January 2002
Exodus Chapters 36-40
The last five chapters of Exodus provide to us a detailed look at the actual construction of the Tabernacle.
We are provided details of the actual construction, primarily by Bezaleel and Aholiab, and those under their supervision, following the detailed instructions the Lord provided to Moses. Exodus 36:1-2. There is described to making of the tent tabernacle with its beautiful and colored coverings, its "Holy Place" centerpiece, the ornate furnishings, the Ark of the Covenant (home to the stoned engravings of the Ten Commandments) with its beautiful and elaborate Mercy Seat covering, the offering tables and candlesticks.
Described in detailed are the garments which were made for the priests to wear during the holy ceremonies. Finally Exodus ends with the tabernacle and all the work being delivered to Moses, and the consecration of Aaron and his sons in the office of priests to serve and care for the tabernacle. Moses set up the tabernacle to end this major book of the Old Testament.
The Tabernacle:
Chapter 36 provides the details of the construction of the tabernacle. Great detail, deserving to be read and examined for the appreciation of the tremendous detail of the tent and its elaborate curtains, is provided for the reader.
The entire chapter provides extreme details of the construction of the tabernacle , its walls, coverings, poles, corners, curtains, and boards. It describes the beautiful door hangings used at the entrances. The details deserve individual reading and appreciation.
Ark of the Covenant, Mercy Seat:
Chapter 37 of Exodus describes the details of the construction of the Ark of the Covenant which was to hold the stone engravings of the Ten Commandments.
This is the historical artifact made famous with much of the public in the popular Hollywood movie show regarding the exploits of "Indiana Jones." It is obvious the movie writers used the 37th chapter of Exodus to build the replica depicted in the movie. Exacting details are provided as to its construction.
The ark of was of shittim wood, and carefully covered with pure gold, inside and outside. Every part was covered with pure gold, including the staves used to transport it.
The mercy seat covering was of gold and was highlighted by the two facing cherubim with their high-spread wing span which covered over the top of the mercy seat.
The 37th chapter also details the making of the table and ornate candlestick, and incense altar. It also talks of the making of the holy anointing oil and the pure incense of sweet spices.
Tabernacle courtyard:
Chapter 38 describes the making of the alter and then of the tabernacle court and of its pillars and hangings of detailed and ornate needlework.
The chapter further describes the extensive amounts of precious metals, gold and silver, used in the making of the tabernacle and its furnishings. Religious scholars have provided claimed estimates that the amount of gold and silver listed at Exodus 38:24-31 would be valued at more than $20 million in gold and the silver at more than $7 million. (This estimate was made more than 10 years ago).
The priest's garments:
Exodus Chapter 39 details the making of the priests’ garments, with its elaborate breastplate. The colors were royal in purple, blue and scarlet. The garments were made to be used in the holy place by Aaron and his sons.
Gold was beaten into thin plates and cut into wires and woven into the priest’s garments. There was elaborate shoulder plates and girdles.
The breastplate is described as made of "cunning work" Exodus 39:8. The feature piece of the breastplate was the 12 precious stones, four rows with three stones in each row. The 12 stones represented the 12 tribes of Israel and were sarduis, topaz, carbuncle, emerald, sapphire, diamond, ligure, agate, amethyst, beryl, onyx, and a jasper. Each stone was enclosed in gold.
The chapter continues describing the details of the priests’ garments including a plate of the holy crown of pure gold and engraved in it "Holiness to the Lord." Exodus 39:30.
Delivery to Moses
The 39th Chapter concludes with the delivery of the tabernacle, the ark and its mercy seat, tabernacle furnishings and the priests garments to Moses.
"And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold they had done it as the Lord had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them." Exodus 39:43.
Tabernacle ready for use
The final chapter of Exodus, Chapter 40, describes how Moses then commanded the erection and establishment of the tabernacle; and the holy sanitary method of its cleanliness. The lord commanded Moses to set up the tabernacle on the first day of the month, and put the Ten Commandments into the ark and cover with the mercy seat. Moses was instructed to set up the holy place, set up the alter, fill the incense and oil, lights the candlesticks, and deliver Aaron and his sons as priests to the tabernacle, and clothe them with the holy priests garments.
Exodus 40:17 tells us the tabernacle was constructed, set up and ready for ceremony one year after the Exodus from Egypt, and nine months after arrival in the Sinai.
At Exodus 40:33, we read that "So Moses finished the work."
Then a cloud covered the tabernacle "and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle." Exodus 40:34.
The Israel people then knew when to journey and when not to. When the cloud of the glory of the Lord was present, they did not travel until the cloud was "taken up from over the tabernacle". Exodus 40:36.
Next: The third book of Moses -- Leviticus