The Tabernacle and Its Furniture by John Kitto
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it lawful for any but a priest to eat of it; although, in cases of extreme emergency, the priests conceived themselves at liberty to dispense with this rule—as did Ahimelech, when, in the absence of other food, he allowed David and his men to partake of the showbread (I Samuel 21:4-6; Matthew 12:4). The bread derived its name (which it imparted to the table) from its being shown, or set forth before the face of the Lord continually. Wine was also placed upon this table in bowls, some larger and some smaller; also in vessels that were covered, and in certain cups which appear to have been employed in pouring in and taking out the wine from the other vessels, or in making libations. When the bread was changed, the wine was changed also; that which had remained during the week being poured out as a libation before the Lord.
The Holy of Holies
On raising the Curtain is seen also the
Holy of Holies
with the Ark of the Covenant—Exodus 25:10-22
(Click on the picture to enlarge it)
The Holy of Holies, to which we now proceed, was, as already stated, much smaller than the outer Sanctuary. It was ten cubits in breadth, and length, and height. Here the immediate presence of God was manifested in the supernatural radiance that shone above the ark, and filled the place with glory. By this more immediate manifestation of the Divine presence, the place was rendered so sacred, that even the priests might not enter there. The high priest alone enjoyed that privilege; and even he entered it only once in the year—on the great day of atonement.
Ark of the Covenant
The Ark of the Covenant, in the Holy of Holies,
Exodus 25:10-22
(Click on the picture to enlarge it)
The Ark of the Covenant was the only article which the Holy of Holies contained. This was a kind of chest, of an oblong shape, made of acacia-wood, and covered with the finest gold. It was two cubits long, and one and a half in breadth and height;—it had, in fact, as much resemblance to the table of showbread as a chest can well have to a table. The edge of its upper surface was ornamented with a rim, or border, of gold; and on each of the two sides, at equal distances from the top, were two gold rings, in which were placed (to remain there perpetually) the gold-covered poles by which the ark was borne from place to place. The lid, or cover of the ark, was of the same length and breadth as the ark itself, and was made of the purest gold. Over this, at the two extremities, were two cherubim of gold, whose faces were turned to each other, and slightly bent towards the lid (otherwise called the Mercy-seat). These wings, spread out over the ark, formed, as it were, the throne of God, the King of Israel, for his presence was there manifested by the Holy Splendor, veiled in cloud, called “the glory of the Lord,” which filled the place and rested there at the time the Tabernacle was consecrated. From this arose the peculiar reverence with which the ark was regarded by the Jews, as the immediate symbol of the Divine presence among them; and the high sanctity attached to it is very apparent in the historical Scriptures. During the marches of the people, it was covered with a purple pall, and born by the priests, with great reverence and care, in advance of the host (Numbers 4:5-6; 10:33). It was before the ark, thus in advance, that the waters of the Jordan separated; and it remained in the bed of the river, with the attendant priests, until the tribes had passed over, and no sooner was it brought up out of the channel, than the waters resumed their course (Joshua 3; 4:7, 10-11, 17). The ark was similarly conspicuous in the grand procession around the walls of Jericho (Joshua 6:4, 6, 8, 11-12). It is, therefore, not wonderful that the neighboring nations, in the gross materialism of their ideas, having no notion of spiritual worship, looked upon the ark as the God of the Israelites (I Samuel 4:6-7) to which delusion it is possible the figures of the cherubim thereon considerably contributed. The ark, as we have seen, was, in fact, a chest; and in it were deposited the tables of the law (Exodus 25:16), a quantity of the manna in a vase of gold (Exodus 16:32, 36; I Kings 8:9), and Aaron’s rod that budded. A copy of the Book of the Law was also kept in the side of the ark, in a place made for the purpose (Deuteronomy 31:26; see also Hebrews 9:4).
