Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-03

CONTEXT.-Before beginning the
study of our lesson one should read with
more than ordinary care the last fifteen
chapters Of Exodus. The context Is ak
ways important in every passage OF Scrip
ture or other literature, but here 1t Is mas
pensable. The few verses before US taken
out Of their setting can have little meaning
to any mind and might as well be cast
aside unless the direction made Is followed.
But in their rightful relation as part Oh
a continuous narrative they may be IN
structive. 1t will appear upon this reading
as suggested that our general topic is too
comprehensive. We have not really les
son upon the tabernacle. but rather upon
It's erection and conservation. But for the
sake Of fuller and clearer view we shall
treat the subject more extensively than
these thirteen verses might require. The
Importance of the theme is sufficient war
rant for such course.
HISTORY.-After the delivery of the
first group of laws to Israel and the popu-
lar ratification of the covenant Moses was
called again into the mount to meet God.
There he was instructed to make sanctu-
airy. a dwelling place for the Almighty
eek, xxv:S. For this purpose the people
were directed to present q free-Wlli oHer-
ing of gold. silver. brass, fine linen. goats
hair, rams skins, badgers skins. shlttim
wood, OIL spices and precious stones. some
of these materials were brought from
Egypt and some were obtained In the will
derness since the exodus God gave full
directions concerning the structure and It's
furniture, which was to be called the taber.
nacle of the congregation, distinguishing II
from the tent which had been headquarters
eek, xxxiii:S. Moreover, the tabernacle
of the congregation and its several parts
were represented pictorially to Moses eek.
xxv:9. God indicated the men who should
oil n
Aholiab of Dan, upon whom the spirit OF
God rested (Ex., xxxi:23.6. The work was
interrupted by the worship OF the goiden
calf but after the punishment or the Of
tenders and the restoration OF the peo-
pie to the Divine favor 1t was renewed and
pushed forward to completion 1t is i'm
possible for US to determine precisely how
much time was occupied in the construc-
ton.
DESCRIPTION.-The tabernacle prop
er was an oblong rectangular structure,
thirty cubts twenty inches to cuplt) long
by ten cubits in headth. 1t was pulu OF
shittim wood boards ten cublts long. stand
ing erect in close contact with each other
and fastened together. 1t was covered with
four sets of curtainS-one OF fine tWlned
linen ornamented with cherubm of cum
ming work, one of goats hair. one of ram
skin and one of badgers skin. These cur
tains were spread from side to side, elevated
at the top to form ridge. The tabernacle
was divided into two parts-the Holy Place
and the Holy of Holes. separated by
veil. the former twice the size of the
latter. There was but one piece OF furnl-
ture in the Holy of Holes, the ark of the
covenant, a small chest overaid within and
without with gold. On the upper side of
the ark was the mercy seat supporting two
cherubims one on each end, regarded as
the symbolic throne OF Divine presence.
before which the high priest appeared on
the great day Of atonement The great
purpose Of the ark was to contain invio-
late the Divine autograph Of the two tables
of stone, on which was written the law of
Cod the most sacred thing Of the Levitical
dispense ton. In the Holy Place was the
altar of incense, the table Of show bread
and the golden candlestick. described in
Exodus XVI, xXXiv and XXXv. Around the
tabernacle was a court. open. to the sky.
a parallelogram, 100 cubits long and 80
cubits broad. The court was inclosed with
curtains that were hung on series of
pillars of acacia, which were five cubits
in height, held upright by cords and pins
The furniture of the court consisted Of the
altar of burnt offering, used for sacrifices.
and the layer of brass containing water
for the priests to wash their hands and
feet before offering sacrifice
ERECTION.-We now come to the
first part of our lesson properA the setting
up of the tabernacle oversees l to g. This
was done on the first day of the first month
at the command of God about one year
after leaving Egypt. The intention was to
prepare for the passover, which was to
occur on the fifteenth day. The tabernacle
was made the center of the camp. The
multitude of Israel grouped around it in
fixed order, according to tribal rank. See
Numbers, second chapter. On the east were
Judah, Zebulon and Issachar; on the west
Ephraim, Menasseh and Benjamin; on the
south Reuben. Simeon and Cad; on the
north, Dan, Asher and Naphtali. Thus the
sanctuary of God became the rallying point
Of Israel. Our lesson gives the order in
which the parts were to be set up. not
only for the first time, but every time the
camp formed. This order was not
Nf bod
struction wel-the tabernacle proper. the
ark of testimony, the table of show bread.
the candlestick whose lamps should be
lighted. the altar Of incense the altar of