Deeper Meaning of the Tabernacle: Precious Metals

When God gave instructions to Moses for him to build the tabernacle, it was not random in how things were to be built and what materials were used. Let’s see if we can understand the meaning behind some of the nuance instructions God gave to Moses about the tabernacle’s construction.

There are three types of metals used in the tabernacle’s construction: gold, silver, and bronze (or brass). To understand this, let’s look at the purpose of each metal used. And before we do that, we need to understand how they had such valuable materials in the first place. Remember, just weeks earlier they had been slaves in Egypt. They were barely getting by. So, how are they now wealthy beyond comprehension? Scripture tells us, but sometimes the answer is presented so matter-of-factly that it doesn’t really register to us how profound such a statement is.

In Exodus we read, “The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. The LORD had made the Egyptians favorable disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians (Ex 12:35-36).

So, in just a passing, casual statement, Scripture is telling us so much. Did you catch the main word? Plundered. The Israelites plundered the Egyptians. By how much you may ask? We get a glimpse a little later. In Exodus chapter 38, we find the following amounts used in the tabernacle’s construction:

Gold = 29 talents and 730 shekels (v24) = 1,000 kg or 2,200 lbs.

Silver = 100 talents and 1,775 shekels (v28) = 3,430 kg or 7,500 lbs.

Bronze (brass) = 70 talents and 2,400 shekels (v29) = 2,425 kg or 5,300 lbs.

That sounds like a lot for sure. Based upon today’s prices for these metals, this would be worth at least $170 MM! And this was just a fraction of how much the Israelites possessed (Ex 36:6-7). And this doesn’t include all the other precious stones and fabrics that went into the tabernacle. Now, that is what I call plundered.

What was made with each type of precious metal?

Gold: Ark of the Covenant, Mercy Seat, Altar of Incense, Table of Shewbread (Table of Presence), Lampstand (Menorah), clasps to hold tabernacle curtains together, rings to hold the tabernacle crossbars together, hooks to hold the five posts of the gate together, and used to overlay the frames composing the tabernacle, the four posts of the tabernacle, the five posts of the gate, and the tops of the posts and their bands.

Silver: 96 silver bases were used for the tabernacle: 40 placed at the bottom of the frames used for the south side of the tabernacle and repeated for its north side, and 16 for the west side. Each of the 4 tabernacle posts mentioned above had a silver base to it.

Bronze: the altar of sacrifice, and the laver (basin), both of which stood outside the tabernacle itself but within the courtyard, the bases of the poles of the gate to enter the tabernacle, and for all the tent pegs of the tabernacle and the surrounding courtyard.

What do these three metals represent? It is interesting that only bronze is outside the tabernacle and only gold is inside the tabernacle. Silver supported the entire tabernacle.

Understanding that bronze represents judgment, silver represents payment, and gold represents deity and purity gives us a glimpse of what the tabernacle is telling us.

The bases of the posts of the gate to the tabernacle were bronze, meaning one had to pass through judgment to enter. The sacrifice was on a bronze altar representing a sacrifice of judgment and the laver for washing was of bronze representing the need for cleansing before entering a holy tabernacle. This means one could not approach God as they were. A transformation or substitution was required. A person would bring their sacrifice through the gate of judgment, ceremonially pass their sins to the animal which was sacrificed for them. The blood was sprinkled on the altar and poured at its base to represent the atonement being made on behalf of the person. This represents what Christ did for us as he became the ultimate sacrifice required to restore our relationship with God (Hb 10:10).

The entire tabernacle was supported on bases made of silver. The temple shekel was also made of silver. Silver was used for payment. As the adage goes, “nothing is for free.” And that is true here as well. Approaching God and having a relationship with him required a payment, a sacrifice. The Israelites had to repeat this sacrifice repeatedly, but when Christ came, he became the payment required once and for all (1Pt 3:18).

Bronze represented judgment, but once that had been taken care of, the priest could then enter the Holy Place because of the payment made. Christ used the symbolism of the snake, lifted up on a pole by Moses to heal people of their snake bites that had been brought on them for judgment for their actions, to represent himself (Nu 21:8; Jn 3:14-15). Sin places a judgment upon a person and separates them from God. Payment (one’s life) is required to settle that judgment debt (Ro 6:23). The sacrifice placed on the bronze altar was a replacement for that individual. Christ became that sacrifice on our behalf that God required.

The inside of the tabernacle was holy, so all was made of gold. The walls of the tabernacle and all the furniture were of gold. Each piece represented an aspect of Jesus Christ and who he is and what he would become and perform. The lampstand or menorah showed him to be the light of the world (Jn 8:12) to lead us to him, the table of shewbread showed him to be the bread of life (Jn 6:35) who would sustain us and provide to us eternal life, the altar of incense represents him as our high priest (Hb 4:14-15) who makes intercession for us to God on our behalf. He is the mercy seat upon which his blood is placed and covers our sin (Ro 3:15) so God the Father only sees the blood of his Son, Jesus Christ, rather than our sin. And he is the Ark of the Covenant whereby his blood has sealed a blood covenant with us (Mt 26:28) so that by receiving him his blood saves us from eternal death and allows us to have eternal life with him forever. Not because of anything we have done but because of what he did for us. We are declared righteous because of his payment for us (2Co 5:21).

The tabernacle was a representative, or model, of what is in heaven (Hb 8:5). Its plan was given by God to Moses. Although it was a costly building, the resources for its construction were provided by God himself but he used people with no means of their own to produce something they never could have ever dreamed of without God’s help. And isn’t that what he does for us today. He takes our lives, which are worthless on their own, and gives us what is needed to make something wonderful of our lives so they can be devoted to him because without Him, we would forever be nothing. But he has made us new creatures (2Co 5:17) that he can work his will through us.

May He be forever praised.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens