Torah Portion Terumah - Have Them Make Me a Sanctuary

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Scripture reading: Exodus 25

 

By Dan and Brenda Cathcart

Beginning with Torah portion Terumah, the Exodus account takes a dramatic change of direction. The last two portions; Yitro and Mishpatim, focused on laws and ordinances concerning how the people were to interact with each other and interspersed with them, how they were to interact with the divine presence of God at Mount Sinai.

This portion begins with Moses on Mt. Sinai receiving additional instructions. The first instructions God gave to Moses during his forty days on the mountain, involved taking an offering for the purpose of building a sanctuary or tabernacle for God in the midst of the camp.

Exodus 25:1-2 NKJV 1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering.

Why is it so important that only those with a willing heart contribute? Why did God emphasize that it was His offering by using the phrase “My offering?” And what do these detailed instructions about the building of the Tabernacle reveal about the nature of God?

God instructed Moses to tell the people to bring Him an offering. This word offering is the Hebrew word “terumah,” number 8641 in the Strong’s Concordance, meaning a present or an offering. Terumah comes from the word “ruwm”, number 7311, meaning to rise or lift up, to be high or exalted. This offering was to be a present lifted up to God! As it was lifted, it became high or exalted. It is a precious gift to God!

God instructed Moses that only those who were willing to bring the offering should do so. When we receive a present, those that are given because the person wants to give it are much more precious to us than those given reluctantly! We are like God in this; God desires the gifts we give Him to be offered because we want to give to Him! But this goes beyond a willing heart! The Hebrew word translated as “willing” is “nadab,” number 5068 meaning to offer freely or impel. The J.P. Green Literal Translation of the Bible translates Exodus 25:2 as:

Exodus 25:2 (J.P. Green) Speak to the sons of Israel, and let them take an offering for Me from every man whose heart impels Him—let them take My offering. 

Those whose hearts impelled them are to bring an offering! This is not just willing; this is an offering that you just have to give because your innermost being will not be happy unless you do so! This is an offering you simply must bring, not compelled from an outside force, but compelled from your own heart! God told Moses very specifically what to bring.

Exodus 25:3-7 NKJV 3 "And this is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, and bronze; 4 "blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats' hair; 5 "ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; 6 "oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; 7 "onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate.

All of these included precious stones, fine linen, beautiful, cured skins, spices and oil. How is it that, having left Egypt in hast, that they had such items with them? Remember, when the children of Israel left Egypt, they not only took all their possessions with them, but the Egyptians gave them much of their own wealth as well. The ultimate purpose of these items was to build a dwelling place for God!

Exodus 25:8-9 NKJV 8 "And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. 9 "According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.

There are several words in this passage to pay particular attention to. The first is “sanctuary.” It is translated from the Hebrew word miqdash, number 4720, meaning a hallowed part or holy place. Mikdash is related to the Hebrew word qadash, number 6942, which is most often translated as “holy.” The Brown, Driver, Briggs lexicon defines it as separate or set apart. This miqdash was to be a set apart place, a holy place, where God would dwell with them. God wanted an intimate relationship with them! The word translated as “among” is number 8432, Tavek, meaning a bisection, to cut in half, to be in the middle. As such it means that God wanted to be in the midst or even within them.

The next word of interest is in verse nine is “tabernacle.” Tabernacle is from the Hebrew word mishkan, number 4908 meaning temple, tabernacle, dwelling place or tent. Mishkan is from the word shakan, number 7931 meaning to abide, dwell, or inhabit. God states in verse eight that He will, dwell, or shakan, with them.

We need to remember that the children of Israel had just experienced God’s presence as a “consuming fire” with all the associated thunderings and lightnings upon the mountain.

Exodus 24:17 NKJV 17 The sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel.

The people were afraid and wanted only Moses to go speak with God on the mountain, but now God wants them to build Him a holy place in their midst. So that He can be right in the middle of their camp! This mishkan or sanctuary in the center of their camp in the wilderness would be a constant reminder that, in spite of God’s holiness, He will descend from His glorious place in heaven and dwell with them in their desert conditions here on earth!

The apostle John makes a clear statement about Yeshua dwelling among us in his gospel account when he states in John 1:14 that…

John 1:14 NKJV 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

In the Greek text of John, the word skay-no’-o is used, number 4637 literally meaning to tent or encamp! Yeshua came to dwell or encamp with us! In this case the “tent” is Yeshua’s human body.

The LORD was to “dwell among them.” How was this to be accomplished? How can the creator of the universe “dwell” in any single building or tent? Isaiah says that the entire universe is His dwelling place.

Isaiah 40:22 NKJV 22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

Isaiah goes on to say that God needs no human-built dwelling place.

Isaiah 66:1 NKJV 1 Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest?

All the items that the children of Israel gave in the Terumah offering were to be used to build and furnish a sanctuary, a holy place for God to dwell! Each item had a purpose and a place in the sanctuary or to be made into garments for those who would minister in the sanctuary.

This sanctuary in the camp becomes the central focal point and reveals several aspects of God’s character. He is both eternal, omniscient, and omnipresent, as well as present in the here and now on earth with His people. The prophet Isaiah summed it up nicely in Isaiah 57:15 where he says…

Isaiah 57:15 YLT 15 For thus said the high and exalted One, Inhabiting eternity, and holy is His name: `In the high and holy place I dwell, And with the bruised and humble of spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of bruised ones,'

These aspects of God’s character, His transcendence and immanence, His distance and proximity are reflected in the Tabernacle in both its construction and function. There were three levels of holiness associated with the Tabernacle that are reflected in the materials used in its construction. The gold was the most holy, used in the holy place and the most holy place. Then silver, then to bronze and copper used in the outer courts and in the construction of the sacrificial altar and laver. Later we see this same hierarchy reflected in the quality and intricacy of the textiles. In the holy of holies these are described as being “made with skillful craftsmen” incorporating intricate design work (26:1). The curtains over the entrance of the tent are made of “finely twisted linen, the work of a color weaver” (26:36) And finally, the outer courtyard surrounded by monochromatic fabric described as simply “woven” (27:18).  

The construction of the tabernacle would involve all the people. From those who willingly gave their offerings of materials and supplies, to the gifted and skillful artisans who built it.

The first item for the Tabernacle mentioned is the Ark of the Covenant.

Exodus 25:10-12 NKJV 10 "And they shall make an ark of acacia wood; two and a half cubits shall be its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height. 11 "And you shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and shall make on it a molding of gold all around. 12 "You shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in its four corners; two rings shall be on one side, and two rings on the other side.

The cubit was a common unit of measurement in the ancient near east. Generally thought to be the length of the forearm from the tips of the fingers to the elbow which is about 18 to 20 inches. We can see, from the dimensions given, that the finished Ark would not be particularly large roughly just over four feet in length by two feet wide and two feet high.

The wood commonly identified for the construction of the Ark is acacia or shittah. It comes from one of the few trees that would be growing in the wilderness area where the children of Israel camped. It is a beautiful hardwood used to this day for flooring and furniture.

The ark was covered completely in gold and would reside in the completed Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle. There were poles use to transport the Ark, fitted through rings at the corners of the Ark. These poles were never to be removed and the finished ark would never be touched again by human hands.

Exodus 25:13-15 NKJV 13 "And you shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. 14 "You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, that the ark may be carried by them. 15 "The poles shall be in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it.

The Ark had a special cover on it called a “mercy seat.”

Exodus 25:17-21 NKJV 17 "You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits shall be its length and a cubit and a half its width. 18 "And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. 19 "Make one cherub at one end, and the other cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim at the two ends of it of one piece with the mercy seat. 20 "And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall face one another; the faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat. 21 "You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you.

The word translated as mercy seat is the Hebrew kapporeth, number 3727 which literally means lid, but come from the root word kaphar, number 3722 which means to cover, cancel, or make atonement. Even the Rabbis who later translated the Hebrew Bible into a Greek text called the Septuagint, understood the significance of atonement by using the Greek word hil-as-tay’-ree-on, which means atonement or propitiation.

On the top of this mercy seat were two cherubim. These two cherubim faced each other with wings spread as if acting a guards over the Ark. This calls to mind Genesis 3:24.

Genesis 3:24 NKJV 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

The place between the two cherubim on the lid on the Ark, or kapporeth inside the holy of holies, becomes the focal point of divine revelation where the God of the universe will reside on earth! It is here that God would meet with Moses and later with Aaron and the following high priests.

Exodus 25:22 NKJV 22 "And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.

Only the Ark of the Covenant, Aaron’s staff, a jar of manna, the tablets of the Ten Words, and a Torah scroll that Moses would write just before his passing would be inside the holy of holies.

There were other important items in the Tabernacle just outside the curtain which overed the holy of holies. One of these items is a small table made in a similar manner as the Ark of the Covenant and placed on the north side of the inner sanctuary, or what was known as the holy place.

Exodus 25:23-27 NKJV 23 "You shall also make a table of acacia wood; two cubits shall be its length, a cubit its width, and a cubit and a half its height. 24 "And you shall overlay it with pure gold, and make a molding of gold all around. 25 "You shall make for it a frame of a handbreadth all around, and you shall make a gold molding for the frame all around. 26 "And you shall make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings on the four corners that are at its four legs. 27 "The rings shall be close to the frame, as holders for the poles to bear the table.

This table would be the place for what is known as “the bread of the presence.”

Exodus 25:28-30 NKJV 28 "And you shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be carried with them. 29 "You shall make its dishes, its pans, its pitchers, and its bowls for pouring. You shall make them of pure gold. 30 "And you shall set the showbread on the table before Me always.

It was not unknown among the ancient cultures to place food items before their gods, but for Israel there was an important and key difference. The showbread, which consisted of twelve loaves, was not located inside the holy of holies in the presence of God. The showbread, along with the other sacrifices and offerings were either completely consumed in fire, eaten by the priests, or consumed by those who brought them.

Perhaps the most important item that is in the Tabernacle holy place, is the menorah, the seven-branched lampstand. It is located on the south side of the holy place opposite the table of the showbread.

Exodus 25:31-32 NKJV 31 "You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be of hammered work. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and flowers shall be of one piece. 32 "And six branches shall come out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side.

Of all the items in the Tabernacle, the menorah is the most well-known, religious and national symbol of national Israel. For more than 2000 years it has been depicted on coins, mosaics, lamps, jewelry and many other items. Today it is perhaps the most recognized Jewish symbol other than the Star of David.

One of the most interesting thing about the instruction given for making the menorah is that there is no size designation. Tradition has it that it was approximately three cubits high. However, one feature that stands out is the depiction of botanical items in its design. It’s as if the menorah is representation of the Tree of Life. The menorah is described as having a stem, branches, petals, and cups, just like one would find on a tree.

Exodus 25:33-37 NKJV 33 "Three bowls shall be made like almond blossoms on one branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower, and three bowls made like almond blossoms on the other branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower-and so for the six branches that come out of the lampstand. 34 "On the lampstand itself four bowls shall be made like almond blossoms, each with its ornamental knob and flower. 35 "And there shall be a knob under the first two branches of the same, a knob under the second two branches of the same, and a knob under the third two branches of the same, according to the six branches that extend from the lampstand. 36 "Their knobs and their branches shall be of one piece; all of it shall be one hammered piece of pure gold. 37 "You shall make seven lamps for it, and they shall arrange its lamps so that they give light in front of it.

The menorah was to be the one and only light source within the holy place of the sanctuary. One lamp of it was to always be lit, and was used to light the others six lamps once fresh oil was put in them.

Why is so much time and effort given to the construction of the Tabernacle? Are these instructions more important than the moral codes given in the previous Torah portions and interspersed throughout the rest of the Torah? Seven chapters of Exodus are devoted exclusively to the Tabernacle and repeated again in the book of Numbers.

The building of the Tabernacle was a test of their obedience. It was to begin with the voluntary offering of the materials to be used in its construction. These materials God Himself provided when He redeemed them from slavery in Egypt. The people added in their skilled labor and, in a unified effort, following the instructions given to Moses by God on the mountain, they built the Tabernacle and all its parts. In this way, the covenant at Mount Sinai is then fully ratified. God provided the materials, the people provided the skilled labor, then God would take them as His people, live among them, and they would be His light in a darkened world.

Study Questions:

Teaching Questions

 

1.      The first item that the children of Israel were to build is the Ark of the Covenant, with the mercy seat, or cover described separately. Discuss the purpose and function of the mercy seat. How is this a reflection of Messiah?

 

2.      Discuss the three levels of holiness represented in the construction and function of the Tabernacle.

 

3.      The Menorah is the third item that the people were instructed to build. What is its purpose? Aside from representing the Tree of Life, what other things are possibly represented in the construction and function of the menorah?

 

General Portion Questions

 

4.      In the teaching, we briefly mentioned the construction of the various textiles used in the Tabernacle. What is their purpose in their various applications. (Reference Exodus 26)

 

5.      Discuss the numbers found in this Torah Portion. Where do you see the numbers three, seven, ten, and twelve specifically. Where do we find these numbers appearing, and what is their significance?

 

6.      What other insights did you gain from this teaching? What indicators are there in this Torah Portion that point to Messiah Yeshua?

 

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