. In Solomon’s day, the laver was
set on the backs of twelve oxen (I Kings 7:23-26).
The Holy Place
Three sacred furnishings were located in the Holy
Place.
1. The altar of incense was placed before the veil.
2. The Menorah or candelabra was placed on the
north side.
3. The table of shewbread (Hebrew for "bread that
was always present") was located on the south
side.
It stood directly in front of the veil. It was made of shittim wood
covered with gold. Hot coals were placed on the altar, and
every morning and evening the high priest would burn incense.
Symbolizing that one can approach the presence of God only
through prayer (Rev. 5:8; 8:3-4; Psalm 141:2).
The “Altar of Incense” recreated
“Altar of Incense” top view
The Menorah or Golden Candlestick (solid gold).
It was the source of light in the Tabernacle. It represented the perfect light of
Christ and the seven periods of creation. It was always burning. The seven
cups were filled with olive oil. (Exodus 25:31-40; 37:17-24) The number
seven – connoting wholeness or perfection. The Lord is the perfect light!
Other scriptures indicate that olive oil
represented the Holy Spirit, probably
because it provided fire, heat, and
light when burned in the lamps (D&C
45:56-57).
Thus, the sacred menorah was a type
or symbol of the true source of
spiritual light, namely the Holy Ghost
as he bears witness of the Father and
It was made out of shittim wood and was overlaid with gold.
There were twelve loaves of bread. A wine bottle and cups
were present. It has parallels with the Sacrament. The Priest
replaced the twelve loaves every Sabbath. They were then
allowed to eat the old bread (Exodus 25:23-30; 37:10-16).
The “Table of Shewbread” recreated
The “table of Shewbread” with bread. They
were very large because of the fine flour used.
They would have weighed over ten pounds
each.
The Holy of Holies and the Ark of the
Covenant
The most important sacred furnishing was the ark of
the covenant placed in the Holy of Holies. According
to the biblical account, the ark was a box with a
covering. On the covering were two cherubs.
What were cherubs?
The following are pictures of cherubs which have been
found in archaeological sites in the Middle East.
So what was the Ark of the Covenant?
the throne of God.
What did it look like?
We can only guess.
By using the ancient artifacts as a guide, I have
drawn a possible depiction of the Ark of the
Covenant.
The “Ark of the Covenant” was made of acacia wood
and was overlaid with gold. It stood 2 feet three
inches high, 3 feet nine inches long and two feet three
inches wide.
It was viewed with the greatest of reverence.
The Mercy Seat was symbolic of the “Atonement.”
Three things were carried in it:
1. Pot of Manna
2. Rod of Aaron
3. The Tablets
Exodus 25:10-22; 37:1-9
Ark from King Tut's Tomb
The god Anubis as a jackal lying on a funerary
chest, from the tomb of Tut-ankh-Amon at
Thebes (about 1361-1355 B.C.).
Note that a god is pictured as sitting on an ark.
This is what the Ark of the Covenant is
portraying (James Pritchard, Ancient Near
Eastern Pictures Relating to the Old
Testament).
Cherubim guarding a tree of life
("Angel" in The Interpreter's
Dictionary of the Bible)
Often, Cherub formed the thrones of kings.
Daniel before King Nebuchadnezzar