Tabernacle

Tabernacle

Central to the people of Israel in their spiritual life from Moses till the building of the temple by Solomon, in Jerusalem had been the Tabernacle. The meaning and purpose of the Tabernacle in the New Testament has been described, epistle to the Hebrews, in chapters 8 to 10. It has been the desire since the childhood of Professor Vijayam to see a life size model of the Tabernacle. This was possible in 2000, when he and his wife saw a model of the Tabernacle in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA. They decided to get the exact life size model in India. This was built on the Carmel Campus in 2005. This structure is not for veneration.

The exact dimensions of the outer court are 75 north-south, and 150 feet east-west. On the western side is the Tabernacle itself, which is 15 feet north-south, 45 feet east-west, and 15 feet high. As you enter into the outer court, there is the Alter of Sacrifice. It is 7.5 x 7.5 x 4.5 feet. There is also two-tier was basin .

The Tabernacle is painted in such a way that it looks like planks made of acacia wood. Each plank is 2.5 feet wide and 15 feet high. They are bounded by two golden rods on each side. This large room at 30 feet distance, with a curtain. The first room is called the Holy Place, and the room behind the curtain is called the Holiest of the Holies. In the Holy Place, there is the Golden Table of Shewbread, and on the left side, the Seven Lamp stand. In the middle is the Alter of Incense. All these appear like golden articles. Visitors can also see the robot of Aaron (the High Priest) coming up to the Alter of Incense, putting the incense, and going back. All these articles and Aaron’s dress are done exactly as described in Exodus. The 15 feet high curtain is made of the exact colors given by God, to Moses, which opens out from the middle. Inside is the magnificent model of the golden Arc of the Covenant. The size and the sculpture, of the two cherubims, on the Arc are done exactly according to the description given by Moses to Bazelal. Inside the arc are two stones, with Ten Commandments engraved, budded rod of Aaron, and a jar of manna. There is a recorded running commentary, giving all the description and interpretation of the Tabernacle and its functions, which makes the visit all the more educative and enjoyable.

For more information, please visit our Tabernacle Brochure.