Editing Tabernacle (section)

{{short description|Temporary dwelling used by Israelites in the biblical Book of Exodus}}
{{other uses}}
[[Image:Stiftshuette Modell Timnapark.jpg|thumb|Model of the tabernacle in [[Timna Valley#Timna Valley Park|Timna Valley Park]], Israel]]
[[File:The works of Josephus (1683) (14781191601).jpg|thumb|The tabernacle, engraving from [[Robert Arnauld d'Andilly]]'s 1683 translation of [[Josephus]].]]
According to the [[Hebrew Bible]], the '''tabernacle''' ({{langx|he|מִשְׁכָּן|miškān|residence, dwelling place}}), also known as the '''Tent of the Congregation''' ({{langx|he|link=no|אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד|ʔohel mōʕēḏ}}, also '''Tent of Meeting'''), was the portable earthly dwelling of God used by the [[Israelites]] from [[the Exodus]] until the conquest of [[Canaan]]. [[Moses]] was instructed at [[biblical Mount Sinai|Mount Sinai]] to construct and transport the tabernacle<ref>{{bibleverse||Numbers|4:1-35|HE}}.</ref> with the Israelites on their journey through the wilderness and their subsequent conquest of the [[Promised Land]]. After 440 years, [[Solomon's Temple]] in [[Jerusalem]] superseded it as the dwelling-place of God.

The main source describing the tabernacle is the biblical [[Book of Exodus]], specifically Exodus 25–31 and 35–40. Those passages describe an inner sanctuary, the [[Holy of Holies]], created by the veil suspended by four pillars. This sanctuary contained the [[Ark of the Covenant]], with its [[cherub]]im-covered [[mercy seat]]. An outer sanctuary (the "Holy Place") contained a gold lamp-stand or candlestick. On the north side stood a table, on which lay the [[showbread]]. On the south side was the [[Menorah (Temple)|Menorah]], holding seven oil lamps to give light. On the west side, just before the veil, was the golden [[Altar (Bible)#Altar of Incense|altar of incense]].<ref name="ODCC self"/> It was constructed of 4 woven layers of curtains and 48 {{cvt|15|ft|m|order=flip}} tall standing wood boards overlaid in gold and held in place by its bars and silver sockets and was richly furnished with valuable materials taken from Egypt at God's command.