Art Toombs Ministries 

Online Bible Commentary

The Tabernacle
Hebrews 9:1 Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; 3 and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4 which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. (NKJV)

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The early Eastern Church (Dionysius and Clement, both of Alexandria), from the very beginning, claimed Paul was the writer of Hebrews. The Western Church later agreed.

Luke translated the letter to the Hebrews into Greek, according to Clement in the second century. Luke was with Paul during his second Roman imprisonment and was his amanuensis during Paul’s final days (2 Timothy 4:11).

It is logical to assume that Luke was also Paul’s amanuensis for this letter. My conclusion is that this was Paul’s last writing, written in late 67-early 68 A.D.

In the preceding passage, Paul wrote of the superiority of Christ’s New Covenant to the Old Covenant. He now is preparing to compare the sacrificial systems of the two covenants, which includes the details of the gifts and sacrifices offered by Christ in His capacity as high priest.

These gifts were mentioned, but not detailed, in Hebrews 8:3. Paul begins this comparison by giving us a general description of the tabernacle in this passage.

The tabernacle was the first place of worship for God’s people. The temple, and later the church, was a type of the tabernacle.

The tabernacle was a very beautiful and ornate tent. It was the abode of God, and was called the tent of Jehovah. It would be set up in the center of everything to demonstrate that God should be in the center of the lives of His people.

God gave Moses instructions for building the tabernacle on Mount Sinai, shortly after the Hebrews had left captivity in Egypt. It was the place of worship until Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, some 480 years later.

The tabernacle was portable, and the Hebrews carried it with them throughout their forty years of wandering in the desert. They would set it up each time they camped and break it down each time they broke camp. The Levites were the tribe God anointed as priests and were responsible for setting up, breaking down, and transporting the tabernacle.

Paul begins this passage by writing “Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary” (v.1). The Old Covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.

The regulations for worship were included in the law, the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament. The earthly sanctuary was the tabernacle.

When the tabernacle was set up, it was composed of three areas: an outer court; the Holy Place; and the Holy of Holies. The outer court was the area around the tabernacle, where the people were allowed to congregate. It was enclosed by a fence with bronze posts and linen stretched between them.

The tabernacle itself measured about 45 feet long, 15 feet high and 15 feet wide. The first room, the first 30 feet inside the tent, was the Holy Place, where only the priests could enter to perform their ritual duties.

The back room, the next 15 feet of the tent separated by a curtain, was the Holy of Holies, where only one man in the world could enter. The high priest would enter once a year on the Day of Atonement to offer a blood sacrifice.

Upon entering the outer court there was the altar of burnt offering, where sacrificial animals were slain and burned. Next was the laver, a large bronze stand filled with water, in which the priests washed their hands and feet.

 

Paul continues with “For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary” (v. 2). In the Holy Place there was the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread.

The lampstand was a menorah. It was made of gold with a main stem and three arms reaching upward and holding oil-burning lamps on each side of the stem. The lampstand represented the light of God’s truth.

The table was the table of showbread on which were twelve cakes of bread, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. These cakes were called “bread of the presence” because they were set in the presence of God. The showbread represented that the soul must have its spiritual food and live in communion with God.

Also, In the center of the Holy Place was the golden altar of incense (Ex. 30:6), with the table on its right and the lampstand on its left, against the walls. The altar of incense was the symbol of prayer.

The priests entered the Holy Place daily to offer incense for the morning and evening prayers and to renew the lights on the lampstand. They would change out the bread each Sabbath.

Next, Paul writes “and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All” (v. 3). In the next room, behind the second curtain, was “the Holiest of All”, the Holy of Holies, the abode of God. It was the type of Heaven.

Paul continues with “which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold” (v. 4a).  Located in the Holy of Holies was the “golden censer”, and the gold-covered ark of the covenant.

The “golden censer” was a reference to the censer, or incense shovel, with which the high priest would carry incense from the golden altar in the Holy Place into the Holy of Holies.

The Ark of the Covenant was a large wooden chest overlaid on all sides with gold. The gold lid of the ark was called the mercy seat, the place where Jehovah dwelt.  The mercy seat was a slab of pure gold that fit over the entirety of the top of the ark.

Paul continues “in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant” (v. 4b). The Ark of the Covenant contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron's staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. By the time the temple opened the only thing in the ark was the two stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments (1 Kings 8:9).

Paul concludes this passage by writing “and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail” (v. 5). Above the mercy seat were “the cherubim of the glory”.

The cherubim were two figures made of beaten gold facing each other, with heads bowed and wings outspread and over arching the mercy seat. The cherubim were the carriers of the divine glory and shekinah. They were sacred and Paul would not speak of them in detail at this time.

As mentioned previously, the tabernacle was the type of the temple, and later the church. It was a place to receive forgiveness for sins and to worship God.

It was a beautiful and holy place. It was said to be the abode of God.

But, of course, God does not live in any building. God, the Holy Spirit, lives in our hearts and Jesus and the Father live in Heaven.

We can worship God at any time and at any place because He indwells every Christian with the Holy Spirit. We can worship Him and talk to Him continuously, all day long.

At the moment Christ died on the cross the curtain to the Holy of Holies ripped in two. We are no longer separated from God. He is always with us.