The Tabernacle in the Wilderness

The words

1. Boards

   Exodus specifies upright boards of shittim wood for the tabernacle, overlaid with gold and joined by bars passing through rings.

   Did you know?

   The instructions call for two silver sockets beneath each board on the south side, a material detail beneath the gold-covered frame.

   Exodus 26:15 (opens a new tab) · Exodus 26:26–29 (opens a new tab) · Exodus 26:18–19 (opens a new tab)

2. Breastplate

   Aaron’s breastplate is folded double and made square, worked in gold, blue, purple, scarlet and fine linen, with four rows of stones.

   Exodus 28:15–17 (opens a new tab) · Exodus 28:29 (opens a new tab)

3. Cloud by Day

   Exodus describes a cloud covering the tent and the LORD’s glory filling the tabernacle; the cloud remains above it by day.

   Exodus 40:34–35; Exodus 40:38 (opens a new tab)

4. Court

   The court has fine linen hangings and surrounding pillars; its entrance hanging is worked in blue, purple and scarlet.

   Exodus 27:9 (opens a new tab) · Exodus 27:16–17 (opens a new tab)

5. Curtains

   Ten fine-linen curtains in blue, purple and scarlet, with cherubim, form the tabernacle; goat-hair curtains make a covering above it.

   Did you know?

   The inner curtains are joined with gold clasps; the goat-hair covering uses bronze clasps, distinguishing two layers in the instructions.

   Exodus 26:1; Exodus 26:6–11 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Exodus 26:6-11 (opens a new tab)

6. Fine Linen

   Fine linen appears among the donated materials and is specified for the tabernacle’s curtains and Aaron’s breastplate.

   Did you know?

   Exodus describes women spinning by hand and bringing what they have spun, including fine linen, among the materials for the work.

   Exodus 25:4 (opens a new tab) · Exodus 26:1 (opens a new tab) · Exodus 28:15 (opens a new tab) · Exodus 28:29 (opens a new tab) · Exodus 35:25 (opens a new tab)

7. Fire by Night

   Exodus ends by describing fire at night and a cloud by day, visible to all Israel throughout their journeys.

   Exodus 40:38 (opens a new tab)

8. Mercy Seat

   The mercy seat is made of pure gold above the ark, with two golden cherubim whose outstretched wings cover it.

   Did you know?

   Numbers later describes the voice Moses hears coming from above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim.

   Exodus 25:17–21 (opens a new tab) · Numbers 7:89 (opens a new tab)

9. Oil for Light

   Israel is to bring pure beaten olive oil for the lamp; Aaron and his sons tend it from evening to morning.

   Did you know?

   The lampstand has seven lamps in the instructions, with three branches extending from each side of its central shaft.

   Exodus 27:20–21 (opens a new tab) · Exodus 25:31–32; Exodus 25:37 (opens a new tab)

10. Pattern

    Moses is to make the tabernacle and its furnishings according to the pattern shown to him on the mountain.

    Did you know?

    Hebrews later quotes the instruction to make everything according to the pattern shown to Moses on the mountain.

    Exodus 25:9 (opens a new tab) · Exodus 25:40 (opens a new tab) · Hebrews 8:5 (opens a new tab)

11. Shewbread

    Bread of the Presence, in the NET Bible.

    Shewbread is to remain on the table before the LORD continually; the table itself is made of shittim wood overlaid with gold.

    Did you know?

    Leviticus specifies twelve cakes arranged in two rows of six, with the bread set in order every Sabbath.

    Exodus 25:23–24; Exodus 25:30 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Exodus 25:30 (opens a new tab) · Leviticus 24:5–8 (opens a new tab)

12. Shittim Wood

    Acacia wood, in the NET Bible’s rendering.

    Exodus specifies shittim wood for the ark, its carrying poles and the table, with gold covering these furnishings.

    Exodus 25:10–14 (opens a new tab) · Exodus 25:23–24 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Exodus 25:10 (opens a new tab)

13. Staves

    The ark’s staves are made of shittim wood overlaid with gold, fitted through its side rings and left in place for carrying.

    Exodus 25:13–15 (opens a new tab)

14. Tabernacle

    A portable tent sanctuary.

    The tabernacle is the sanctuary Israel is instructed to make so that the LORD may dwell among the people, following the design shown to Moses.

    Did you know?

    Numbers assigns the Levites to carry the tabernacle, take it down when it moves, and set it up at the next camp.

    Exodus 25:1; Exodus 25:8–9 (opens a new tab) · Numbers 1:50–51 (opens a new tab) · Exodus 26:1–11 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Exodus 26:6-11 (opens a new tab)

15. Twelve Tribes

    The breastplate’s twelve stones each carry a name from Israel’s tribes, engraved like a seal and worn over Aaron’s heart.

    Exodus 28:21 (opens a new tab) · Exodus 28:29 (opens a new tab)