Back Aa

Class-Book of Old Testament History

Close

<h3> Note. HISTORY OF THE TABERNACLE.</h3> Such was the Pavilion-Temple which Moses constructed according to the pattern shown him in the Mount. The chief facts connected with its history are as follows. i. During the wanderings in the wilderness it was the one place, where Jehovah “met His people,” and where from the ineffable glory above the mercy-seat He revealed His Will. There the Spirit came upon the 70 elders and they prophesied (<abbr title="Numbers">Num.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 11">xi.</abbr> 24, 25); thither Moses and Aaron were summoned on all important occasions, as on that of the rebellion of Miriam (<abbr title="Numbers">Num.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 12">xii.</abbr> 4), of the unfaithfulness of the spies (<abbr title="chapter 14">xiv.</abbr> 10), of the rebellion of Korah (<abbr title="chapter 16">xvi.</abbr> 19), of the sin of Meribah (<abbr title="chapter 20">xx.</abbr> 6); there on the death of Moses his successor was solemnly appointed (<abbr title="Deuteronomy">Deut.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 31">xxxi.</abbr> 14). ii. During the conquest of Canaan it was, probably, moved from place to place, wherever the host of Israel was encamped. iii. Afterwards it was brought to Shiloh (<abbr title="Joshua">Josh.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 9">ix.</abbr> 27; <abbr title="chapter 18">xviii.</abbr> 1; <abbr title="chapter 19">xix.</abbr> 51), on account, doubtless, of its secluded and central position, and as being within the territory of the powerful tribe of Ephraim, to which Joshua belonged, and here it remained during the entire period of the Judges (<abbr title="Compare">comp.</abbr> <abbr title="Joshua">Josh.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 19">xix.</abbr> 51; <abbr title="chapter 22">xxii.</abbr> 12; <abbr title="Judges">Judg.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 21">xxi.</abbr> 21). iv. But in the time of Eli, the licentiousness of his sons stained the sanctity of Shiloh, and degraded the Tabernacle almost to the level of a heathen temple (<abbr title="First Samuel">1 Sam.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 2">ii.</abbr> 22), while the capture of the ark by the Philistines (<abbr title="First Samuel">1 Sam.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 4">iv.</abbr> 22) still further dimmed its glories, and Samuel himself sacrificed at other places, Mizpeh (<abbr title="First Samuel">1 Sam.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 7">vii.</abbr> 9), Ramah (<abbr title="chapter 9">ix.</abbr> 12; <abbr title="chapter 10">x.</abbr> 3), Gilgal (<abbr title="chapter 10">x.</abbr> 8; <abbr title="chapter 11">xi.</abbr> 15). v. After this it was for some time settled at Nob (<abbr title="First Samuel">1 Sam.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 20">xx.</abbr> 1<abbr title="through">–</abbr>6), and thither also misfortune followed it: Saul murdered the priests (<abbr title="Samuel">1 Sam.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 22">xxii.</abbr> 11<abbr title="through">–</abbr>19), and Abiathar fled with the sacred ephod to David (<abbr title="chapter 23">xxiii.</abbr> 6). vi. In the time of David and Solomon we find it at Gibeon (<abbr title="First Chronicles">1 Chron.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 16">xvi.</abbr> 39; <abbr title="chapter 21">xxi.</abbr> 29), but the ark was now removed to Kirjath-jearim, and afterwards, on the capture of Jerusalem, to that city, where a new Tabernacle was constructed to receive it (<abbr title="First Samuel">1 Sam.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 6">vi.</abbr> 17; <abbr title="First Chronicles">1 Chron.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 15">xv.</abbr> 1). Its glory now waned more and more, it became connected with the worship of the high-places (<abbr title="First">1</abbr> Kings <abbr title="chapter 3">iii.</abbr> 4), retained only the old altar of burnt-offering (<abbr title="First Chronicles">1 Chron.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 21">xxi.</abbr> 29), and eventually it seems to have been either taken down, or left to be forgotten and “vanish away82.” <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

1 of 2

2 of 2