How Does the Old Testament Mesh with the New 20
The Building of the Tabernacle
After God finished giving His laws to Moses for the book of the Covenant, He told Moses to gather Aaron and his two oldest sons and seventy of Israel’s elders, who must worship from a distance on Mount Sinai. The rest of the people stay at the foot of the mountain. Only Moses is to approach Jehovah.
What is happening here is that God is preparing for the ratification of the Ten Commandments and of the laws in the book of the Covenant, with the Israelites. Moses goes down to the people and reads them to the people. They respond:
“We will do everything the Lord has commanded.” Ex. 24:3 NLT
This was followed by a sacrificial offering of bulls. God declared that blood was the quintessence of life for people and animals[1], and was frequently used in covenant ratification:
Then Moses took the blood from the basins and splattered it over the people, declaring, “Look, this blood confirms the covenant the Lord has made with you in giving you these instructions.” Ex. 24:8 NLT
The blood sanctified the people. It was a ‘peace offering’[2]
Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up [the mountainside],and they saw [a manifestation of] the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, just as clear as the sky itself. Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the Israelites; and they saw [the manifestation of the presence of] God, and ate and drank. Ex. 24:9-11 AMP
The eating and drinking were also part of the ceremony of ratifying the covenant.
(Note that what they saw was a manifestation of God. As you know, God is invisible. He also teaches us that we cannot see His true essence and live to talk about it.[3] Seeing the manifestation and not God Himself, is why those near Jehovah were not killed.)
Everyone was now off Mount Sinai. Then God called Moses to return to Him alone:
“Come up to me on the mountain. Stay there, and I will give you the tablets of stone on which I have inscribed the instructions and commands so you can teach the people.” Ex. 24:12 NLT
Then Moses climbed up the mountain, and the cloud covered it. And the glory of the Lord settled down on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from inside the cloud. To the Israelites at the foot of the mountain, the glory of the Lord appeared at the summit like a consuming fire.Then Moses disappeared into the cloud as he climbed higher up the mountain. He remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights. Ex. 24:15 – 18. NLT
During this time, Jehovah instructed Moses on how to build Him a ‘tabernacle’:
The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the people of Israel to bring me their sacred offerings. Accept the contributions from all whose hearts are moved to offer them. Here is a list of sacred offerings you may accept from them: gold, silver, and bronze;blue, purple, and scarlet thread; fine linen and goat hair for cloth; tanned ram skins and fine goatskin leather; acacia wood; olive oil for the lamps; spices for the anointing oil and the fragrant incense; onyx stones, and other gemstones to be set in the ephod and the priest’s chestpiece.” Ex. 25:1 – 7. NLT
“Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them. You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you.” Ex. 25:8, 9. NLT
So, this ‘Tabernacle’ (also referred to as a ‘sanctuary’, ‘tent of meeting’ or ‘tent of testimony’), was to be a holy place, designed exclusively for worshiping God. And He communicated to Moses exactly as to how it was to be built – even to the very measurements, and the materials it was to be constructed with. (See Ex. 25:10 – 40.)
It was to bring the nation of Israelites together to worship God as per His precise instructions. ‘Tabernacle’ comes from the Hebrew sakan, meaning to ‘dwell’. This is where Jehovah would dwell amongst His people. The description ‘tent’ meant that it was to be a portable structure. ‘Testimony’ referred to the Ten Commandments, which were contained in the ‘Ark of the Testimony’ – a golden overlaid box with a pure gold lid, (part of the ‘Mercy Seat’) where God would reside) kept in a subdivision of the Tabernacle called the ‘holy of holies.’ The Tabernacle provided comfort for the people, knowing that regardless of their travels, God was with them. So, the Tabernacle was not for God, but for His children. All worship and sacrifices were performed there, and it emphasized that Jehovah was the one true God amidst all the many false gods that the heathens around them worshiped.
The Tabernacle ‘building’ was to be set at one end of a courtyard. All animal sacrifices were performed in the courtyard on a ‘bronze altar’, (‘altar of burnt offering), and there was a ‘bronze laver’ as well, to ensure that the priests were able to cleanse themselves before entering the Tabernacle. (See Ex. 27:1 – 8.)
There were two rooms in the Tabernacle: one was the ‘holy place’ where the priests performed all the rituals; second was the ‘most holy place’ (holy of holies), where God Himself would manifest on His ‘Mercy Seat.” Only the High Priest could enter that room, and only on one day of the year (the day of atonement).
(From the Christian perspective, the Tabernacle was a precursor to Christ, whose sacrifice provided us a direct connection to God, sans Tabernacle, when the veil was torn in the Temple.[4] Furthermore, the Tabernacle also offered atonement for sins as an antecedent of Christ’s atoning work on the cross.)
The Ark of the Testimony, along with the mercy seat, were considered the most sacred of all the Tabernacle furnishings – primarily targeted for atonement (propitiation) of sins.
The two pieces of furniture in the holy place consisted of a ‘Table of Showbread’, (‘bread of display’, ‘bread of the presence) – symbolic of God’s physical provision (actually eaten by the priests), and the ‘Golden Lampstand’(menorah), emblematic of Jehovah’s spiritual provision. It was a candelabra with six branches which were to be perpetually burning oil lamps, signifying Jehovah’s presence.
Lastly, for the walls of the Tabernacle, and to create a separation between the holy place and most holy place, was accomplished by erecting a series of multiple curtains. (See Ex. 26:1 – 37.)
If you are going to have a Tabernacle, it is imperative to have priests:
“Now bring your brother Aaron near, and his sons with him from among the sons of Israel, so that he may serve as priest to Me—Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons. You are to make sacred garments [official clothing reserved for holy services] for Aaron your brother, for honor and for beauty (ornamentation). Tell all the skilled and talented people whom I have endowed with a spirit of wisdom, that they are to make Aaron’s garments to sanctify him and set him apart to serve as a priest for Me.” Ex. 28:1 – 3. AMP
Jehovah is setting up His priesthood, which at this time was a vital component for the Tabernacle. All priests, beginning with Aaron and his sons, and then propagated by their descendants, had to be from the tribe of Levi. This practice is still in effect for the priests of the Hasidic sect of religious Jews in present time.
The priestly duties included maintenance in and on the tabernacle and its operation. Most important though, was their spiritual works: as a mediator to bring the people closer to God, through holy rituals (including sacrificial rites), intercessory prayer, being a model for holy living, and an intermediator between people, e.g., settling disputes, and teaching Mosaic Law.
You’ll also see in the above Scripture that the priests were to have a very ornate ‘uniform’ designed by God Himself, to elevate the office of the priest, but not the man himself. (See Ex. 28:4 – 43.)
“This is the ceremony you must follow when you consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests:” Ex. 29:1 NLT
The priests also had to be consecrated (dedicated, set apart, ordained to a sacred office). Jehovah reveals the exact stepwise procedure in detail. It began with animal sacrifices, ritual offerings to God, water cleansing, and anointing them with oil. The consecration took seven days. (See Ex. 29:2 – 46; 30:17 – 33).
The tabernacle required one more piece of furniture:
“Then make another altar of acacia wood for burning incense…Place the incense altar just outside the inner curtain that shields the Ark of the Covenant, in front of the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—that covers the tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant. I will meet with you there.” Ex. 30:1 & 6. NLT
“Every morning when Aaron maintains the lamps, he must burn fragrant incense on the altar. And each evening when he lights the lamps, he must again burn incense in the Lord’s presence. This must be done from generation to generation.” Ex. 30:7, 8. NLT (See also Ex. 30:2 – 5, 9, 24 – 37.)
After God has told Moses how everything needs to be constructed, He tells him who He has hired and enabled to do that construction:
Then the Lord said to Moses,“Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft!
“And I have personally appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to be his assistant. Moreover, I have given special skill to all the gifted craftsmen so they can make all the things I have commanded you to make.” Ex. 31:1 – 6. NLT (See also 31:7 – 11.)
Lastly, God reminds Moses to reiterate the importance of the Sabbath; and that it needs to be kept, even during the construction of the Tabernacle:
The Lord then gave these instructions to Moses: “Tell the people of Israel: ‘Be careful to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you from generation to generation. It is given so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy. You must keep the Sabbath day, for it is a holy day for you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; anyone who works on that day will be cut off from the community. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day must be a Sabbath day of complete rest, a holy day dedicated to the Lord. Anyone who works on the Sabbath must be put to death. The people of Israel must keep the Sabbath day by observing it from generation to generation. This is a covenant obligation for all time. It is a permanent sign of my covenant with the people of Israel. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day he stopped working and was refreshed.’” Ex. 31:12 – 17. NLT
When He had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God. Ex. 31:18 AMP
Stay tuned for the Golden Calf…
Goodnight and God bless.
[1] Lv. 17:11
[2] Ex. 24:5
[3] Ex. 33:20
[4] Mt. 27:51
Building Better Americans 136
How Does the Old Testament Mesh with the New 19
The book of the Covenant
Chapters 21 – 23 of Exodus makes up what is called the ‘book of the Covenant’. You could rightly say that they are laws in addition to the Ten Commandments, and many of them are the Commandments applied in various incidences in life. (Note: I will ‘cherry pick’ them, as some are more customized for the culture at that time).
God tells Moses directly what they are:
“Now these are the ordinances (laws) which you shall set before the Israelites”: Ex. 21:1 AMP
The first group of laws deal with slavery. The Israelite form of slavery was not prison-based. It was grounded upon indentured servitude – allowing the indentured servant the ability to work off an infraction, or, more commonly, to compensate for indebtedness and to lift one out of poverty.
“If you purchase a Hebrew servant [because of his debt or poverty], he shall serve six years, and in the seventh [year] he shall leave as a free man, paying nothing.” Ex. 21:2 AMP
Regardless of what brought them to be an indentured servant, their penance was paid in full in 6 years or less, and then they were set free.
If he was single when he became your slave, he shall leave single. But if he was married before he became a slave, then his wife must be freed with him. Ex. 21:3 NLT
The indentured period of the slave’s wife could not exceed that of her husband.
“If his master gave him a wife while he was a slave and they had sons or daughters, then only the man will be free in the seventh year, but his wife and children will still belong to his master. But the slave may declare, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children. I don’t want to go free.’ If he does this, his master must present him before God. Then his master must take him to the door or doorpost and publicly pierce his ear with an awl. After that, the slave will serve his master for life.” Ex. 21:4 – 6. NLT
Many times, the ‘master’ would provide a wife to a single male slave to breed more slaves. Thus, the given wife and children were his property. However, when the slave’s time of indenture was complete, rather than leaving, he could become a slave for life and stay with his family.
The next set of laws deal with causing physical harm to another human being:
“Whoever strikes a man so that he dies must be put to death. However, if he did not lie in wait [for him], but God allowed him to fall into his hand, then I will establish for you a place to which he may escape [for protection until duly tried]. But if a man acts intentionally against another and kills him by [design through] treachery, you are to take him from My altar [to which he may have fled for protection], so that he may be put to death.” Ex. 21:12 – 14. AMP
God is making the distinction between murder, with death by human execution being the penalty, and unintentional manslaughter, whose penalty would be determined by a court.
“Anyone who strikes father or mother must be put to death.” Ex. 21:15 NLT
This is a clear violation of the Fifth Commandment.
“Kidnappers must be put to death, whether they are caught in possession of their victims or have already sold them as slaves.” Ex. 21:16 NLT
“Whoever curses his father or his mother or treats them contemptuously must be put to death.” Ex. 21:17 AMP
Again, violating the Fifth Commandment.
“Now suppose two men are fighting, and in the process they accidentally strike a pregnant woman so she gives birth prematurely. If no further injury results, the man who struck the woman must pay the amount of compensation the woman’s husband demands and the judges approve. But if there is further injury, the punishment must match the injury: a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot, a burn for a burn, a wound for a wound, a bruise for a bruise.” Ex. 21:22 – 25. NLT
The section reading ‘life for life’, etc., is referred as the ‘Law of Retaliation’ (Lex Talionis). Other than ‘life for life’, none of the remainder of that sentence was ever taken literally. It was a principle that limited vengeance and stipulated the punishment cannot exceed the crime, preserving true justice.
The next set of laws deal with social responsibility:
“You must not mistreat or oppress foreigners in any way. Remember, you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.” Ex. 22:21 NLT
“You must not exploit a widow or an orphan.” Ex. 22:22 NLT
“If you lend money to any of my people who are in need, do not charge interest as a money lender would.” Ex. 22:25 NLT
“You must not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked to be a malicious witness.
“You must not follow a crowd in wrongdoing. Do not testify in a lawsuit and go along with a crowd to pervert justice. Do not show favoritism to a poor person in his lawsuit. Ex. 23:1 – 3. CSB
Do not kill the innocent and the just, because I will not justify the guilty. Ex. 23:7 CSB
You must not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and corrupts the words of the righteous. Ex. 23:8 CSB
The next set of laws concern themselves with worship:
“Each year you must celebrate three festivals in my honor.
First, celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread. For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast, just as I commanded you. Celebrate this festival annually at the appointed time in early spring, in the month of Abib, for that is the anniversary of your departure from Egypt. No one may appear before me without an offering.” Ex. 23:14, 15. NLT
This of course, represents Passover, celebrated at the planting of the crops.
“Second, celebrate the Festival of Harvest, when you bring me the first crops of your harvest.” Ex. 23:16a NLT
This holiday is called Shavout (also ‘Pentecost), celebrated seven weeks after Passover. It also celebrates God’s gift of the Torah to the Jews.
“Finally, celebrate the Festival of the Final Harvest at the end of the harvest season, when you have harvested all the crops from your fields.
At these three times each year, every man in Israel must appear before the Sovereign, the Lord.” Ex. 23:16b, 17. NLT
The festival of the second harvest (Succot – meaning ‘booths’ / ‘tabernacles’ that were portable structures for housing during the Israelites’ desert wanderings).
Lastly, Jehovah speaks of a promise of His presence to guide and guard His children:
“See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you. Pay close attention to him, and obey his instructions. Do not rebel against him, for he is my representative, and he will not forgive your rebellion.” Ex. 23:20, 21. NLT
This ‘angel’ has been purported by scholars to represent God Himself, or in the Christian view, the Angel of the LORD, the incarnate Christ.
“But if you are careful to obey him, following all my instructions, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will oppose those who oppose you. For my angel will go before you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites, so you may live there. And I will destroy them completely. You must not worship the gods of these nations or serve them in any way or imitate their evil practices. Instead, you must utterly destroy them and smash their sacred pillars.” Ex. 23:22-24. NLT
In this Scripture, Jehovah is promising the Hebrews that He will be their vanguard for their successful invasion of Canaan, the future land of Israel. However, they are not to take up any of the heathen practices of those they conquer.
“I will send my terror ahead of you and create panic among all the people whose lands you invade. I will make all your enemies turn and run.I will send terror ahead of you to drive out the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites. But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals would multiply and threaten you.I will drive them out a little at a time until your population has increased enough to take possession of the land.And I will fix your boundaries from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the eastern wilderness to the Euphrates River. I will hand over to you the people now living in the land, and you will drive them out ahead of you.” Ex. 23:27 – 31. NLT
It will be an ongoing conquest. And again, He warns His people against adopting any heathen practice:
“Make no treaties with them or their gods. They must not live in your land, or they will cause you to sin against me. If you serve their gods, you will be caught in the trap of idolatry.” Ex. 23:32, 33. NLT
Stay tuned for the building of the Tabernacle…