THE MATERIAL OF THE TABERNACLE STRUCTURE.
By John O. Corliss
GOD’S course, or accustomed way, is learned by going into His sanctuary, because that is His dwelling, where He appears just as He is. There His “way” is revealed, and His work for the children of men is seen. Ps. 77:13. This being true, we may expect everything about the earthly sanctuary, which was a figure of the heavenly structure, even in the arrangement of its building material, to contribute toward this wonderful revelation. To this end let us examine somewhat in detail the building as a whole. First, we find that its walls, or sides, were made of boards placed in an upright position, their feet resting in sockets of silver. Ex. 26:15-23. These were held in place by five rows of bars passing thru rings in each board, and round the entire structure. Verses 26-28. Both bars and boards were overlaid with sheet gold, so that the whole surface, within and without, shone resplendently in the light. Verse 29. These boards were forty-six in number, each ten cubits, or fifteen feet, long, and a cubit and a half, or twenty-seven inches, wide. Twenty boards composed each side, and six boards were given to the west end. At two corners of this end the two boards forming each angle were fastened together at the top and bottom by a peculiar ring contrivance. Verses 16-24. No very weighty material, however, entered into the construction of the roof. A raised ridge-pole extended from end to end, and over this were placed various curtains, with the ends extending over and down the outside of the building. The first layer of these consisted of ten breadths of material curiously woven of the finest linen thread, in blue, purple, and scarlet colors. On the side of these seen from the inside, beautiful figures of angels were embroidered, represented as flying in the ethereal blue of mid-heaven. With this elegant decoration overhead and the brilliant shining gold on the walls, the inside of the tabernacle was indeed gorgeous beyond description, and fittingly typified God’s dwelling in the New Jerusalem, with the gold and garniture of its royal colorings. Rev. 21:18-20. This delicate covering was protected by another of coarser material, which was better adapted to withstand inclement weather and the dampness of night. This was made of goats’ hair, and was three feet wider and six feet longer than the one made of linen, so that it might cover every part of it. Like the first, it was made in sections six feet wide, which were looped together along the selvages. These sections were united to form two larger sections, one thirty feet in width and the other thirty-six. This covering was drawn over the front of the tabernacle so that about six feet of its width would hang down over the eastern gable. Verses 7-13. But even this was not sufficient protection against bad weather. It was, however, from the nature of the material, which was soft, pliable, and free from corroding elements, quite suitable to have a place next to the fine linen of the inner part. But over this was placed another covering, quite impervious to water. This was of rams’ skins dipped in some red coloring matter, which perhaps helped to close the pores of the material, and so render it as serviceable as possible. It may be also that the dyeing was not only decorative, but was a means of preserving the leather against possible decay from long exposure to alternate sun and shade. Verse 14. But still another safeguard was provided. Where material of a flexible nature rests on a structure, it is more liable to yield to the exposure of dampness at that point than where nothing from beneath presses it. So in completing the roof of the sanctuary, a covering of badgers’ skins (or perhaps seal pelts) was placed above, or, as some accounts of the building of the tabernacle affirm, was extended along the ridge, and for a short distance below it on either side, leaving the greater part of the rams’ skin covering fully exposed. This was the structure in which God was to dwell among the tribes of Israel, and whence He was to speak in commandment to His people. In the midst of this curiously-constructed building, the “way,” or dealing, of Him who was ever a mystery to His people was to be learned. By the service to be rendered there, the mercy, grace, and long-suffering of the Ruler of the universe were to be made known. But before learning the particulars about this, it will be necessary to study other features of this peculiar structure. These will be given in next week’s paper. J. O. CORLISS.