This lesson is about the making of the tabernacle and appointment of the priesthood at Mt Sinai.

You may not want to get bogged down in all the detail concerning this matter, so just choose those things which interest you from the Bible summaries.

The Tabernacle and the Priesthood (Part 1)

1 The Tent and its Ministers

During the encampment at Sinai, God gave the Law to Moses on the mountain. Included in this law were instructions about the tabernacle and priesthood.

It was there in the wilderness that the tabernacle was crafted, and the priesthood was established.

• The tabernacle was an elaborate portable tent of worship.
• The priesthood was a special group of men who organised and conducted the tabernacle worship.

2 Bible Summary (Exodus 25-31, 35-40)

Instructions for the tabernacle

Items of tabernacle furniture are in bold.
The chapter numbers shown in square brackets
are those referring to the actual construction.

• Offerings (25) [36]
• The ark of the covenant (25, 37)
• The table (25) [37]
• The lampstand (25) [37]
• The curtains (26) [36]
• The altar for burnt offerings (27) [38]
• The courtyard (27) [38]
• Oil for lamps (27)
• Priestly garments (28) [39]
  ephod, breastpiece, robe, tunic, turban,
  sash and diadem, undergarments.
• Consecrating the priests (29)
• The altar of incense (30) [37]
• Atonement ransom (30)
• The basin or laver (30) [38]
• Anointing oil and Incense (30)
• The craftsmen (31, 35)
• Moses inspects the work [39]
• Moses sets up the tabernacle [40]
• The glory of the Lord fills it (40)

3 Symbols and Shadows

These laws and religious institutions were symbolic representations of Christian priesthood and worship.

They were "the shadow of the good things to come" which we now enjoy (Heb 10:1).

Their symbolic relevance make them worthy of some meditation and understanding on our part.

The Tabernacle, the priesthood, and the grand assembly of the people, constituted "the church in the wilderness" (Act 7:38).

That congregation, tabernacle, and priesthood, was a symbol or foreshadowing of the real church of Christ —the kingdom of heaven— today (Heb 12:22-24, Heb 8:1-6).