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The Tabernacle

The tent where God said he would live among his people in the wilderness, rebuilt in 3D from the measurements of Exodus 25–40. Walk from the camp to the mercy seat and see how each step brings you nearer.

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The courtyard and the tent, from above
The courtyard and the tent, from above
The tent of meeting with its coverings
The tent of meeting with its coverings
The Holy of Holies, the wall cut away
The Holy of Holies, the wall cut away

Key facts

  • Israel camped in four groups of three tribes, with the Tent of Meeting in the middle of the camp (Numbers 2).
  • The courtyard was 100 by 50 cubits, fenced with linen hangings 5 cubits high, with one gate on the east.
  • Inside the gate stood the bronze altar, then the bronze basin; the tent behind them had two rooms.
  • The Holy Place held the table with twelve loaves, the golden lampstand and the altar of incense.
  • Behind the veil, in the Holy of Holies, stood the ark of the covenant with the mercy seat and two cherubim.
  • Only the high priest went in there, once a year on the Day of Atonement, and not without blood (Hebrews 9:7).

Key verses

8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. 9 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 · King James Version
Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
Exodus 40:34 · King James Version
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:19–22 · King James Version

Talk about it

  1. God's dwelling stood in the middle of the camp, yet behind a fence and a veil. What does that say about God being both near and holy?
  2. Walk the path from the gate to the ark again in your mind. Which step means the most to you, and why?
  3. Hebrews says we may now enter with boldness. How should that change the way we pray and worship?

How sure can we be?

The Bible says
  • The measurements of the court, the boards, the furniture and the ark are given in Exodus.
  • The four coverings, their materials and their order are stated in Exodus 26.
  • The layout of the camp around the tent is stated in Numbers 2.
Our reconstruction
  • The inner rooms (20 × 10 and 10 × 10 × 10 cubits) are worked out from the boards, not stated outright.
  • The colours of the outer covering, the cherubim patterns and the banners are our artistic choices.
  • The camp is drawn much smaller than it would have been.
Still debated
  • What a tachash was: dugong, porpoise and fine leather have all been suggested.
  • The length of the cubit: the lab shows the common cubit (about 45 cm) and lets you switch to the royal one.
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