- A tabernacle is a place of worship. From its origin, it was a portable place of worship before or after a sacrifice and primarily for the high priest. The word tabernacle literally means to pitch a tent, but it is known in the Hebrew language to mean a dwelling place. The Jews built these places of worship symbolically and sacredlly in anticipation that the presence of the God of Abraham would appear and speak to them. In today's generation, most people relate to a tabernacle as a church or any place that the church chooses to meet.
- The first or the traditional tabernacle was a literal tent with sacred and specified furnishings. There was only one specific type in the beginning. Today, tabernacles come in several different styles, shapes and sizes, and are used in terminology by diverse religous groups. Evangelicals or Christians will renovate any current standing building and convert it into their definition of a tabernacle. Catholics and Angelicans will use a small decorative bowl, vase or piece that is big enough to hold sacrament. Orthodox Jews will custom-build a tabernacle, which some refer to as a synagogue, with all of the historical features of what their forefathers used.
- The first tabernacle had specific measurements that could not be munipulated for any reason. These measurements were believed to be the specific dimensions given by God himself to the high priest. If any of these measurements were off, God would not appear. The length was 100 cubits, which equals150 feet long. The width was 50 cubits or 75 feet wide. The height along the sides was 5 cubits or 7.5 feet high. There were exactly 60 pillars along the length draped with linen. The front gate or wall was 20 cubits high,which equals 30 feet. There are no dimensionsrecorded for the back wall.
- The original, most significant reason tabernacles were used was to house the most holy Ark of the Covenant possessed by the Israelites, which was where God appeared to the high priest once a year. Tabernacles today are a little less sacred in most religions but are still designed with supernatural purposes in mind. The specifications are not all the same, but the expectations are. Many people truly believe that God dwells inside of tabernacles. Tabernacles now stand alone as a household name for a place of worship. The design may be different from its origin, but well over 90 percent of religous meeting places can be recognized immediately by their design or a simple sign outside.
- According to biblical reference, history shows that the first tabernacle was used by Abraham in Genesis 26:25. Here it describes Abraham building an altar and beckoning the Lord. In that same place where he was, he pitched his tent. This would later become what we call a tabernacle. Pitching tents to pray to God became more and more popular as time went on because of the old testament's more sacred and precious item, the Ark of the Covenant. It had to be set in a designated holy place wherever it was. The Ark of the Covenant traveled where the king assigned it to travel, such as into battle.
