THE PATTERN OF THE TABERNACLE
“And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.” Exodus 25:8-9
The Lord revealed to his chosen Prophet a vision, a pattern, a blueprint of a sanctuary where He could dwell. The materials, dimensions, and placement were all shown to Moses in intricate detail. Upon receiving this pattern, Moses gathered the materials from the people of Israel and began to build the structure and components patterned after the vision he had received.
In Exodus chapter 40, the actual setup or installation of the tabernacle is described. The order in which the various components of the tabernacle were set up is as follows: the walls of the sanctuary were set up as well as the covering or roof (v.2), the ark was placed in the holy of holies (v.3), the veil to the holy of holies was placed (v.3), the table of showbread, and candlestick were arranged in the holy place (v.4), the altar of incense was placed (v.5), the outer veil to the holy place was set up (v.5), the altar of burnt offerings was placed (v.6), the laver was placed (v.7), and finally the outer courtyard was setup (v.8).
Moses received a vision from the Lord of the tabernacle. In that vision, the Lord obviously had the holy vessels placed in a certain location. Where exactly was that location? It is not unreasonable to assume that (1) the Lord wanted the vessels to be placed in the locations He revealed in the vision to Moses, and (2) Moses wanted to build and place everything as closely as possible to replicate the “pattern of the tabernacle” shown unto him.
So as Moses began to take the holy vessels and place them in the tabernacle as described in Exodus 40, he either asked the question “Lord, where exactly do you want this?” or he had previously staked out the positions of all the components based on the “pattern of the tabernacle”. Either way it was the Lord who designated where they should go. Moses was literally building a house for the Lord, and then helped the Lord “move in” by placing all the furniture. When you help a friend move into a new home, you naturally will ask them “where do you want this sofa, couch, bed, ect.?”
The scriptures do not specify the exact position of the vessels within the tabernacle. They do however provide the general locations in relation to one another. Figure 1 details the general location of all the holy vessels based on scripture.
Figure 1 - Placement ProofBased on the scripture references indicated in Figure 1, there is no way to establish the exact location of the vessels as the Lord revealed to Moses in the vision. As a result, there are many different theories as to where the vessels should actually go. Figure 2 demonstrates a few of the many different theories of the physical layout of the tabernacle.
Figure 2 - Various Placement Examples
As shown in Figure 2 there are differences in opinion as to where the ark goes, which direction it faces, the size of the laver, and where it goes, and how the vessels in the Holy Place are arranged. Without the actual blueprint it is difficult to find exactly how the Lord set up the tabernacle. Another example of a proposed layout is shown if Figure 3. In this diagram, created by R.H. Mount, Jr. M.E., an attempt is made to demonstrate the vessels were laid in the pattern of a cross. Figure 4 is a scale model representation of Figure 3.
Figure 3
Figure 4It is apparent that this arrangement would severely hinder any person from passing by these vessels and into the Holy of Holies. Given the sacred nature of these vessels, and the fact two of them had burning contents, it would be unwise to have them placed in such a way were they could be bumped and possibly knocked over. The table of showbread had large jars of wine which if bumped into might cause the contents to spill. The arrangement has a cluttered feel not in keeping with the order, symmetry, simplicity, and harmony apparent in the works of the Lord.
Figure 3 is one of the most exhaustive attempts to provide proof for a theory of placement. Yet even this theory does not attempt to specify the exact location of each vessel. As the creator did not attempt to arrange the vessels in a scale model, he did not see the actual effect it would have. The creator did however understand the tabernacle symbolized the role of Jesus Christ in helping mankind return to the presence of the Father. One can understand how the symbolic cross arrangement made by the vessels in this arrangement might be accurate. Based on the scale model however, I do not believe this arrangement to be accurate.
In attempting to build a scale model of the tabernacle, the question of where everything should be placed came into question. In attempting to find answers to that question my research led me to the image depicted in Figure 5. Unfortunately, the resolution is not very good and the writing is in Hebrew. This is the most reasonable and logical method of placement that I have been able to find. Note how the positions of all the vessels within the tabernacle are established except for the articles in the Holy Place.
Figure 5
In a book titled My Father’s House, by Richard Holzapfel and David Seely
1, a more simplified diagram of the same nature is depicted in Figure 6. Notice again however the locations of the vessels are not established.
Figure 6
Holzapfel and Seely refer to this diagram by stating “[The Lord’s] perfection was symbolized by a series of square courts and cubes, climaxing in the Holy of Holies, which contained the Ark of the Covenant and the tablets of the law.
"2Figure 5, reveals a method that would be very simple to use in placing the vessels. This method becomes even more important when one remembers the tabernacle was portable. If it was to be set up, then later dismantled and set up again, some means would have to be established to ensure the vessels would be in the exact right place.
PERSONAL THEORY
The dimensions of the tabernacle were given by the Lord as 50 cubits wide and 100 cubits in depth. This will yield eight equal cubes of 25 x 25 cubits. Figure 7 demonstrates my effort to recreate the diagram of Figure 6 with some key guidelines added.
Figure 7
Upon arriving at a location the Lord had designated for the tabernacle to be reared, I believe the pattern depicted in Figure 7 would have been staked out on the ground. This pattern can establish the location of each vessel, the exact location of the inner sanctuary, and be easily recreated after each move. Of the sixty pillar surrounding the courtyard, the minimum number need to establish the location of all items in the sanctuary is 12. The key pillars have been numbered below in Figure 8 for future reference.
Figure 8
As is depicted in Figure 9, the intersection of the lines between the key pillars provides a place whereby the vessels of the sanctuary could be placed with precision and exactness after each move.
Figure 9
This method not only established the location of the vessels, but the precise location of the inner sanctuary walls according to the dimensions as given in the scriptures. Figure 10 zooms into the area of the sanctuary where the most holy place and holy place are located.
Figure 10It was discovered by accident that the intersection of the four points
above the center horizontal line (circles placed for emphasis) is
exactly five cubits. The four intersection points below the center
horizontal line are also five cubits below. This will establish the
location on which to place the sanctuary walls as depicted in Figure 11.
Figure 11
Figure 11 shows where the sockets would have been placed providing the foundation of the structure. As you can see, the dimensions of the most holy place are clearly marked and has a 10x10 cubit dimension. The dimensions of the holy place (10x20 cubits) is also established. In my opinion, these intersection points are not a coincidence.
Figure 12
Figure 12 depicts how the vessels of the inner sanctuary would be placed within the walls, based on the intersection points as shown in Figure 9. Finally we have the entire structure depicted in Figure 13.
Figure 13
This method is simple, easy to reproduce, and provides exactness in keeping with the strict requirements of the Law of Moses.
Part II of this article will be added soon.
1 Holzapfel, Richard. “My Father’s House”. Bookcraft, Inc. 1994. p.27
2 Ibid, p.28
This page was last modified on Tuesday, June 08, 2010