The Tabernacle

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on the chosen people. 00:00:03 Speaker 2: Ah, thank you, my brothers. 00:00:06 Speaker 3: Now spread the word among the camp. This place is to be called the Tent of Meeting. Anyone who wants to consult Our God to seek spiritual council can do so here. 00:00:23 Speaker 1: The first time Aaron saw Moses enter the Tent of Meeting, hope was rekindled in his heart. He had never seen anything quite like it. Moses would walk out to the remote tent, away from the rest of the camp, and people would stand at the entryways to their own tents to observe. Moses would enter the tent, and the pillar of cloud, just like the one that guided them through the desert after they escaped from Egypt, would come down and remain at the entrance to the tent. Moses would speak with their God inside the tent, just as he had done on the mountain. 00:01:01 Speaker 3: Let me see your boy. 00:01:03 Speaker 1: The stillness crept over the mountainside, and Moses's heart began to race. 00:01:09 Speaker 2: This was it. You have reminded me that I have called you and knowed you by your name. Now you will know me by my name, and you is see my glory. My name is Foway. I am a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, and abounding in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love for a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. 00:01:45 Speaker 1: Tears of revelation sprang to moses eyes. His glory shone all around him. Moses had to squint his eyes and shield them from taking it all in, My. 00:01:58 Speaker 3: God, your weah. If I have indeed found favor with you, please go with us. Though we are stiff necked people, remember you rescued us from Egypt's iron smelting furnace. Be patient with us, as your name declares. Forgive our in equity and our sin, and accept us as your own possession, your inheritance now always. 00:02:38 Speaker 1: The figure approaching their camp was holding the same stone tablets Moses left with, and even dressed as Moses was usually dressed. But this being's face was radiant and shining. Poor approaches. 00:02:52 Speaker 4: You are not known to us. 00:02:54 Speaker 3: It is all right, don't be afraid. I've seen our God. My face shines with his glory. 00:03:03 Speaker 1: Moses were laid the renewed covenant, as he said he would do. He then told them the name of their god. 00:03:17 Speaker 5: How do you craft a dwelling for God, when God crafted the heavens Shelloh, my friends, from here in the holy land of Israel, i'm l extein with international Fellowship of Christians and Jews, and welcome to the Chosen People. From Sinai's thunder to the Golden Calf's shadow. The Chosen People have stumbled through the desert, hearts as dry as land. Now they stand at the brink of something sacred, not another camp, but a sanctuary, a place where God will dwell among them. But can the Divine reside in what human hands have made? As the Israelites begin to build, Let's ask ourselves what does it mean to create a space for God in our lives. 00:04:04 Speaker 1: When Bezelel woke that morning, he sensed something different. His dreams had been strange, visions of building plans, rare materials in blues, purples and scarlet, designs of winged creatures, hammered gold sheets, and swirling clouds. He frowned at the memory. While listening to Moses teach what the Lord had told him in the tent of meeting. Standing with the tribe of Judah near the front, Bezelel knew his father Yuri wanted to maintain their family's standing, especially after Whoa's absence in Moses in a circle, Yuri kept them close to Miriam, who stood by Aaron and his sons. Bezeleel knew Yuri's view of Aaron's eldest sons, Nadab and Debaihu careless and arrogant, dulled by nepotism. Unlike his father, Bezelel had no interest to me politics and was haunted by HER's death. He hadn't been at the fires that day, but when news of HER's execution spread, his family hid, enduring the chaos that followed Moses's return, justice meeted out, and a plague that claimed many lives. The result was a captive and attentive audience to Moses every word. 00:05:25 Speaker 3: But on the seventh day, you're to have a holy day, a sabbath of complete rest to the Lord. 00:05:32 Speaker 1: Since the day Moses returned with the second set of stone tablets, he wore a veil to hide the glow from his time with the Lord. In the tent of meeting. Rumor had it the light wasn't as intense as after his time on the mountain, but Besilel supposed Moses wore it for the people's comfort. They were still wary of being too close to the Lord's presence and breaking the covenant. The glow reminded them of their god's supernatural power. 00:06:00 Speaker 3: This is what the Lord has commanded. Take up an offering among you for the Lord. Let everyone whose heart is willing bring this as the Lord's offering. Gold, silver and bronze, blue, purple and scarlet yarn, fine linen, a goat, hair, ramskins dyed red and fine leather, acacia wood, oil for the light spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, and onyx with gemstones to mount on the ephod and the breastpiece. 00:06:33 Speaker 1: Bezelel balked those were the items from his dream. Glancing around, he noticed no one else seemed fazed by the lists required by their god. As a craftsman, he assessed the materials. Acacia Wood was common in the desert, and animals provided skins, oils, incense, and linen. Gold, silver and bronze would be more complicated to find. The blue, purple and scarlet dyes were rare luxuries. Only the wealthiest Egyptians used, requiring great skill to produce and onyx. The precious stone was rarer. Still faint memories of childhood stories about the rich lands of Eden came to mind. What kind of structure was Moses commissioning? 00:07:19 Speaker 3: Now, let all the skilled artisans among you come and make everything that the Lord has commanded, the tabernacle, its tense and covering its clasps and supports, its crossbars, its pillars, its bases. 00:07:35 Speaker 1: Bezelel listened intently as Moses described the tabernacle's components and the garments for the priestly order. Though some names atonement lid the bread of the Presence were unfamiliar, vivid images from his dream flashed in his mind. The materials and structures Moses outlined brought clarity to the visions. Bezilel had an innate sense of how things fit together. He had never sought advancement as a craftsman, but back in Egypt his skills were highly sought after. Skilled in metal working, carving, and masonry, he excelled, surpassing older masters who oversaw the project. Whether gold, wood, stone or gems, he intuitively knew how to shape and fix them, and when a problem arose, he pursued answers tirelessly. A nudge from his father, brought him back to the present. As the crowd began to disperse. 00:08:34 Speaker 6: Will you answer Lord Moses's call? 00:08:37 Speaker 4: His call? 00:08:38 Speaker 6: Your humility baffles me, My son, you were the finest artisan in in our entire tribe. Moses is asking for artisans to build this structure called the Tabernacle? Will will you do it? 00:08:56 Speaker 7: I suppose if I am called upon, it will be a time of great importance. It will have to be very precise and considering the material it will be made of. This structure will be a sacred place with rich symbolism, a sanctuary of our own, like a temple. 00:09:13 Speaker 6: Rich symbolism. How do you know its purpose? Moses did, did not say what the tabernacle was to be. 00:09:21 Speaker 7: Well, there will be an altar, and then clothes for the priests, so it will be a temple of sorts. 00:09:27 Speaker 6: Surely here in the desert, Why build something permanent here at all? 00:09:34 Speaker 7: I think it will be a great tent, something that we can strike and dissemble as we moved. And didn't you hear the list of items poles. The items will be crafted so that we can transport them even without touching them. 00:09:48 Speaker 6: You discerned all that with the mention of poles. Yes, father, and you are still unsure that you should answer the call. 00:09:58 Speaker 7: If I am needed, I will serve. 00:10:06 Speaker 1: O Holab danced on his toes, craning to see the mountain of supplies being brought to Moses. He hadn't seen such wealth since his days as a weaver and gem cutter in Egypt. Who knew the Israelites had ordered so many treasures, gold, jewelry, rare gems, silver, bronze, fine leathers, goat hair, white linen, acacia, wood, oils, spices and incense piled up. But the dyed yarns, rich blues, purples and scarlets made his jaw drop most O Holyab nearly wept at the beauty and possibilities of the materials. The people's generosity was overwhelming, fervor spreading like wildfire. O Holyad felt it too, his heart captured by moses vision and the variety of materials, he was eager to pledge his skills, longing to weave exotic fabs, bricks and shaped stones. 00:11:01 Speaker 2: Again. 00:11:02 Speaker 1: His training laid the foundation that his imagination guided creation, and he could speak of his craft endlessly. Lost in thought, he was surprised by the quiet arrival of bezelel oh holy AB's heart nearly jolted out of his chest. 00:11:18 Speaker 4: You're Bezeleel, the greatest craftsman in the land. I am. I did a job in Pharaoh's palace once and saw the dining table you made up. The inlay work alone was the finest I've ever seen, oh I, And don't think I didn't notice the matching benches. I hope those high for looton Egyptian royals appreciate the work you put into that piece. But I suppose you and I know that's a fool's hope to have. The rich never seemed to appreciate what they have because it's so easy for them to get it. Not like us, well, not like me anyway. The names are Holy a son of Hismage, tribe of Dan. 00:12:04 Speaker 7: Thank you for your kind words of Holy Uh? 00:12:08 Speaker 4: So have you considered how many workers you want to appoint to the tabernacle? 00:12:12 Speaker 2: Oh? 00:12:12 Speaker 7: I have it. I'm not sure if I What I mean to say is I'm not sure that I. 00:12:19 Speaker 6: Will conform what? 00:12:21 Speaker 4: Why not? You're the most gifted grassmen among us. I just assumed you would be appointed to leadership over it all. Moses will need someone to guide the artisans who come forward. 00:12:34 Speaker 1: Judging by the look on Bezelal's face, the idea of leadership had not even crossed his mind. He looked like he was going to be sick. 00:12:43 Speaker 4: I suppose you're right to be apprehensive. The weight of the project will be a lot to bear, but you have to admit the opportunity to do real grassmanship again. Oh, I don't know about you, but repairing the hole's intent wall is not the same as weaving tapestries. Don't you miss being inspired? Truly creating something, something that's never existed before. 00:13:14 Speaker 1: Lord Moses suddenly shouted to get the crowd's attention and cut off whatever Bezeleeh was going to say. 00:13:21 Speaker 8: Nation of Israel, behold your generosity before the Lord. We will now begin the construction of the tabernacle. Our God has appointed a craftsman by name. 00:13:35 Speaker 1: Bezelel looked around, both nervous and curious. Had the Lord truly called somebody by name? What an honor it would be to be the craftsman chosen for such a task. Bezelel listened intently to Moses as he declared God's chosen craftsmen to. 00:13:53 Speaker 3: Build the tabernacle. 00:13:54 Speaker 8: The Lord has chosen Betheleel, son of yuri Her of the tribe of Judah. 00:14:03 Speaker 1: Besilel grew pale as the eyes of thousands stuck to him. 00:14:07 Speaker 9: The Lord has filled him with his spirit, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in every craft, to design artistic works in gold, silver and bronze, to cut gemstones for mounting, and to carve wood for work in every graft. 00:14:26 Speaker 3: The Lord has also selected Paholiab, son of a Hissamach of the tribe of Dad, to be with him. 00:14:33 Speaker 1: Now it was o Hooliab's turn to be shocked. Never in a million years would Oholiab have thought he would be assigned such a task and to be hand selected by their God. He had always known the desire to create and imagine came from somewhere, not only deep within, but somehow also from beyond. He felt akin to his God, his very creator. When he himself was creating, he found it difficult describe, as it was more something he felt. 00:15:03 Speaker 10: Now, all skilled artisans who feel compelled come forward for instructions. The Lord has placed wisdom in your hearts to create everything He's commanded. 00:15:17 Speaker 1: Hesitant craftsmen began to step forward, hard working humble men. Oh Holy A beamed at the stunned Bezlo beside him and practically dragged him forward to jar Moses and the others. 00:15:32 Speaker 3: Thank you for answering the Lord's call. I'll share the vision I received with your two leaders. Be precise and spare no expense. Verify your instructions when needed, for we are building a sacred dwelling for our God, for he desires to dwell among us. 00:15:54 Speaker 1: There were gasps of war at that forum. The gallant craftsmen Moses weigh their response, meaning you. 00:16:01 Speaker 3: Understand the importance of what we're building. Remember the glory and might of our God from the mountain, the sea, the fire. This same God who rescued and sustains us. He desires to dwell among us despite our sins. But his holiness must be protected. Our sin cannot exist in his presence. Nos, If agreement to that, the tabernacle will house his glory, So we must build a structure worthy of it. You will construct the seven components of the tabernacle and the seven items of the priestly garments. Bezilel and a holy ab will provide detailed instructions, but I will outline the plan so you understand its purpose. The first ohent is the courtyard where all Israel can gather for sacrifices on the altar of burnt offering the second component, and purify themselves at the bronze basin the third. This courtyard is like the foot of the mountain, the closest the people can approach God's holiness. It mirrors the land of Eden, where Man dwelt with God. Within the courtyard is the tabernacle containing the holy place, where priests will tend to the table of the bread of the presence, the lambstand and the altar of incense. The lampstand's life will always burn, the table will hold fresh bread, and incense will rise symbolizing prayers. Here priests will honor the legacy of Adam and Eve, who once communed with God. Beyond that is the most holy place, the Holy of Holies, housing the ark of the Covenant, the most sacred component. This is where the Lord will meet his representative as he did with me on the mountain. Only the high priest will enter once a year, guarding this sacred space. 00:18:14 Speaker 1: Like the tree of Life in Eden, Bezilel was surprised by how well he worked with o Holyab. Though different in temperament, their craftsmanship complimented each other. O Holiab's competence and ability to communicate Besilel's vision to the men made him invaluable. Despite his enthusiasm, he respected Besilel's leadership and never overstepped. They began with the tabernacle, dividing the most Holy Place and the Holy Place, with finely woven curtains decorated with cherubim guardians, symbolizing those in Eda. The rare blue, purple and scarlet threads adorned the curtains, while the innermost curtain depicted the sky, echoing moses ascent to meet God. The tabernacle was covered with a tent of goat hair and fine leather. The Ark of the Covenant became Bezelel's most cherished project. As Moses detailed its proportions. Bezelel thought of Noah's Ark, a vessel for God's chosen symbolizing Covenant and life. Made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, the ark had golden rings for poles to ensure it could be transported without being touched Atop it sat the pure gold atonement lid guarded by cherubin symbolizing the protection of God's most precious gift, the Law. Bezelel and the craftsmen poured their skills into every piece, pushing their abilities to the limit. The table and altar of incense were carved and overlaid with gold, fitted with poles like the ark. The lampster and was formed from a single piece of hammered gold with almond blossom cups branching from its center. For the courtyard, they built the altar of burnt offering wood overlaid with bronze, and crafted a bronze basin. Once the tabernacle was complete, Bezelel turned to the creation of the priestly garments. Bezelel directed the creation of the garments, relying on Oholiab's expertise in embroidery and gem cutting. They had developed a seamless rhythm. Consulting each other as they worked, o Holiab valued Beazeleel's precision and vision, while Bezeleel admired o Hooliab's skill in bringing that vision to life. Together they crafted ephods, breastplates, robes, tunics, turbans, sashes, and the diadem, each rich with symbolism, from the pomegranates on the hem of the epods representing Eden's bounty, to the engraved medallion on the diadem declaring holy to the Lord. The garments transformed the wearer into a worthy representative before God. As he cut and shaped the gems for the breastplates, oh holy ab turned to besilel, voicing the thoughts that had been lingering throughout their work. Moses marveled at the beauty the artisans infused into the tabernacle and its components, bringing the vision God gave him on the mountaintop to life. It was as close as earthly materials could come to mimicking the heavens, a worthy space for God's glory to dwell among them. After the betrayal of the Golden Calf and his repeated pleas for reconciliation, this felt like the resolution Moses longed for. He set up the tabernacle, anointed, and consecrated it, following God's instructions. Precisely, the altar was made especially holy, translating offerings into smoke to rise to the heavens. A vital part of their worship. He clothed Aaron as high priest and his sons as priests, placed the stone tablets in the ark of the covenant, set up the perpetual flame of the lampstand, arranged the twelve pieces of bread on the table, burned incense, prepared the burnt offering altar, and filled the bronze basin for the priest's cleansing. With everything ready, the tabernacle awaited God's presence. When it was done, Moses stood with all Israel as the cloud descended from the mountain, covering the tent, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. The people watched in amazement, and Moses felt thereof But even as they drew near, the veil of separation remained much like the veil he wore over his glowing face, a reminder of God's supernatural power that both drew them in and caused them to shrink back. The tabernacle would let them approach God and atone for their sins. Yet it was bittersweet for Moses. He was giving up his mountaintop encounters, his intimate face to face moments with God for the people's sake. This solution, while necessary, rendered him unable to enter the most holy place as he once had. It was filled entirely by God's glory, with no crevice to shield him. Now it would be Moses' task to prepare those who would one day enter that sacred space. 00:23:54 Speaker 5: The Book of Exodus, which we're getting close to finishing, is about the redemption of the Chosen people from in Egypt. But the Great Sage Nochmanidy says that even after the redemption from slavery, and even after the giving of the Torah, this Bible that we are studying together, redemption still was not complete. So I ask what will complete the redemption? Well, Nomanody answers the building of the tabernacle, this Israelites means of bringing God's presence down to earth and into the hearts of everyone. That action and that presence in the world of the tabernacle is what will complete this cycle of redemption. And that's why he said. The chapters describing the building of the Tabernacle are included in Exodus, the Book of Redemption. But this wasn't the first time that God commanded the Chosen people to build a tabernacle, the portable temple that they carried with them through their forty day journey through the wilderness. No, that first happened back in Exodus, chapter twenty five, verse eight. In the New International versions English translation and in most other translations, this is what it will translate those words as quote, then let them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them, as we say in Hebrew as suli miktash vishakanti betochm. Almost all translations to englishments a really important nuance that we find in this original Hebrew. You see, if the verse is translated more literally, it would say this, let them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell in them, not among them. It says that I will dwell in them. That reading made the Jewish say just stop and say, wait a minute. Shouldn't the verse say, the way it's translated in English, let them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell in it. 00:25:54 Speaker 3: Why does it say in them? 00:25:56 Speaker 5: The question is pretty clear. When a temple or shrine is built to God, he dwells in it. He dwells in the temple, right, But we have to ask, can any physical structure ever really contain God? The Bible itself in Chronicles two six says, but who is able to build a temple for him? Since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him. And so the sages answer beautifully that the physical tabernacle that we build does not contain God, because the final goal is not for God to dwell there in the Tabernacle, but rather for God to dwell in us. When we build the Tabernacle, when we build the holy space, it enables God to find a home in us. We see it today, don't we. Beautiful churches or synagogues are just a means to an end, the end goal being that God dwells within us when we enter that space, not within the space. The only thing that makes a church or synagogue holy is the people in it. Isn't that a beautiful idea? Through our beautiful places of worship and all of the beautiful prayers and rituals and traditions that take place inside of them, God dwells within us. There's one last thing that I want to add to today's story about the Tabernacle. The roof of the Tabernacle was a layer of ramskin, but then that was covered with the skins of a very mysterious creature. In Hebrew, the animal and the Bible was called tarrash. The English translations range from dolphin to badger and even other animals, but nobody seems to know what this word means. What animal is it actually speaking about. The Jewish tradition teaches that the tahrash was an animal that was created by God only in the time of Moses. It had one purpose, and it was to be used for its skins, to use the skins for the outermost cover of the tabernacle, and then it immediately became extinct. And we've seen from the beginning of creation. Everything in God's creation is meant to give glory to Him, but everything in creation also does other things that make us forget this higher purpose. Everything except the Takash, whose only purpose was to cover the tabernacle, reminded all who saw it, and each of us today that there's only one true purpose for all things, to bring glory to God. This Bible story also got me thinking about the way we live today and about how we often take our daily routines for Granted, I couldn't help, but remember when I was growing up, I used to wonder if the point of Shabbat is to prohibit work, Then why can't I talk to my friends on the phone, or to put something in the mind ber wave, or to drive to the mall? Is that really work? But as I grew older, I not only gained understanding of the reason for this weekly cessation of work, but I also came to treasure it. I also understood what the definition of work is. It's to stop creating, to stop needing somewhere to go or something to do, to be happy and everything God gave us the tabernaclon. And as the story of the Tabernacle unfolded, the Israelites learned the same lesson that I learned as a child. It's not about the rules themselves, but about what those rules symbolize. Just as the people of Israel were asked to pause and create a space for God, we're asked to do the very same thing each and every week on Shabbat i'm Shabbat. When we seiz from milechret markshevit, which means creative work, we remind ourselves that God is the true creator. It's not about avoiding electricity or not lighting a fire. It's about stepping back from our need to control, to change, to create, and we acknowledge that God is the master of all things. During the week, he calls us to create, to create with fire, with technology, to create all the different things that will make this world a better place to live in. But an Shabbati, he says, stop creating, put the fire down, put the electricity down, put that creative spirit down, and just enjoy what I've given you. In building the Tabernacle, our ancestors weren't just constructing a sanctuary, but they were participating in a deep act of faith. They were declaring, we may make this space, but it is God who fills it. And when we honor the Sabbath, we're making the same declaration. We step back and let go, and we recognize that while we are made in God's image, we are not God and only God is the true source of all being, all creation. It's a powerful reminder that we too are called to create space for Him, not just in the world, but in ourselves. 00:31:15 Speaker 1: You can listen to the Chosen People with Isle Eckstein ad free by downloading and subscribing to the Prey dot Com app today. This Prey dog comproduction is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative Talents. Steve Gattina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabarger and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein. Edited by Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Bree Rosley and Aaron Salvato. Special thanks to Bishop Paulineer, Robin van Ettin, kayleb Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot com productions on the Prey dot Com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, please rate and leave a review.