TABERNACLE, a slightly constructed temporary building or habitation; a tent, a pavilion. Figuratively, a temple; a place of worship; a sacred place; speci fically, the sacred tent built by Moses and maintained as the central place of worship for Israel till Solomon built the temple. Also, the human frame as the temporary abode of the soul.
In Jewish antiquities, more fully de nominated Tabernacle of the Cone-reza tion, and Tabernacle of Witness, a tent constructed by direction of Moses, under divine authority, to be a local habita tion for Jehovah while His people moved from place to place in the wilderness—a temple being obviously unsuitable to the period of the wandering. To obtain ma terials for the construction of this sacred tent free-will offerings were solicited, and the Jews, in response, brought gold, sil ver, "brass" (copper), cloths, rams' skins dyed red, oil, spices, precious stones, etc. (Exod. xxv: 1-9; xxxvi: 1-5). Bezaleel and Aholiab, men divinely endowed with genius for the purpose, were the actual builders ( XXXV 30-34; xxxvi: 4). The tabernacle was 30 cubits (i. e., 45 feet) long, 10 cubits (15 feet) wide, and 10 cubits (15 feet) high. The material was "shittim" (acacia) wood. The interior was divided into an outer room 20 cubits long by 10 broad, called the Holy Place, or Sanctuary, and an inner apartment 10 cubits (15 feet) long by 10 broad, named the Most Holy Place, or Holy of Holies. At the E. or open end, were five pillars of acacia wood, overlaid with gold, sup porting a veil or curtain of fine linen with needlework of blue, crimson, and scarlet. Each pillar stood on a brass socket and was furnished with golden hooks. Between the Holy Place and the Place Most Holy was another veil or cur tain of the same material as the first, but the pillars supporting it rested on silver sockets. Four different kinds of curtains or coverings supplied the place of a roof.
Within the Holy Place on the N. side, was the golden table with the shew-bread on it, and on the S. side the golden can dle-stick, and the golden altar of incense. In the Holy of Holies were the Ark of the Covenant and the mercy-seat (Exod. xxvi: 1-37; xxxvi: 1-38; Heb. ix. 1-5). Around the tabernacle was the court of the tabernacle, 100 cubits (150 feet) long, by 50 cubits (75 feet) broad, sur rounded by 60 pillars, each five cubits feet) high, with silver capitals and hooks, and brass sockets. The four pil
lars in the E. side supported a veil or curtain constituting the gate of the court. The brazen altar and the laver were in the courtyard. Around the latter were the tents of the Levites, and beyond these those of the other tribes, three on each side of the tabernacle. Only the priests entered the Holy Place. This they did twice daily, in the morning to extinguish the lights, in the evening to light them anew. None but the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and he only once a year, on the great day of Atone ment. The Gershonites, the Merarites, and the Kohathites took charge of the tabernacle and its furniture when these were removed from place to place. The tabernacle was first set up by Moses on the first day of the second year after the Israelites had left Egypt. After they had reached Canaan it was located at Shiloh (I Sam. iv: 3-22). In Saul's time it was at Nob (I Sam. xxi: 1, and Mark ii : 26). When Solomon became king it was' at Gibeon (I Kings iii: 4). After ward Solomon laid it up in the Temple, of which in all its leading features it had been the model (I Kings viii: 4, II Chron. v. 5). See TEMPLE.
In the Roman Church a receptacle for the consecrated Host for benediction and the ciborium containing the smaller Hosts which the laity receive. In its present form—a small structure of mar ble, metal, or wood, placed in the center of the E. side of the altar—the taber nacle dates from the 16th century. Its original form was that of a dove; about the middle of the 14th century it was sometimes placed in an aumbry above the altar. A lamp constantly burns be fore the tabernacle, which is kept locked, the key never passing out of the charge of the clergy. The name tabernacle is also given to (1) a niche for an image, (2) a reliquary, (3) the aumbry near the high altar when used to contain the reserved sacrament, and (4) the abbot's stall in choir.
As a nautical term, an elevated socket for a boat's mast, or a projecting post to which a mast may be hinged when it is fitted for lowering to pass beneath bridges.