Exodus Chapter 25
A. The supplies for this building project.
The Tabernacle
The Tabernacle is the subject of Chapter 25-40 (except 32 & 34
are a sort of parenthesis).2 Tim 3:16, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”; Rom 15:4,“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope”; Act 17:11; Hosea 12:10, God uses types and models for our instruction.
This section of Scripture is the most blessed, yet certainly the least read of the book of Exodus. More space in the Scripture is devoted to this object, the Tabernacle, than any other (excluding Jesus Christ) as a subject. There are only two chapters on creation, yet here we have ten on the Tabernacle (plus all the rest throughout).
The Tabernacle has at least 3 meanings:
1) God has His Dwelling; 2) Type of Jesus Christ; 3) Christ and the Church.
God’s Dwelling
The Tabernacle is God’s Dwelling place. Heb 9:21-24; the Tabernacle as a pattern of things in Heaven. “Figures of the true”—the Holy Places made with hands are a model of the true reality (2 Chr 6; Jer 17:12; Ps 24:3; Rev 15:5).
Christ Modeled
The Tabernacle is a model of Christ. God dwelt in the Tabernacle. 2 Cor 5:19; “God in Christ”; Col 2:9; “In Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” Christ as the ultimate Tabernacle. Heb 10:5; “A body thou hast prepared me.” Jesus Christ Himself spoke of Himself as a Temple; John 2:19. The Temple was a rendering of the Tabernacle.
Christ in the Church
John 1:1-14; “dwelt” is “tabernacled” among us. The purpose of the Tabernacle was to contain the Shekinah Glory, where God dwelt. Rev 21:3; “the Tabernacle of God is with men, he will dwell with them...” the climax of the Tabernacle.
The Tabernacle:“The House of Blood”
When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, he not only had two tables of stone with the Ten Commandments, he also had been given a highly detailed set of specifications for a portable sanctuary, known as the Tabernacle, that was to accompany them during their wanderings. In fact, Moses was apparently shown a model to follow in its building. (Hebrews 9:24. Rev. 11:19. Complete details in Exodus 25-27; 35-38.)
It is important to keep in focus God’s purpose in having Moses prepare this sanctuary: that God might dwell among His people. (Exodus 25:22.) The tabernacle would serve this purpose until the Temple of Solomon was built.
This unique structure was composed of a linen fence enclosing a courtyard containing a portable building and seven articles of
“furniture.”
The Courtyard
The outside element was a linen fence, supported by poles set in bronze sockets, with a single entrance on the east side. This area was approximately 75 feet by 150 feet, depending upon the precise length of a “cubit,” here assumed to be about 18 inches. (Various authorities estimate a cubit to be between 14 and 25 inches.)
Upon entering, the first item to be encountered was a bronze altar for sacrifices to be offered in accordance with the various Levitical ordinances.
The next item was a large laver for washing before entering the Holy Place itself. (This is translated “molten sea” in the King
James Version. “Molten” is a way of referring to cast bronze.)
The structure was about 15 feet wide, 15 feet high, and about 45 feet long. The initial chamber was about 30 feet long, with the final 15 feet leaving a cubical chamber known as the “Holy of Holies.”
The entire structure was covered with four successive layers:
1) an embroidered linen tapestry;
2) a covering of goat’s hair;
3) a covering of ram’s skins dyed red; and,
4) a covering of porpoise skins. (“Badger skins” is an alternativetranslation.)
It seems strange that such a magnificent structure would be hidden under such an unattractive external covering. Each layer, however, had special symbolic significance.
The Holy Place
Upon entering the initial chamber, the Holy Place, three items would be in view: on the left, the Menorah, or seven-branched lampstand; on the right, the Table of Shewbread; and directly in front of the curtain covering the final inner sanctum, the Holy of Holies, was the Golden Altar, or Altar of Incense.
The Menorah was an oil-fed lampstand with seven branches, providing the only source of light within the structure. (Light: Ex 25:31,32,37: Heb. “His”!?)
The Table of Shewbread held 12 loaves of unleavened bread, one for each of the 12 tribes, and renewed every shabbat (sabbath day).
Directly in front of the final chamber, the Holy of Holies, and associated with it, was the Golden Altar for the offering incense.
The Holy of Holies
The final inner sanctum was the Holy of Holies which contained the Ark of the Covenant and its unusual lid called the Atonement Cover (or “Mercy Seat.”) (Kappoeth, or “Mercy Seat” is translated “propitiation” in Romans 3:25.)
This Ark, or chest, was made of acacia wood, covered inside and outside with gold. It contained the Two tables of stone with the Ten Commandments, a pot of manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded Number 17:1-9.
The unusual lid was of gold and was emblazoned with two “cherubim” (a kind of “super angel”), man-like figures with wings. (Ezek1,10; Isa 6; Rev 4.)
The shekinah glory (the cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night) entered the Tabernacle and dwelt above the ark, between the cherubim. (Ex 25:22; Num 7:89; Lev 1:1.)
The Day of Atonement
The Holy of Holies could only be entered by the High Priest, and only on one day of the year, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, when he was to sprinkle the blood from the sacrifices upon the Mercy Seat.
The picture is one in which God, looking down from between the cherubim, would see the broken laws, but could justify His mercy (in satisfaction of His righteousness) because of the atonement provided by the blood shed in sacrifice. (Introduced in Eden, Gen 3:21).
The Mystical Architecture
The Tabernacle, in all of its detail and symbolic significance, is a vital study worth the serious student’s careful attention. Every aspect of its design, every material used, every detail, contains special significance that goes beyond our space available here. (See our briefing package, The Mystery of the Lost Ark.)
It is interesting that every detail of the Old Testament points, in some way, to our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rev 19:10; Mt 5:17,18, etc.) The tabernacle is no exception.
The New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed; The Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed.
“The Word was made flesh and tabernacled among us...” John
1:14. In fact, Jesus laid claim to each element of the tabernacle design.
The Courtyard
As we approach the tabernacle from outside, all we see is the white linen barrier, symbolizing His righteousness.
The posts were set in bronze sockets. Everything outside the building itself was bronze, symbolizing judgement. Bronze was the metal that could endure fire; it was the Levitical symbol for judgement.
The tabernacle had only one entrance. “I am the door. Anyone who enters but by me is a thief and a robber...” (John 10:1-8.)
The first item encountered was the Altar of Sacrifice. Everything begins (and ends) at the Cross, where the ultimate sacrifice was to be made. Next is the laver, symbolizing the Word of God. (Eph 5:26; Rev 4:6..Jn 4:10,14; 7:37,38.)
As we approach the building itself, “it has no beauty that we should desire it.” (Isaiah 53:2.) Until we enter in.
Each of the coverings has its Levitical significance. Linen: gold, purple, blue, scarlet, with cherubim; Goat’s hair: sin bearer, Ex 26:7; Lev 16:19-22; Ram’s skins (died red),Gen 3:21, 22:13; Porpoise (Badger?) skins: Ex 16:10, shoes!; Deut 8:4, 29:5; Neh 9:21; Ruth 4:7.
The Place of Fellowship
The building proper was built of acacia wood wrapped in gold. Wood, once alive, speaks of His humanity; the gold, of His deity. The planks rested on silver sockets: silver is the Levitical symbol for blood. Even Judas, as he threw the 30 pieces of silver on to the temple floor, exclaimed, “Behold, I have betrayed innocent blood.”
Upon the entering the place of fellowship, the Holy Place, we encounter the lampstand, or Menorah. “I am the Light of the World,” He claimed. (Mt 5:14; Jn 8:12; 9:5).
The construction of the lampstand was from a single piece of gold: “I am the vine, ye are the branches.” 1 + 6 = 7 (Cf. Lampstands of Revelation 1, 4).
Across from the lampstand was the Table of Shewbread: “I am the Bread of Life,” He claimed (Jn 6:35).
The Building Structure
The building itself was assembled from vertical wooden planks covered with gold, and fitted with rings which, when fitted with horizontal poles, would give it rigidity.
The Altar of Incense (or Golden Altar, not to be confused with the brazen Altar of Sacrifice) speaks of intercessory prayer, His current role on our behalf (Heb 7:25).
The Holy of Holies
The Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies was, of course, the climactic encounter, in which the supreme sacrifice would avail to atone for our own sins—a prophetic picture of the completed work of the Cross.
This is all part of a love story, written in blood, on a wooden cross, almost two thousand years ago. Praise His Name!
Tabernacle Related to Jesus Christ
1. Temporary Abode.
2. Born in wilderness, born in manager, no place to lay His head, buried in a borrowed tomb. Tabernacle was used in the wilderness less than 35 years!
3. Unattractive outwardly. “No form nor comeliness no beauty that we should desire ...” (Isa 53:2).
4. God’s dwelling place - between the Cherubim. (“We beheld His Glory as He tabernacled among us” John 1:14).
5. Where God met with man. “Tent of Meeting” is an Old Testament phrase for the Tabernacle (Ex 25:21,22; vs Jn 14:6; 1 Tim 2:5).
6. Center of Israel’s Camp (Nu 1:50; 2:17; 11:24,25; midst of camp:Matt 18:20).
7. Place where the Law was preserved. (Ex 32:19; Deut 10:2-5; Ps 40:7-8).
8. Place where Sacrifice is made. (Re.: all furniture points to Jesus Christ).
9. Place where priestly family was fed. (Lev 6:16-26; Bread of life...)
10. Place of Worship. We can only worship God in Jesus Christ. (“I amthe Way,..” “No one cometh to the Father but by me.” John 14:6 ; Heb 13:15).
11. Only One door: (large building for only one entrance; no exitmentioned) “I am the door.” John 10:9.
12. Approached from the East, which would be through the Tribe ofJudah. Our only approach is through the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. (Num 2:3; Ex 27:12-17; Rev 5:4).
13. Universal Lordship (hinted through materials); (Hag 2:8; Ps 50:10).
14. Ministered to by Women (Ex 35:26; Luke 7:37; 8:2-3; John 12:3;Luke 23:55-56).
Tabernacle Contrasted to Temple
Tabernacle Temple
Temporary Permanent
Wilderness Jerusalem
1st Coming 2nd Coming
Prophet made King made Number 5 (grace) 12 (gov)
Unattractive Glory
Parenthetical Passages
In Exodus, Chapters 25-40 are all about the Tabernacle, except there is a parenthetical passage in the middle, Chapters 32 -33. From our study on Revelation, we know that those parenthetical passages are very important as they set the structure of the book.
In these chapters we see that there is the showing of the plan to Moses, the Rebellion, and then the erection of the Tabernacle. The original plan for redemption was first ordained before the foundation of the world (1 Pet 1:19-20). So the pattern was to reveal the plan to Jesus, then the fall (fall of Adam, rebellion by people), and then the erection of the Tabernacle (or Jesus made flesh and tabernacling among us).
1. (1-2) God tells Moses to ask for an offering.
Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering.”
Opportunity to invest. God does not need us...
a. Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering: Before God told Moses what the offering was for, He told Moses to take an offering. God wanted Israel to be motivated by a willing heart more than by a specific need.
i. Our giving should not be primarily because of need. We should primarily give because our willing heart compels us.
b. Bring Me an offering: God is a rich God and can use any method of providing He wants. Yet He usually uses the willing hearts of His people as the way to support His work.
i. “All the materials for the building of the Tabernacle were to be supplied by the people themselves. This was not because God could not have provided everything in some other way.” (Morgan)
ii. This is because God wants to develop giving hearts within us. When we become givers, we become more like God, who is the greatest giver: For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16).
iii. Therefore we must be givers, not so much because God or the church needs our money, but because we must be conformed into the image of God’s Son (Romans 8:29).
c. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart: God only wanted contributions from those who gave willingly. God is not interested in coerced or manipulated giving. In the New Testament this idea is echoed in 2 Corinthians 9:7: So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
d. You shall take My offering: The offering didn’t belong to Moses, it didn’t belong to the elders, and it didn’t belong to Israel itself. God said you shall take My offering. The offering belonged to God, and was held by Moses and the nation on God’s behalf.
2. (3-7) The specific materials to be gathered.
“And this is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats’ hair; ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate.”
a. This is the offering which you shall take from them: Each of these materials were used in building a structure God commanded Moses to build. Each of these materials has a symbolic or a spiritual representation relevant to the building.
i. In the proportion of the finished tabernacle, the present-day value of these materials total more than $13 million (DeWitt). Their combined weight would be almost 19,000 pounds (8,600 kilos).
b. Blue: The dye for this color was extracted from a shellfish, seemingly in several different hues.
c. Purple: The dye for this color came from the murex snail. It was a purple-red color.
d. Scarlet: The dye for this color came from the dried and powdered eggs and bodies of a particular worm (coccus ilicis) which attaches itself to the holly plant.
e. Fine linen: This term translates an Egyptian word. The Egyptians knew (and undoubtedly taught the Jews) how to make fine linen.
i. “Egypt excelled in the production of linen, especially twined linen, where every thread was twisted from many strands.” (Cole)
f. Goat hair: Coverings made from this material were typically black and coarse, similar to our modern felt.
g. Rams’ skins: This customarily had the wool removed and was like fine leather.
h. Badger skins: This difficult to translate phrase may also refer to the skins of porpoises or manatees (the sea cow).
i. Acacia wood: This wood is harder and darker than oak. It is also very durable because wood-eating insects avoid it.
i. “This acacia is known to have been plentiful in Egypt, and it abounds in Arabia Desert, the very place in which Moses was when he built the tabernacle; and hence it is reasonable to suppose that he built it of that wood, which was every way proper for his purpose.” (Clarke)
3. (8-9) The purpose and pattern of the tabernacle.
“And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.”
While Moses was on the Mount he was given precise instructions about the Tabernacle.
Symbolic Meanings
We will see the instructions for the Tabernacle 2x: here, where God describes it to Moses and then when Moses builds it. In this passage, God starts with the Holy of Holies and works outward; when they build it, they start from the outside in (God’s view from inside out, vs our view from outside inward).
Altar - sanctification;
Laver - purification; Holy Place - food, shelter, illumination; Holy of Holies - Glory of enthroned king.
Vessels: outer court of wood and brass; inner court of wood and gold.
Illumination: Outer court - natural light; Holy Place - golden “candlestick” (oil); Holy of Holies - Shekinah Glory.
Order of events (here): Ark & Mercy Seat; Table; Candlestick; curtain; boards; veil... From interior outward. Mystical insight corresponds to the book of Ephesians. The second description which goes from the outside inward corresponds to the book of Romans (experiential order).
Gold - Divine Glory
Silver - Redemption (blood)
Brass - Judgement, wrath (can endure fire)
Blue - Heavenlies
Purple - Royal Majesty
Scarlet - Earthly Glory
Linen - Holiness
Goat’s Hair - Atonement (scapegoat)
Ram’s Skin - Devotedness (Substitute ram for Isaac)
Badger/Porpoise Skin - ability to Protect (shoes in wilderness)
Shittim Wood - Humanity
Oil - Light (light of Holy Spirit)
Spices - Fragrance unto God
Precious Stones - Priestly perfections
1.25 tons of Gold
4.25 tons of silver
4 tons of brass
(these alone are worth over $20 million!!)
7x Moses was commanded to make the Sanctuary after the pattern he was shown on the Mount (Ex 25:9; 25:40; 26:30 27:8; Nu 8:4; Heb 8:5; Acts 7:44)
a. Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them: The purpose of the tabernacle was to be the dwelling place of God. The idea was not that God exclusively lived in that place, but that it was the specific place where men could come and meet God.
i. Sanctuary: “Means ‘holy’ place or ‘the place set apart.’ Everything about the tabernacle was holy. The same word in 1 and 2 Chronicles refers to the temple.” (Kaiser)
b. The pattern of the tabernacle: This first representation of God’s dwelling place would be a tabernacle – a tent – and not a permanent structure.
i. “The word ‘tabernacle’ (miskan) appears for the first time here of its 139 OT occurrences. It is from the word ‘to dwell’ (sakan) and is the place where God dwells among his people.” (Kaiser)
ii. “The Hebrews were meant to feel that the God of their fathers was a fellow-pilgrim, that where they pitched He pitched, that their enemies, difficulties, and long toilsome marches were His.” (Meyer)
c. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings: It is evident that God not only described the tabernacle and its furnishings to Moses, but also did show him something of its structure and arrangement. There was a vision that accompanied the giving of these words.
i. The pattern of the tabernacle was according to a heavenly reality. It was a copy and shadow of the heavenly things (Hebrews 8:5). Therefore, it had to be made according to exact dimensions, being somewhat of a “scale model” of the area around God’s throne in heaven.
ii. “The pattern means almost ‘architect’s model.’” (Cole)
B. Instructions for building the Ark of the Covenant.
1. (10-11) The basic structure of the Ark of the Covenant.
“And they shall make an ark of acacia wood; two and a half cubits shall be its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height. And you shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and shall make on it a molding of gold all around.”
“Shittim” or Acacia - was the thorn bush of the desert. Probably the bush of the “burning bush.”
Cubit - roughly 18 inches (15 - 24 inches). Classically, the
distance between elbow to longest finger tip. Varies per person so there were standards, but each culture had its own standard...
a. They shall make an ark: The first item God told Moses to build was the ark, later called the Ark of the Covenant. This was the most important single item associated with the tabernacle, modeled after the throne of God in heaven.
i. “The most important feature is described first of all, because it was the symbol of the approach to God.” (Thomas)
b. They shall make an ark of acacia wood: The Ark of the Covenant was essentially a box (an ark is a box, not a boat). It was made of acacia wood, overlaid with gold, 3 feet 9 inches long; 2 feet 3 inches wide; and 2 feet 3 inches high.
2. (12-15) The rings and the poles for the Ark of the Covenant.
“You shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in its four corners; two rings shall be on one side, and two rings on the other side. And you shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, that the ark may be carried by them. The poles shall be in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it.”
To be carried by these poles, not to be touched. David’s man killed (2 Sam 6:6,7).
a. You shall cast four rings of gold for it: The Ark didn’t have handles and was not to be carried by lifting it directly in one’s hands. Instead, it was to be carried by inserting gold-overlaid wood poles into gold rings at each corner of the Ark.
b. The poles shall be in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it: The poles were to remain inserted in the rings, and to be the only proper source of contact with the Ark. Apart from touching the poles, it was forbidden to touch the Ark of the Covenant.
i. In 2 Samuel 6:6-7, Uzzah touched the Ark to keep it from falling off a cart but he did not touch it at the poles and God struck him dead. Uzzah was wrong in his thinking that God would let the Ark be damaged; in fact, it did not fall off the cart, and no thanks to Uzzah. Uzzah was also wrong in his thinking that there was something less pure about the ground than his act of pure disobedience.
3. (16) The contents of the Ark.
“And you shall put into the ark the Testimony which I will give you.”
a. You shall put into the ark the Testimony: God instructed Moses to put the Testimony – that is, a copy of the law – into the Ark of the Covenant.
b. Which I will give you: God told Moses to build the Ark of the Covenant to hold the law even before the law was given. Later, God would instruct Israel to put other things in the Ark as well – the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant (Hebrews 9:4).
4. (17-22) The mercy seat.
“You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits shall be its length and a cubit and a half its width. And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub at one end, and the other cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim at the two ends of it of one piece with the mercy seat. And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall face one another; the faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat. You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.”
“Beaten gold” - solid gold, although some argue gold leaf.
a. You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold: The mercy seat – actually, the lid to the Ark – was to be made of pure gold and made with the sculpted figures of cherubim. In the picture provided by the Ark of the Covenant, it was as if God dwelt between the two cherubim and met Israel there.
i. “In Israel, cherubim symbolized God’s attendant and messenger spirits (Psalm 104:3,4) and so were not considered a breach of Exodus 20:4, since no man worshipped them.” (Cole)
ii. Kaiser translates the ancient Hebrew word kapporet with the phrase, “atonement cover.” “The ark was the place of atonement or propitiation, hence the place where God was rendered favorable to his people.” (Kaiser)
b. And there I will meet with you: God met with Israel in the sense that He met with the representative of Israel (the high priest) in peace because of the atoning blood on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:14-15).
c. I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim: It was as if God, looking down from His dwelling place between the cherubim, saw the law in the Ark – and knew we were guilty of breaking His law. But atoning blood of sacrifice was sprinkled on the mercy seat, so that God saw the blood covering the breaking of His law – and forgiveness could be offered.
i. It is remarkable that even before God gave Moses the tablets of the Ten Commandments, God made provision for Israel’s failure under the law.
ii. In Romans 3:25, the Greek word for propitiation (hilasterion) is also used in the Septuagint (an early translation of the Old Testament from Hebrew into Greek, read in the days of the New Testament) for the “mercy seat.” Therefore, it can be rightly said that “Jesus is our mercy seat.” He is the place and the means of our redemption.
C. Instructions for building the table of showbread.
1. (23-29) Dimensions and materials for the table of showbread.
“You shall also make a table of acacia wood; two cubits shall be its length, a cubit its width, and a cubit and a half its height. And you shall overlay it with pure gold, and make a molding of gold all around. You shall make for it a frame of a handbreadth all around, and you shall make a gold molding for the frame all around. And you shall make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings on the four corners that are at its four legs. The rings shall be close to the frame, as holders for the poles to bear the table. And you shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be carried with them. You shall make its dishes, its pans, its pitchers, and its bowls for pouring. You shall make them of pure gold.”
The table held 12 loaves of unleavened bread, one for each of the 12 tribes, and renewed every sabbath.
The Shewbread is the Bread of God, a type of Christ. “I Am the Bread of Life.” (John 6:35).
Jesus was given three gifts at His birth: Gold, Frankencinse, myrh. Gold because He was a King, Frankencinse because it is the incense of the priesthood, and myrrh for His burial. In the Millennium He will be given gifts of gold and frankencinse (no myrrh because His death is then past). The Shewbread is unleavened bread with frankencinse baked in (speaking of His priesthood)! (Lev 24:5- Hebrew implies that the bread was pierced, perforated: Ps 22; Zech 12:10).
Table also makes a reference to fellowship (2 Sam 9, table as a place of honor; 1 Cor 10, Lord’s Table, communion).
The ridge around the table is measured as a handwidth, which is interesting as it is like a crown for protection; John 10:28 (study the Lord’s Hand).
a. You shall also make a table of acacia wood: This table was to be made of acacia wood, overlaid with gold; 3 feet long, 1 foot, 6 inches wide, and 2 feet, 3 inches high.
b. The rings shall be close to the frame, as holders for the poles to bear the table: This table was also to have rings and poles necessary to carry it, as well as accompanying dishes, pans, and so forth, all made out of pure gold.
i. “We are fortunate in having, on the Arch of Titus, a carved representation of this table (as well as of the golden lampstand). The model pictured is that from Herod’s Temple but, to judge from the description in Exodus, it followed closely the Exodus pattern.” (Cole)
2. (30) The purpose for the table of showbread.
“And you shall set the showbread on the table before Me always.
a. And you shall set the showbread on the table before Me always: On the table of showbread were set twelve loaves of showbread – literally, “bread of faces.” This was bread associated with, and to be eaten before, the face of God.
i. “In the East a table was always the symbol of fellowship. Thus the people were reminded of the possibility created of constant communion with God.” (Morgan)
ii. Meyer calls the showbread “presence-bread.” Bread is necessary for survival, and the link was a reminder that fellowship with God was just as necessary for man.
iii. “Lechem panim literally, bread of faces; so called, either because they were placed before the presence or face of God in the sanctuary, or because they were made square, as the Jews will have it.” (Clarke)
b. Showbread: According to Leviticus 24:5-9, showbread was made of fine flour, and twelve cakes of showbread – one for each tribe of Israel – set on the table, sprinkled lightly with frankincense. Once a week, the bread was replaced, and normally only priests could eat the old bread.
D. Instructions for building the lampstand.
1. (31-36) The lampstand itself.
“You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be of hammered work. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and flowers shall be of one piece. And six branches shall come out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side. Three bowls shall be made like almond blossoms on one branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower, and three bowls made like almond blossoms on the other branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower—and so for the six branches that come out of the lampstand. On the lampstand itself four bowls shall be made like almond blossoms, each with its ornamental knob and flower. And there shall be a knob under the first two branches of the same, a knob under the second two branches of the same, and a knob under the third two branches of the same, according to the six branches that extend from the lampstand. Their knobs and their branches shall be of one piece; all of it shall be one hammered piece of pure gold.”
6 is the number of man. 1 + 6 = 7
“I Am the Vine, ye are the branches.” John 15:5.
“Almonds” - almond trees are the first to bloom in the spring. The Hebrew for “almond” is equivalent to “vigilant” (Jer 1:11).
The bud, the flower, and the ripened fruit - seen in the rod of Aaron which budded with almonds (Num 17).
The almond tree is suggestive of the resurrection of Jesus Christ (which occurred in the spring). More important it was the symbol which established the Aaronic priesthood. Jesus was our firstfruit.
“One” - one beaten work. Are you at one with Him? This is the condition to be a light bearer.
a. You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold: The lampstand was hammered out of pure gold, with no specific dimensions given, but after the pattern of a modern-day menorah. It had one middle shaft with three branches coming out of each side, for a total of seven places for lamps.
b. Three bowls shall be made like almond blossoms on one branch: The repetition of the almond blossom motif was important because it was the first tree to blossom in the springtime. It reminded everyone of new life and the fresh nature of God’s ongoing work.
i. “A glance at any reproduction of the Arch of Titus will make the main outline plain, although the exact metaphorical sense of some of the technical terms used is not quite clear.” (Cole)
2. (37-40) The lamps for the lampstand.
“You shall make seven lamps for it, and they shall arrange its lamps so that they give light in front of it. And its wick-trimmers and their trays shall be of pure gold. It shall be made of a talent of pure gold, with all these utensils. And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.”
This is a lampstand, not a candlestick, as it burns oil. “I am the Light of the world” (John 8:12; 9:5; Matt 5:14). Light: Ex 25:31, 32, 37; Heb: “His.”
Talent = 120 pounds. Made from 1 talent of pure gold.
Rev 1 - 7 lampstands (light-bearer), light from oil (oil Levitically is that which anoints). We are anointed by the Holy Spirit (symbolically linked to oil throughout Scripture). Rev 1:4, from “seven Spirits” is reference to Isa 11:1-2 (7-fold Spirit). Jesus is mentioned as one, and then 3 pairs (“I am the Vine, ye are the branches.”) The lampstand bears the light, but it is not the source of light.
Compass Suggestions
The Table of Shewbread stood to the north in the Holy Place and the Menorah was to the south. It has been suggested that West seem to suggest prosperity and blessing (Ex 10:19; Deut 33:23; Josh 8:12; Isa 59:19). The East tends to speak of distress or judgement (Gen 3:24; 13:11; 41:6; Ex 10:13; 14:21; Isa 46:11). The North usually implies obscure or dark, tends to be the place which evil comes from (Prevalent in Hebrew literature because Babylon always attacked them from the north; Jer 1:14; 4:6; etc...) The South (Negev or desert) source of warmth and source of blessing, light (John 37:17; Ps 126:4; Luke 12:55, Deut 33:3, Acts 27:13.) It is interesting that the Lampstand is to the South.
a. You shall make seven lamps for it: The tabernacle represented the court of God’s throne, and Revelation 4:5 describes Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. The seven lamps represent the presence of the Holy Spirit in heaven.
b. So that they give light in front of it: Since the tabernacle itself was a completely covered tent, the only source of light was the lamps of the lampstand.
i. “The symbolism might be that of the light which God’s presence brings to His people (Numbers 6:25), remembering that light, in the Old Testament, is also a symbol of life and victory (Psalm 27:1).” (Cole)
ii. “‘A talent of pure gold’ was about seventy-five pounds.” (Kaiser)
c. According to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain: The principle first mentioned in Exodus 25:9 – that the tabernacle and its furnishings were to be built according to the specific, revealed pattern – is here again emphasized. It had to be a proper representation of the heavenly reality.
