A Biblical Vision, Part I: Mastering the Old Testament Witness to Christ

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A B i b l i ca l Vi s i on, Par t I : Mas ter i ng the Ol d Tes tament Wi tnes s to Chr i s t

entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.

B. Description of the Tabernacle’s dimensions (God himself was the architect, who gave the specifications directly to Moses, Exod. 25.9)

1. Three compartments, the Outer Court, the Holy Place, and the Holy of holies

2. The entire outer court (which surrounded the Holy Place and the Holy of holies) was 150 feet by 75 feet.

3. Curtains formed a fence around the courtyard of the Tabernacle, made of “fine linen” (cf. Exod. 27.9) about five cubits high (approx. 7.5 feet), supported by 60 pillars of brass, resting on sockets of brass with connected rods made of silver.

4. In the center of the outer court was an enclosure, divided into two compartments (the entire enclosure measured 45 feet by 15 feet; it was 15 feet high).

a. The inner room of the enclosure (about 15 feet square) was called the Most Holy Place, or Holy of holies. Only the high priest could enter into this room once a year (where the Ark of the Covenant was kept) and never without blood.

b. The outer room of the enclosure (about 30 by 15 feet) was called the Holy Place. Only priests could enter into this place in their turn, where the table of shewbread, the lampstand, and the altar of incense were kept.