After rescuing Israel from Egypt and giving his law at Mount Sinai, God gave Moses detailed instructions for building a tabernacle — a portable tent sanctuary. Its purpose is stated simply:
"And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them." (Exodus 25:8, KJV)
About a third of the book of Exodus (chapters 25–31 and 35–40) is devoted to the tabernacle. That shows how important it is: the holy God wanted to live among his people.
Why a tent?
Israel was travelling through the wilderness, so God's dwelling place was designed to be taken down, carried and set up again. The tabernacle stood at the centre of the camp, with the tribes arranged around it — a picture of God at the centre of his people's life. Later, King Solomon built a permanent temple in Jerusalem following a similar pattern.
The layout
The tabernacle had three main areas, each holier than the last.
1. The outer court
A rectangular courtyard surrounded by curtains, with a single entrance on the east. Inside were:
- The brazen (bronze) altar — where animal sacrifices were offered. No one could approach God without a sacrifice for sin.
- The laver — a large bronze basin where the priests washed their hands and feet before serving.
2. The holy place
Inside the tent itself was the first room, where only priests could enter. It contained:
- The golden lampstand (menorah) — seven lamps that burned continually, giving light.
- The table of shewbread — twelve loaves of bread representing the twelve tribes, placed before God each Sabbath.
- The altar of incense — where sweet incense was burned, a picture of prayers rising to God (Psalm 141:2).
3. The most holy place (holy of holies)
Behind a thick veil was the innermost room, a perfect cube. It contained the ark of the covenant — a wooden chest covered with gold, holding the tablets of the Ten Commandments. Its lid, the mercy seat, had two golden cherubim facing each other. God said, "there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat" (Exodus 25:22).
Only the high priest could enter the most holy place, and only once a year, on the Day of Atonement, carrying the blood of a sacrifice. See the Day of Atonement.
Built with willing hearts
God asked the people to give materials "of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart" (Exodus 25:2). They gave so generously that Moses had to tell them to stop (36:5–7). Skilled craftsmen, especially Bezaleel, whom God "filled with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding" (31:3), did the work. The Bible honours craftsmanship and creativity as gifts from God.
God's glory fills the tabernacle
When the tabernacle was finished, "a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle" (Exodus 40:34). The cloud by day and fire by night rested over it and guided Israel's journeys.
What the tabernacle teaches
- God wants to live among his people. The tabernacle is a picture of relationship.
- God is holy. The curtains, veil and restrictions showed that sinful people could not casually approach him.
- Access requires sacrifice and cleansing. The altar and laver came first.
- God provides the way — he designed the tabernacle himself.
The tabernacle and Jesus
The New Testament sees the tabernacle as "a shadow of heavenly things" (Hebrews 8:5), fulfilled in Jesus:
- "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). The word "dwelt" literally means "tabernacled" — Jesus is God living among his people.
- The altar points to Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.
- The laver points to the cleansing he gives.
- The lampstand — Jesus said, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12).
- The bread — "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35).
- The incense — Jesus "ever liveth to make intercession" for us (Hebrews 7:25).
- The veil — when Jesus died, "the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom" (Matthew 27:51), opening the way into God's presence (Hebrews 10:19–20).
- The mercy seat — Jesus is the place where God's mercy meets us (Romans 3:25).
Today, the New Testament says, believers themselves are God's temple, where his Spirit lives (1 Corinthians 3:16). And in the new creation, "the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them" (Revelation 21:3).
Study tip
A diagram makes the tabernacle much easier to understand. Many study Bibles and Bible atlases include one. See our guide to Bible reference books and continue with sacrifices in Leviticus.