The tabernacle is made up of three major sections plus seven primary pieces of furniture. These parts form a unified picture of God’s holiness, His desire to dwell with His people, and the ordered way of approaching Him.

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1. The Three Main Sections of the Tabernacle

1. Outer Court

The large open area surrounding the tent structure.
Scripture: Exodus 27:9–19; Exodus 40:6–8

• Exodus 27:9
  • And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long for one side:
• Exodus 40:6-8
  • And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.
  • And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein.
  • And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate.

2. Holy Place

The first room inside the tent where priests ministered daily.
Scripture: Exodus 26:33; Exodus 40:22–27

• Exodus 26:33
  • And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.
• Exodus 40:22-27
  • And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail.
  • And he set the bread in order upon it before the Lord; as the Lord had commanded Moses.
  • And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward.
  • And he lighted the lamps before the Lord; as the Lord commanded Moses.
  • And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail:
  • And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the Lord commanded Moses.

3. Holy of Holies (Most Holy Place)

The innermost room containing the Ark of the Covenant.
Scripture: Exodus 26:33–34; Exodus 40:21

• Exodus 26:33
  • And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.
• Exodus 40:21
  • And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the vail of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as the Lord commanded Moses.

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2. The Seven Primary Furnishings of the Tabernacle

1. Ark of the Covenant

Located in the Holy of Holies; symbolized God’s presence.
Scripture: Exodus 25:10–22; Exodus 40:20–21

• Exodus 25:21-22
  • And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.
  • And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
• Exodus 40:20-21
  • And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark:
  • And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the vail of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as the Lord commanded Moses.

2. Mercy Seat

The gold cover on the Ark where atonement was made.
Scripture: Exodus 25:17–22; Exodus 40:20

• Exodus 25:17
  • And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
• Exodus 40:20
  • And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark:

3. Table of Showbread

Placed in the Holy Place on the north side.
Scripture: Exodus 25:23–30; Exodus 40:22–23

• Exodus 25:30
  • And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me alway.
• Exodus 40:22-23
  • And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail.
  • And he set the bread in order upon it before the Lord; as the Lord had commanded Moses.

4. Golden Lampstand (Menorah)

Placed opposite the table, providing continual light.
Scripture: Exodus 25:31–40; Exodus 40:24–25

• Exodus 25:31
  • And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.
• Exodus 40:24-25
  • And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward.
  • And he lighted the lamps before the Lord; as the Lord commanded Moses.

5. Altar of Incense

Placed before the veil inside the Holy Place.
Scripture: Exodus 30:1–10; Exodus 40:26–27

• Exodus 30:1
  • And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it.
• Exodus 40:26-27
  • And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail:
  • And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the Lord commanded Moses.

6. Bronze Altar (Altar of Burnt Offering)

Located in the Outer Court at the entrance.
Scripture: Exodus 27:1–8; Exodus 40:29

• Exodus 27
  • And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits.
• Exodus 40:29
  • And he put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the meat offering; as the Lord commanded Moses.

7. Bronze Laver (Wash Basin)

Placed between the altar and the tent for priestly washing.
Scripture: Exodus 30:17–21; Exodus 40:30–32

• Exodus 30:17-21
  • And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
  • Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.
  • For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:
  • When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the Lord:
  • So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.
• Exodus 40:30-32
  • And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal.
  • And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat:
  • When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the Lord commanded Moses.

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3. Structural Components (Supporting Parts)

These aren’t “furnishings,” but they are essential parts of the tabernacle’s construction.

• Curtains & Coverings — Exodus 26:1–14; Exodus 36:8
  • Exodus 26:1
    • Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.
  • Exodus 36:8
    • And every wise hearted man among them that wrought the work of the tabernacle made ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work made he them.
• Boards, Bars, Pillars, Sockets — Exodus 26:15–30; Exodus 35:10–11
  • Exodus 26:19
    • And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.
  • Exodus 35:10-11
    • And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the Lord hath commanded;
    • The tabernacle, his tent, and his covering, his taches, and his boards, his bars, his pillars, and his sockets,
• Veil & Screen Door — Exodus 26:31–37; Exodus 40:28
  • Exodus 26:33
    • And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.
  • Exodus 40:28
    • And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle.
• Courtyard Hangings & Gate — Exodus 27:9–19
  • Exodus 27:9
    • And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long for one side:

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4. Summary Table

Category	Parts	Key Scriptures
Main Sections	Outer Court, Holy Place, Holy of Holies	Exodus 26–27; 40
Furnishings	Ark, Mercy Seat, Table, Lampstand, Incense Altar, Bronze Altar, Laver	Exodus 25–30; 40
Structural Elements	Curtains, coverings, boards, bars, pillars, veils, courtyard	Exodus 26–27; 35–36

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5. Other studies Relating to the Tabernacle

• Understanding the Tabernacle’s Spiritual Significance
• Understanding the Tabernacle: A Guide to Prayer
• The Symbol of the Cross in the Old Testament
• The Cleansing of the Temple at Passover