Page 66 - Pentateuch - Student Textbook

When all was said and done, the tabernacle set up and inspected by Moses (39:32-40:33), we should not
think of this as a grand structure. “Tent” is not a bad descriptive word. While some of the materials were
costly in human terms, the whole was not designed to impress. Placed against the background of the
mountains in Sinai and the dusty desert floor, the tent would not fill someone with awe. In the minds of
the Israelites, fresh from Egypt with its huge pyramids, some of which they had worked on, the tent
would not fill someone with awe. The furniture was not unusual, nor was it somehow more beautiful
than that used in Egypt or by other nations. In fact the whole production was fairly plain, not worth
comparing to some of the houses of wealthy people in Egypt. Small it was.

What is the big deal? YHWH entered the tabernacle! “Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting
because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle (40:34).” For the
years Israel would be in the wilderness, God’s presence was with them, guiding all their travels. No
amount of gold or big buildings or fancy cloth-work could compare to him. YHWH’s design from the
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beginning was to attract followers to Himself not to the trappings of religion.

8.4 Let’s Practice…

1. Why did Israel choose to worship a calf?

2. How many people were killed by the Levites as punishment for worshiping the calf?

3. What characteristic of God “allowed” him to travel with sinful Israel?

4. How did God communicate this characteristic to Moses?

5. Who made donations to build the tabernacle?

6. What is the relationship of the tabernacle to heaven?

7. What is the most important piece of furniture in the tabernacle?

8. What did the altar of incense represent?

9. Why was a laver or water basin needed near the entrance?

73 The picture is of a model of the tabernacle in Timna Park, Israel. It is copied from Wikimedia
Commons, “a freely licensed media file.”

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