in Hebrew, אהל, in Greek, σκηνἠ, a word which properly
signifies _a tent_, but is particularly applied by the Hebrews to a kind
of building in the form of a tent, set up by the express command of God,
for the performance of religious worship, sacrifices, &c, during the
journeyings of the Israelites in the wilderness; and after their
settlement in the land of Canaan made use of for the same purpose, till
the temple was built in Jerusalem. The tabernacle was covered with
curtains and skins. It was divided into two parts, the one covered, and
properly called the tabernacle, and the other open, called the court.
The covered part was again divided into two parts, the one called holy,
and the other called the holy of holies. The curtains which covered it
were made of linen of several colours embroidered. There were ten
curtains, twenty-eight cubits long, and four in breadth. Five curtains
together made two coverings, which, being made fast together, enveloped
all the tabernacle. Over the rest there were two other coverings, the
one of goat’s hair, and the other of sheep skins. These vails or
coverings were laid on a square frame of planks, resting on bases. There
were forty-eight large planks, each a cubit and a half wide, and ten
cubits high; twenty of them on each side, and six at one end to the
westward; each plank was supported by two silver bases; they were let
into one another, and held by bars running the length of the planks. The
holy of holies was parted from the rest of the tabernacle by a curtain,
made fast to four pillars standing ten cubits from the end. The whole
length of the tabernacle was thirty-two cubits, that is, about fifty
feet; and the breadth twelve cubits, or nineteen feet. The end was
thirty cubits high; the upper curtain hung on the north and south sides
eight cubits, and on the east and west four cubits. The court was a
place a hundred cubits long, and fifty in breadth, inclosed by twenty
columns, each of them twenty cubits high, and ten in breadth, covered
with silver, and standing on copper bases, five cubits distant from each
other, between which there were curtains drawn, and fastened with hooks.
At the east end was an entrance twenty cubits wide, covered with a
curtain hanging loose. In the tabernacle was the ark of the covenant,
the table of shew bread, the golden candlestick, and the altar of
incense; and in the court opposite to the entrance of the tabernacle, or
holy place, stood the altar of burnt-offerings, and the laver or bason
for the use of the priests.
The tabernacle was finished on the first day of the first month of the
second year after the departure out of Egypt, A. M. 2514. When it was
set up, a dark cloud covered it by day, and a fiery cloud by night.
Moses went into the tabernacle to consult the Lord. It was placed in the
midst of the camp, and the Hebrews were ranged in order about it,
according to their several tribes. When the cloud arose from off the
tabernacle, they decamped; the priests carried those things which were
most sacred, and the Levites all the several parts of the tabernacle.
Part of the tribes went before, and the rest followed after, and the
baggage of the tabernacle marched in the centre. The tabernacle was
brought into the land of Canaan by Joshua, and set up at Gilgal. Here it
rested till the land was conquered. Then it was removed to Shiloh, and
afterward to Nob. Its next station was Gibeah, and here it continued
till the ark was removed to the temple.
The word also means a frail dwelling, Job xi, 14; and is put for our
bodies, 2 Cor. v, 1.
signifies _a tent_, but is particularly applied by the Hebrews to a kind
of building in the form of a tent, set up by the express command of God,
for the performance of religious worship, sacrifices, &c, during the
journeyings of the Israelites in the wilderness; and after their
settlement in the land of Canaan made use of for the same purpose, till
the temple was built in Jerusalem. The tabernacle was covered with
curtains and skins. It was divided into two parts, the one covered, and
properly called the tabernacle, and the other open, called the court.
The covered part was again divided into two parts, the one called holy,
and the other called the holy of holies. The curtains which covered it
were made of linen of several colours embroidered. There were ten
curtains, twenty-eight cubits long, and four in breadth. Five curtains
together made two coverings, which, being made fast together, enveloped
all the tabernacle. Over the rest there were two other coverings, the
one of goat’s hair, and the other of sheep skins. These vails or
coverings were laid on a square frame of planks, resting on bases. There
were forty-eight large planks, each a cubit and a half wide, and ten
cubits high; twenty of them on each side, and six at one end to the
westward; each plank was supported by two silver bases; they were let
into one another, and held by bars running the length of the planks. The
holy of holies was parted from the rest of the tabernacle by a curtain,
made fast to four pillars standing ten cubits from the end. The whole
length of the tabernacle was thirty-two cubits, that is, about fifty
feet; and the breadth twelve cubits, or nineteen feet. The end was
thirty cubits high; the upper curtain hung on the north and south sides
eight cubits, and on the east and west four cubits. The court was a
place a hundred cubits long, and fifty in breadth, inclosed by twenty
columns, each of them twenty cubits high, and ten in breadth, covered
with silver, and standing on copper bases, five cubits distant from each
other, between which there were curtains drawn, and fastened with hooks.
At the east end was an entrance twenty cubits wide, covered with a
curtain hanging loose. In the tabernacle was the ark of the covenant,
the table of shew bread, the golden candlestick, and the altar of
incense; and in the court opposite to the entrance of the tabernacle, or
holy place, stood the altar of burnt-offerings, and the laver or bason
for the use of the priests.
The tabernacle was finished on the first day of the first month of the
second year after the departure out of Egypt, A. M. 2514. When it was
set up, a dark cloud covered it by day, and a fiery cloud by night.
Moses went into the tabernacle to consult the Lord. It was placed in the
midst of the camp, and the Hebrews were ranged in order about it,
according to their several tribes. When the cloud arose from off the
tabernacle, they decamped; the priests carried those things which were
most sacred, and the Levites all the several parts of the tabernacle.
Part of the tribes went before, and the rest followed after, and the
baggage of the tabernacle marched in the centre. The tabernacle was
brought into the land of Canaan by Joshua, and set up at Gilgal. Here it
rested till the land was conquered. Then it was removed to Shiloh, and
afterward to Nob. Its next station was Gibeah, and here it continued
till the ark was removed to the temple.
The word also means a frail dwelling, Job xi, 14; and is put for our
bodies, 2 Cor. v, 1.