The Outer Courtyard
The Outer Curtain (Exod 27:9–19)
The tabernacle’s outer court was approximately 150 feet long by 75 feet wide (or 11,250 square feet, which is about one-fourth of an acre) in size.
The curtains of the outer court (Exod 27:9–19) were made of fine white linen and was seven-and-a-half feet tall. The linen curtains speak of robes of righteousness the bride of Yeshua will wear on her wedding day (Rev 19:8).
Sixty pillars supported the outer curtain. They were set in heavy bronze (or brass) bases topped by silver capitals. These pillars represent redeemed humanity wearing robes of righteousness. Wood symbolizes humanity, while bronze symbolizes judgment against man because of sin, and silver represents redemption or Elohim’s ransom price for man’s sin.
The Door to the Tabernacle (Exod 27:16–17)
The door of the outer court curtain contained three colors woven into white linen fabric: blue, purple, crimson, and white. These four colors speak of different attributes of Yeshua, whom Scripture likens to the door of salvation (John 10:1–18). These four colors combine to form a full picture of Yeshua, the Redeemer and Savior of Israel. Only through him can man come to the Father, have salvation, eternal life and inhabit the glorious New Jerusalem pictured by the glory cloud over the Holy of holies in the tabernacle. The four colors also correspond to the four faces of the living beings around the throne of Elohim (Ezek 1).
Crimson symbolizes the human aspects of Yeshua, for red is the color of man and red clay from which YHVH created man (adam). Some Bible commentators believe this points to the Gospel of Mark, which reveals the nature of Yeshua at the pashat (the simple or plain level) of biblical understanding. Some see this as corresponding to the ox cherubim and the tribe of Ephraim, which had on its banner an ox. According to Hebrew roots commentator and linguistic scholar James Trimm, “Mark presents the Messiah as the servant (the servant who purifies the Goyim in Isa 52:13, 15) the “my servant the Branch” of Zech 3:8 who is symbolized by the face of the Ox in Ezekiel 1 (the Ox being a servant, a beast of burden). Mark does not begin with an account of the birth of Messiah as do Matthew and Luke because, unlike the birth of a King, the birth of a servant is unimportant, all that is important is his work as a servant which begins with his immersion by [John]. Thus Mark’s simplified account omits any account of Yeshua’s birth or preexistence and centers on his work as a servant who purifies the [people of the nations].”
White symbolizes the righteousness of Yeshua. Some Bible commentators believe this points to the Gospel of Luke which reveals the nature of Yeshua at the remez (the hint) level of biblical understanding. Some see this as corresponding to the man cherubim and the tribe of Reuben, which had on its banner an man. Trimm writes that, “Luke wrote a more detailed account for the high priest Theophilus (a Sadducee). The Sadducees were rationalists and sticklers for details. Luke presents Yeshua as the “Son of Man” and as “the man whose name is the Branch” (Zech 6:12) who is presented as a high priest and is symbolized by the face of the man in Ezekiel 1. Luke wants to remind by remez (by implication) the high priest Theophilus about the redemption of the filthy high priest Joshua (Zech 6) and its prophetic foreshadowing of a ‘man’ who is a Messianic “Priest” and who can purify even a high priest.”
Purple symbolizes the regal or kingly aspects of Yeshua. Some Bible commentators believe this points to the Gospel of Matthew, which reveals the nature of Yeshua at the drash (the allegorical or homiletical) level of biblical understanding. Some see this as corresponding to the lion cherubim and the tribe of Judah, which had on its banner an lion. Trimm writes, “Matthew presents his account of Yeshua’s life as a Midrash to the Pharisees, as a continuing story tied to various passages from the Tanakh (for example Matt 2:13–15 presents an allegorical understanding of Hos 11:1). As a drash level account Matthew also includes a number of parables in his account. Matthew presents Messiah as the King Messiah, the Branch of David (Jer 23:5-6 and Is. 11:1f) symbolized by the face of the lion in Ezekiel 1.”
Blue symbolizes the heavenly of divine aspects of Yeshua. Some Bible commentators believe this points to the Gospel of John, which reveals the nature of Yeshua at the sod (the mystical) level of biblical understanding. Some see this as corresponding to the eagle cherubim and the tribe of Dan, which had on its banner an eagle. According to Trimm, “[John] addresses the mystical Essene sect and concerns himself with mystical topics like light, life, truth, the way and the Word. [John] includes many sod interpretations in his account. For example [John] 1:1 presents a sod understanding of Genesis 1:1. [John] 3:14; 8:28 and 12:32 present a sod understanding of Numbers 21:9 etc.” (all of Trimm’s references are from the internet site: http://www.jios.org/The%20Synoptic%20Solution_jt.html)
The Altar of Sacrifice (Exod 27:1–8)
Just inside the door of the tabernacle was the altar of sacrifice. It was made of acacia wood overlaid with bronze, which is a shadow picture of Yeshua bearing the judgment for men’s sins on the cross. The blood of the sacrifice was poured out on the ground at the base of the altar picturing Yeshua shedding his blood at the cross. Two lambs were offered at the altar morning and evening (Exod 29:38–42). This pictures our need to come humbly before our Father in heaven morning and evening in prayerful devotion as living sacrifices to confess our sins, to praise and thank him (Ps 51:16–17; Heb 13:15; 1 John 1:7–9).
The Bronze Laver (Exod 30:17–21)
The large bronze basin was fabricated from the mirrors the Israelite women donated (Exod 38:8). Perhaps James had this tradition in view when he speaks of being a doer of the Word of Elohim, not just a hearer, for a hearer and not a doer is like one who sees himself in the spiritual mirror of Elohim’s Word and forgetting what he looks like does not allow the Word to transform him (Jas 1:22–25). We know that water is a poetic metaphor for YHVH’s Word (Eph 5:26; Tit 3:5; Heb 10:22; Deut 32:2).
In the laver , the priests were to wash their hands and feet before going into the tabernacle so that they would not die. The hands and feet represent the entire body since they are the highest and lowest parts of the body. They also represent our direction and our action—everywhere we go and all that we do—must be pure before ministering before YHVH.
In this chapter we see many likenesses of the Messiah. The fine woven linen represents the sinless life of the Messiah. The amethyst represents His heavenly origins. The purple represents His Deity as both the Son of Elohim, and the Son of King David. The KJV mistranslates Scarlet, it should be double dipped crimson, the double dipped crimson is one dip for His sacrifice, and one dip for His blood. The goats’ skin coverings are a picture of His sacrifice. It refers to the two goats, the one sacrificed to Elohim, and the scape goat sacrificed to the fierce mighty one (Azazel). The ram’s skin dyed red represents His sacrifice. The planks of acacias wood overlaid in gold represent both His humanity and his Deity. Acacias wood is a desert tree “a root out of dry ground,” represents His humanity, and the gold represents His Deity. The sockets of silver represent the redemption of the believer. The veil between the Sacred Place and the Most Sacred Place is a picture of the Messiah. The inner veil represents the human body of the Messiah. This veil is barring the way to the Most Sacred Place showing that by the deeds or works of the law no flesh shall be justified. When the Messiah died on the stake for sins of mankind, the veil was torn from the top down, so that every believer can boldly enter into the Most Sacred Place of Elohim and sit in His presence. Amen!
Thanks Ken for sharing your insights. Much of this I cover in my online article on the Tabernacle of Moses, but you have some additional insights I hadn’t heard before. Sometimes I feel that we’re like those blind men in the fable who are trying to describe the elephant. The trouble is that each one has only a piece of the puzzle. The Tabernacle of Moses is such a deep and vast subject that no one has a monopoly on all the understanding. We can all learn from each other, which is one of the reasons I started this blog.
Keep studying and sharing. That’s how the body of Yeshua is edified for his glory!
Amen! Two wise men discussing Scripture is like iron sharpening iron.
With all due respect, please speak only for yourself about the two wise men thing. I don’t know how wise I am — compared to Yeshua who has the Spirit of wisdom, not very; rather, I really believe that I’m simply a bondservant sitting at the feet of the all wise Yeshua the Master Rabbi. He has simply given me a great curiosity about things and a desire to learn. I’ve been studying the Scriptures for a long time and have been commissioned to share what I’ve learned with others for the glory of YHVH and his kingdom. That’s all. To him be all the glory alone.
I did not mean to offend you, and if i did I am very sorry. All I meant is that we have the Spirit of the Most High living inside us teaching us all things like the Master promised, and we have His wisdom, if we listen, so we are all wise. We dont need to pray for wisdom, because we already have His wisdom, we just have to get ourselves out of the way to listen, and sometimes that is hard to do. That is all I was talking about. Maybe i just should have said men. I do not claim to know everything about the Scriptures, but when 2 or more believers discuss Scripture, and learn from each other, they keep their spiritual swords sharp. I am sorry you misunderstood me, or I did not make my point clear. Again I am sorry if i offended you, It was not my point. My point was I enjoy learning from each other.
When I said “Two wise me discussing Scripture is like iron sharpening iron” I was quoting Scripture from the Book of Proverbs. Again I am sorry I did not make my point clear, its a bad habit i have that I am try to work on.
Really, there was no offense at all, and I totally agree with everything you’ve said below. Well said. I guess it’s that when I look at Yeshua, and the great personages of the Bible, I really don’t feel very wise. Also, when I see how much work that needs to be done to help get the truth of Elohim out there to a lost, dying and hurting world, I feel so inadequate and incapable of doing much compared to those who’ve gone before me and compared to the seriousness of the need in light of the shortness of the time we have left before the end of the age. May he take our weakness and turn it into a strength for his glory. All is cool. Really. Thanks again.
Love to hear your thoughts as well as others, in your later teaching you mentioned the x or cross representing the crucifix or something, but you didn’t mention the” chi-rho” which is important to Christianity, every time one mentions an x , my mind goes right to the Catholic Chur-h, and it spoils my trip to the Tabernacle, knowing that Yashua is also the beginning and also the end, does nothing but create the opposite of “chi-rho” in my mind, The cross has become more important than the Savior, everyone has an opinion, and I am not sugesting that you teach differently, I value your teaching and look forward to each and every thought you put forth, thanks very much for your teaching, we are planning on doing Succoth with you all this Oct. Blessings chuck
Not being raised in Roman Catholicism or any other church that elevated the cross to a point of veneration, I guess I’m blessed not to have the same sensitivities you have for it. To me, it’s simply a symbol representing Yeshua’s salvific work accomplished by his death. As the flag is a symbol of America, it’s not America. However, I suspect that the flag would carry more symbolic meaning to an American soldier who fought and and was willing to give his life for it than one who hadn’t gone to war.
To me, the cross and crucifix are two different things. Doesn’t the Catholic crucifix still have Yeshua on it? Yet to my thinking, the cross should be empty, since he’s no longer there.
So when I look at the cross, I’m seeing a symbolic representation of what our Savior did there to save each of us. I also see the Paleo-Hebrew letter tav that pre-existed the heathen corruption of the cross symbol. Nothing more. If one comes from a religious background where the cross carries all sorts of religious baggage, I can see that could be a problem for some folks as they’re coming into a Hebraic understanding of things. It’s hard to let the old stuff go.
Glad to hear that you want to join us for Sukkot. So far, YHVH hasn’t directed us where to be, but all the doors have closed for us being in the same area as we have been for the last several years. Please pray for us to receive YHVH’s guidance in this matter.