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The tabernacle was made of
boards, with bars put across; and these boards and bars were made of
shittim wood covered with gold. At the entrance, there were not
boards, but five pillars of shittim wood covered with gold. Within
the tabernacle, under the upper end, were four more pillars; a beautiful
covering, called the vail, was hung over them; and this hid the inside,
which was the most holy place, "the Holy of Holies." None
could go in there but the High Priest; and he went only once a year.
In the Holy of Holies was placed the ark. The ark was a chest or box
made of shittim wood, covered with gold; and there were rings in the
sides, for poles to be put in when the ark was moved. The top of the
ark was called the Mercy-seat; two golden angels, called Cherubim, were
placed one on each side the Mercy-seat; they looked over it, and their
wings covered the top. In the ark were afterwards kept the tables of
the commandments, Aaron's rod, and a golden pot full of manna, which God
commanded to be put there. Outside the vail, was the altar on which
incense was burnt, the table on which the holy bread, called shew-bread,
was placed, and the great gold candlestick. The tabernacle stood in
a large open court; pillars of brass surrounded it, and curtains were hung
upon them. The brazen altar for burnt offerings, and the great laver
where the priests washed, stood in this court. There were coverings
and curtains to the tabernacle and court. Over the boards of the
tabernacle was thrown a covering of fine linen, beautifully worked in
scarlet, and purple, and blue; over the linen, was a covering of goats'
hair; over this, a covering of ram's skins dyed red; and another covering
of thick skins over all. The people were not allowed to go into the
tabernacle: but the priests went in every morning to offer incense,
and every evening to light the lamps; and on the Sabbath, to take away the
old shewbread from the table, and to put on new. The sacrifices were
offered in the court, where the people stood. This
was the beautiful tabernacle which God taught Moses to make for His
worship. The things in it were likenesses, or types, of better and
holy things. The Holy of Holies was a type of Heaven, that holy
place which we cannot now see; and the ark there, with the bright
glory shining above it, was a type of Christ. He is now in
Heaven, and the holy angels stand before him, like the Cherubim over the
ark. When the High Priest went into the most Holy Place, he
sprinkled the blood of the sacrifice before the Mercy-seat. Jesus is
our High Priest, and he offered a sacrifice for our sins before he went
into Heaven. What sacrifice did He offer? He offered himself;
He died upon the cross, and there poured out His blood, and bore the
punishment of our sins. And now like the Israelitish High Priest, He
is gone into the Holy Place, not into the Holy of Holies of the
tabernacle, but into Heaven of which that was the type; and there He
pleads for us before the Mercy-seat, the throne of God. When
all was finished, God commanded Moses to set up the tabernacle. Then
Moses put up the boards and bars, and threw the covering over; and took
the ark and put it into the Holy Place, within the vail; then he placed
the table outside, and put the bread upon it; and near the table he placed
the candlestick, and lighted up the lamps. He put the golden altar
before the vail, and burnt sweet incense upon it; but the altar of burnt
offering, and the laver, he put in the court outside. Then Moses and
Aaron washed at the laver: and the hangings were put up, and all was
finished. A cloud covered the tabernacle, and the glory of the Lord
filled it. The cloud was always there by day, and fire by
night. When the cloud was taken up, the people journeyed; and when
it staid upon the tabernacle, then they rested in their tents.
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