The Tabernacle

THE TABERNACLE

ITS PRIESTS AND ITS SERVICES

No. 22

The Superiority of the Holy of Holies

This chapter will cover some remarks on points that the author did not want to pass over. These points are such as the variety in value of different parts of the structure and of the holy vessels, the shape of places, the numbers that are prominent in the court and in the tabernacle, and the bearing which these and some other things have on the relative sacredness and importance of the court, the holy place, and the holy of holies.

The superiority of the holy of holies shown by the door pillars -

The gate pillars were overlaid with brass, and stood on brazen sockets.
Those of the doors of the holy place were superior, for they were overlaid with gold and stood in brazen sockets.
Those to the door of the holy of holies, however, were superior to both of the others because they were overlaid with gold, but rested in silver sockets.
Thus the nearer the door pillars approached the holy of holies they increased in beauty and in value.

The superiority of the holy of holies shown by the door hangings -

The hanging for the door of the court was made of blue, purple, scarlet and fine twined linen.
The door of the holy place, although made of the same material, was four-square and superior in shape to that of the door of the court.
The veil, or door to the holy of holies, was superior to both. Although it was four-square and made of the same bright colors as the others, it was interwoven with cherubim figures.
So the nearer the door hangings approached the holy of holies they increased in beauty and in richness.

The superiority of the holy of holies as shown by the curtains -

The curtains which formed the court wall were made of fine twined linen.
The ones for the holy place were far superior because they were made of blue, purple, scarlet and fine twined linen. Also with the exception of those facing the east, they had figures of cherubim interwoven into them.
The ones covering the holy of holies were the same except they were completely covered with the lovely cherubim figures.
It was the same thing here, that the nearer to the holy of holies the more beauty, richness and splendor there was.

The superiority of the holy of holies shown by the disposition of the coverings and curtains -

Outermost was the covering of badger or sealskins.
Below them was the covering of rams' skins dyed red.
Below the rams' skins was the fine white silky goat-hair covering.
Lastly and finest of all was the splendid cherubim curtains. They were under all the other layers of coverings and were only invisible in the interior of the holy of holies.
Thus, the nearer the coverings and curtains came to the interior of the divine dwelling, they increased in fineness, richness and beauty.
Also the outer coverings were united by means of loops of blue and clasps of brass, where the clasps that united the cherubim curtains were made of gold.

The superiority of the holy of holies shown by the furniture -

The altar of burnt offerings was overlaid with brass, and stood in the court.
Between the altar and the tabernacle was the laver which was made of finer brass from the serving women's mirrors.
The furniture of the holy place was superior to that of the court; with the shewbread table and altar of incense being overlaid with gold, while the splendid lampstand was made of all pure gold.
But in the holy of holies the ark of the covenant was overlaid within and without with gold. Also its cover, the mercy seat, and the cherubim of glory were made of solid gold. The greatest thing, though, was that the Glory of God filled the space between the mercy seat and the wings of the cherubims.
Thus, the nearer articles of furniture that approached the holy of holies and the symbol of God's presence increased in value, beauty, and in significance.

The superiority of the holy of holies shown by persons -

The common people and the Levites had access to the court when they were bringing sacrifices or acting as servants of the priests.
Only priests had access to the holy place, which was much more sacred than the court.
No one but the high priest, however, had access to the holy of holies and that was only once a year.
Thus, the nearer persons came to the holy of holies and the symbol of God's presence, they increased in dignity.

The superiority of the holy of holies shown by the shape of places -

The court was a double square, and open to the heavens.
The holy place was superior to it as a place, because even though it was also a double square, it was covered over.
The holy of holies was superior because it was covered over, four square, and also formed a perfect cube with its six sides - floor, roof, north, south, east, and west walls - each measuring 10 cubits by 10 cubits.
Thus the nearer places were situated to the holy of holies and the symbol of the divine presence, they became more complete as places.

The superiority of the holy of holies shown by numbers -

Four, five, seven, ten, and one hundred are numbers occurring in the tabernacle that are frequently mentioned in the scripture. With the exception of five, the rest are regarded as symbolic numbers of perfection or completeness. Five is deemed by many as the number of imperfection, but some prefer to view it rather as a less significant number of perfection than ten.

Court numbers -

The court was one hundred cubits long. There were four colors in the gate hanging. The brazen altar was four-square, and had four horns and four rings.
Five was the most prominent court number. The pillars were five cubits high, and were spaced at a distance of five cubits. The brazen altar was five cubits long and five broad. Both the length (100 cubits) and the breadth (50 cubits) were multiples of five. The five pillars from which the sanctuary door was suspended stood in the court, the same way as the four pillars for the veil of the holy of holies stood in the holy place. The bars around the sides of the tabernacle were considered to be on the outside just as the pillars were. But there were still five of these bars along each of the sides of the tabernacle.

Tabernacle "dwelling" numbers -

The number ten is symbolic of perfection and is very prominent in the sacred dwelling. It contrasts with the number five that made up the court. The tabernacle internally was ten cubits high and broad. There were ten cherub curtains, and ten goat-hair curtains that were considered the inner layers.
One hundred occurs in the tabernacle as well as in the court as being the number of its silver sockets.
Four was a number of perfection, and occurred in the tabernacle more prominently than in the court. The doors were each four-square, the roof was four-fold, four colors appeared both in the door-hangings and the cherubim curtains. Both 48, the number of the boards, and 96, the number of sockets they rested on, were multiples of four. This indicated that it was a place nearer perfection than that of the court.

Holy place numbers -

Here was the golden altar. It was four-square, and had four rings and four horns.
The shewbread table also had four rings.
The lampstand with its seven lamps and seven-fold light was the most significant, though because of seven signifying complete.
As far as numbers indicate, the holy place was far superior to the court.

The most holy place numbers -

Here seven occurs also. The blood of the sin offerings on the great day of atonement were sprinkled seven times on and before the mercy seat. Here four and ten occur far more prominently than in the holy place.
The holy place was a double square, but the holy of holies was four-square.
The surfaces of the brazen altar and golden altar were four-square, but the innermost chamber of the tabernacle itself was a perfect square or cube.
The holy place was ten cubits high, ten wide, and twenty long; but the holy of holies was ten cubits high, ten wide, and ten long, and every one of its sides was ten cubits square.
Thus the holy of holies was not only a perfect square, but it was a cube formed of the very significant symbolic number of perfection - ten.
Inside the ark of the covenant were the ten commandments also. It is evident that the holy of holies was the most sacred and important place of the tabernacle and bore the most distinct marks of perfection as far as numbers go.

For drawings and pictures of many of the things mentioned, go to the Tabernacle Archives.

We must not forget, though, that each and every item was planned by Jehovah Himself, with all the dimensions. They were perfectly adapted for the purposes for which they were intended. Yet this glorious throne room with the bright Shekinah cloud, were but faint types of God Himself as He dwelled in all His Glory and Perfection. He had a much better plan that would entail actually living in every person's heart who would let Him come in to dwell there. Christians now have the privilege of entering that holy of holies by faith. It is for everyone and not just for the high priest to enter on one day a year to atone for the sins of the whole nation. We have that access to God 24 hours a day and can boldly approach His wonderful Throne of Grace to plead our petition before Him.

For more information from this book, go to the archives page at my site www.cathydeaton.com There are other articles of interest there also.

This text is taken from the book The Tabernacle Its Priests and Its Services written by William Brown. This book has been used by permission.