After the fall of man from the Garden of Eden, God could not continue to fellowship and dwell with man because God is holy and they were sinful. So, God in His wise providence met man through offerings on the basis of a sacrifice for their sins. Through these offerings God could meet the sinner, accept the sinner, reveal Himself, speak to, forgive, and receive the sinner. The word "tabernacle" means to settle down, to dwell, and it describes the tabernacle as a dwelling place for God. A tabernacle is a tent used as a dwelling place. When a tent was needed to meet with God, Moses took a tent, probably his own, and pitched it outside the camp, so God could dwell in the midst of His people. God commanded Moses while at Sinai to build Him (God) a Tabernacle inside the camp.

LESSON 1
THE PURPOSE OF THE TABERNACLE
Reference: Exodus 25:1-9; 29:45, 46

1. What is a "Tabernacle?"

2. What kind of offerings did God require?

3. List the type of offerings to be made.

4. Explain the purpose of the tabernacle according to:
   1. Exodus 29:42, 43
      
   2. Leviticus 1:4
      
   3. Exodus 29:46
      
   4. Exodus 25:8
      
   5. Exodus 29:42
      
   6. Leviticus 4:20
      
   7. Exodus 28:38

1. What is the greater, more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands?

2. What is the function and teachings of the tabernacle?

3. What are the names of the tabernacle as found in the following Scriptures:
   1. Exodus 25:9
      
   2. Exodus 26:36
      
   3. Exodus 25:8
      
   4. Exodus 29:42, 43
      
   5. Numbers 1:50

1. What type of evidence did God give the Children of Israel to prove that He was their God?

2. Were these visible or spiritual signs? Numbers 3:1-38

3. Where were Moses and the priests to be located?

4. Name the three tribes of Levi and their location to the tabernacle.

5. What was the responsibility of the three tribes of Levi?

1. Name all of the remaining tribes of Israel.

2. Name their position to the tabernacle court.

3. What was the design of the tabernacle? Exodus 25:9; 25;3-7
   Who designed it? What materials were used?

1. Who did God call by name to be a workman?

2. What kind of man was he?

3. What three gifts of the Spirit were manifested by God in this man?

4. Whom did God call to help Bezeleel?

5. What did God put in the heart of the wise?

6. What were the sources of supplies? Exodus 25:2; 36:5-7

7. Who were the workmen? Exodus 36:1-3; 35:30-35

1. Did the Children of Israel do as God directed?

2. Did God dwell among them?

3. What great lesson can we learn from this?

4. What was the position of the tabernacle as to its location? Exodus 25:8

5. What stood at the door of the tabernacle when Moses entered?

6. What took place when Moses entered the tabernacle? Exodus 33:9

The court of the tabernacle is the large open space which surrounds the tabernacle proper and was fenced in by a wall of linen curtains 100 cubits long and 50 cubits wide. This wall was supported by 60 pillars of which there were 30 on the side and 10 on the ends; with one gate 20 cubits wide at the eastern (gate) of the court. (Note: A cubit equals 18 inches)

1. What do you think was God's purpose of closing in the tabernacle with the court?

2. How large was the court?

3. How many gates were there?

4. In reference to our Heavenly Tabernacle, Who is the door? John 10:9

5. What kind of material did they use for these curtains?

6. Of what were the pillars made?

7. What held these pillars firm?

1. Of what kind of material were the capitals made?

2. In reference to Exodus 35:18 and Isaiah 54:2, what were the pins?

3. What was the purpose of the cords in reference to Isaiah 54:2?

4. Where was the gate? Exodus 27:16-19

5. What were the colors of the curtains of the gate?

1. Give the position of the brazen altar?

2. What was its height?

3. How many sides did it have?

4. To what was the animal to be tied?

5. Were there any steps of this brazen altar?

6. Reference: Leviticus 4:27-35, What kind of animal were the people to offer?

7. What did the priests do with the blood?

The laver (wash basin) consisted of a great circular basin made of brass (Exodus 38:8) and filled with water. It was placed between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar (Exodus 30:18). The purpose of the laver was to wash in. This is not a matter of opinion, but was necessary.

1. What was given by the women to make the laver? Exodus 38:8

2. Where was the laver placed? Exodus 30:17-21

3. What was Aaron and his sons to do upon entering the temple? Exodus 40:30

4. What were they to do when they came to the altar?

5. What was the purpose of the laver?

The tabernacle had an enclosure of boards. The boards were overlaid with gold, standing upright in sockets of silver, and held together on three sides by five bars of wood overlaid with gold.

1. How many boards were on the south side? The north side? And on the west side?

2. How many boards were there for reinforcement?

3. How many boards were there in all?

4. What were the sockets made of?

This was the innermost covering and forms the visible ceiling of the tabernacle. The curtains were beautifully embroidered with cherubim of cunning work in beautiful colors.

1. What were the curtains made of?

2. What were the four colors in the embroidery?

3. What kind of hair was placed over the linen?

4. What was placed over the goat's hair?

5. What was the top covering that was visible to all?

The inside of the tabernacle was divided into two compartments; the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. These two places were separated by a "veil," which no one was to life but the high priest, and then only once a year. At that time Aaron would enter with the blood of the sin offering.

1. What were the candlesticks made of?

2. How many branches were to come out of each side?

3. How many candlesticks were there in all?

4. How many lamps were there?

5. What was sat upon the table?

6. What was the altar to be used for? Exodus 30:1, 6-9

7. What was Aaron's, the priest, duty in reference to the altar?

The ingredients were carefully specified and were present in equal amounts of weight.

1. What were the four ingredients of the incense?

2. What was Moses to make from these four ingredients?

3. Why was this incense considered holy?

4. What kind of incense was forbidden on the altar? Exodus 30:9

5. What kind of fire did God forbid on the altar of incense? Leviticus 10:1-3
   What happened to those who did this?

6. What else was forbidden in reference to the incense?

The Holy of Holies was the second room inside the tabernacle proper. The Holy of Holies speaks of God's presence. This was where the priests talked to God for the sins of the people.

1. What was contained in the Holy of Holies?

2. What separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place?

3. Of what was the veil made?

1. Who was chosen by God to be high priest?

2. What kind of garments were to be made for him?

3. What were the garments to do to Aaron?

4. Explain the plate for Aaron's head.

5. Name the garments (eight of them) of the priest.

The Ark was an oblong chest made of wood, overlaid with gold within and without. It had a covering made of pure gold. Two cherubim of gold were at each end. Their wings extended over the seat and their faces faced downward.

1. Was the Ark the only piece of furniture in the Holy of Holies?

2. What was the lid of the Ark called?

3. What was sprinkled with blood, and how often?

4. What rested between the cherubim? Refer to Leviticus 16:2

5. What three things did the Ark contain?