PSALM 7

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Exo <1> 25:23,30-31,37 <2> 26:1-2,7-8,14,31-37 <3> 27:9-16,18 Description of the 2 main sections: [1] the courtyard within the large entire tent of meeting, for assembly/preparation; & [2] the smaller tent-within-the-entire-tent, the tabernacle, for priests/service. This smaller tabernacle-tent (sometimes called the tent of the tabernacle) was also composed of 2 areas, the holy & most holy places. The entire tent of meeting was outside of the Israelite encampments, as we see in PART I, E E.1.c. There were curtains at the entrance to the courtyard, & also within the tabernacle, between the holy & most holy place. As we see below in Hebr<1>, only the priests entered regularly into the tabernacle-- only as far as into the holy place; the high priest entered into the most holy place 1x-a-yr. We Christians have the freedom not only of going to the tent of meeting (church), but once there, being a kingdom & priests, we also have the choice to collectively enter the holy place (the sanctuary). We can (& should) publically portray Christianity (be a "living testimony"), but more to the point, not only can we privately go before the most holy place, the throne of grace within our hearts, but it's essential that we assemble together in the holy place. Now Jesus is the high priest-- but each time we enter the holy place (the sanctuary), we corporately behold HIM-- as recall the curtain was torn in 2 from top to bottom when, as the song goes, 'God came down to our level': <1> Make a table of acacia wood; put the bread of the presence (facing) on this table to be before ME at all times. Make a lampstand of pure gold, with its 7 lamps; set them [the lamps] up on it so that they light the space in front of it [the lampstand-- Exo 39:37 says it had a row of lamps]. <2> Make the tabernacle with 10 wall curtains of finely twisted linen & blue, purple & scarlet yarn, with cherubim worked into them by a skilled craftsman. All the 10 curtains are to be the same size-- 28 cubits x 4 cubits (c42 ft. x 6 ft.). Following is a description per vv. 3-6: 5 of these curtains were then joined together end-to-end into 1 set, with the last curtain having 50 end-loops; the other 5 curtains were also joined into 1 long set, with the last curtain also having 50 end-loops. The 2 sets were placed so that the loops were adjacent; the loop-sets were fastened together with gold clasps so that the 10 cutains were 1 unit. Make 11 roof curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle-- each 30 cubits x 4 cubits (c45 ft. x 6 ft.). Following is a description per vv. 9-13: 5 of these roof curtains were joined side-by-side & provided with loops; the other 6 were also joined into 1 wide set-- but fold the 6th double at the front of the tent. These wall & roof curtains were supported by a wooden framework (not described here-- but note the walls had no posts & bases). Nothing is said of the shape/dimensions of the tent, but it has been pictured like a typical house (with walls & a peaked roof-- w/ 2 sloping sides). It is noted that the roof curtains hung down 1 cubit on both sides, & that a half-curtain (2 cubits) is to hang down at the rear. About the orientation of the roof sets: initial logic would have the loops fastening the 2 sets running along the peak of the roof. But the way it is described, that the last curtain was doubled over at the front of the tent (probably so that it could be pulled over in inclement weather) & the extra length of the other set hung over the rear, implies that sets were crosswise, so that the loops ran across the tent. Make for the tent of meeting a covering of ram skins dyed red, & over that a covering of hides of sea cows (dugongs). Make an entrance curtain to the most holy place-- separating it from the holy place (identical to the 10 wall curtains of the tabernacle). Hang it with gold hooks on 4 posts, standing on 4 silver bases. Place the ark of the testimony behind the curtain. The [this] curtain will separate the holy place from the most holy place. Put the atonement cover on the ark of the testimony in the most holy place. Place the table outside the curtain on the north side of the tabernacle & put the lampstand opposite it on the south side. This curtain separating the holy place from the most holy place is the torn curtain mentioned above, referred to above in Matt. For the entrance to the tent of meeting make another identical curtain-- but supported by 5 posts with 5 bronze bases. <3> Now this was just a description of the tent of meeting & its enclosed tabernacle. Surrounding this tabernacle/tent was the courtyard (see Exo 40:8,33): Make a courtyard for the tabernacle. The south side shall be 100 cubits (c150 ft.) long & is to have 10 curtains (5 cubits high, per  v. 18, x 10 cubits long) of finely twisted linen-- i.e, as in all the wall & entrance curtains formerly described, but without the colored yarn & cherubim (neither an embroiderer nor a craftsman was required), with 20 posts & bronze bases. The north side shall also be like this. The west end shall be 50 cubits (c75 ft.) wide & have curtains-- same make & orientation as the north/south curtains (i.e., 5 cubits high), with 10 posts & bronze bases. On the east end including the entrance, toward the sunrise-- also 50 cubits wide total. 2 Curtains each 15 cubits (c22.5 ft.) long with 3 posts & 3 bronze bases-- 1 on 1 side of the entrance, 1 on the other side. For the entrance to the courtyard, provide a curtain of 20 cubits (c30 ft.) long with 4 posts & 4 bronze bases-- 5 cubits high as with all the other courtyard curtains, but also with cherubim (requiring an embroiderer). This last courtyard entrance curtain was slanted so as to allow for entering without disturbing the curtains-- drawing a simple diagram showing the 2 sets of 15 cubit curtains, with their 3 bases & posts, & the 20-cubit entrance curtain with its 4 bases & posts, indicates this. Again it is said: The courtyard shall be 100 cubits long & 50 cubits wide, with curtains of finely twisted linen 5 cubits high.