II. SYMBOLICAL AND TYPICAL SIGNIFICANCY. —As the central point of a great symbolical and typical institute, the tabernacle necessarily pos sessed, both as a whole and in its contents, a sym bolical and typical significancy. On this head much fanciful and unregulated ingenuity has been indulged ; but this must not induce us to neglect those conclusions to which a just application of the principles of typological interpretation conducts.
The primary idea of the tabernacle was that of a dwelling for Jehovah in the midst of his people ; and this was prominently kept in view in all the arrangements concerning the construction and loca tion uf the structure. Let them,' said God to Moses, 'make me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them' (Exod. xxv. 8 ; xxix. 45) ; when the structure was completed it was set up in the midst of the congregation, and there it always remained whether the people rested or were on their march (Num. ii.) ; on it rested the cloud which indicated the Divine presence, and which by its quiescence or removal indicated the will of the Great Sove reign of Israel as to the resting or the removing of the camp (Exod. xl. 36-38) ; and to it the people repaired when they had sacrifice to offer to God, or counsel to ask of IIim (Lev. i. 3 ; Num. xxvii. 2 ; Dent. xxxi. 74, etc.) As Judaism was strictly monotheistic it knew but one sacred place where Jehovah was to be found. The Holy of Holies, which the apostle calls the second tabernacle ' (Heb. ix. 7), was the appropriate residence of Je hovah as the God of Israel. In this the principal thing was the ark, in which was placed the testimony' Oily), and which was covered by the mercy-seat ' otam). The testimony was the book of the law, and it was put into the ark as a witness against the people because of their sinful. ness (Dein. xxxi. 26, 27). This symbolised the great truth, that the first relation into which Jeho.
vah comes with the sinner, is that of a ruler whose law testifies against the transgressor. But this testimony was hid by the mercy-seat, on which the blood of atonement was sprinkled by the high priest when he entered within the veil, and on which the visible emblem of Jehovah's presence— the schechinah between the cherubim of glory—was enthroned ; and in this there was an emblem of the fact, that the condemning and accusing power of the law was taken away by the propitiatory covering which God had appointed. By all this
was indicated the grand truth, that the character in which Jehovah dwelt among his people was that of a justly offended hut merciful and propitiated sovereign, who having received atonement for their sins, had put these out of his sight, and would re member them no more at all against them (comp. Philo, de Vit. Bk. iii.) In the first, or outer tabernacle, were the altar of incense, the table with the shewbread, and the golden candlestick. The first was symbolical of the necessity and the acceptableness of prayer, of •.vhich the smoke of sweet incense that was to ascend from it morning and evening appears to be the appointed Biblical symbol (comp. Ps. cxli. 2 ; Luke i. to ; Rev. v. 8 ; viii. 3, 4). The second was emblematical of the necessity of good works to accompany our devotions ; the bread being the offering of the children of Israel to their Divine King (Lev. xxiv. 8), and consecrated to him by the offering of incense along with it as emblematical of prayer. The third was the symbol of the church, or people of God ; the gold of which it was formed, denoting the excellence of the church, the seven lamps its completeness, and the oil by which they were fed, being the appropriate symbol of the Divine Spirit dwelling in his people, and causing them to shine (comp. Zech. iv. 2, 3 ; Matt. v. 14, 16 ; Rev. i. 12, 20).
In the fore-court of the tabernacle stood the altar of burnt-offering, on which were offered the sacrifices of the people ; and the laver, in which the priests cleansed their hands and feet before entering the holy place. The symbolical signifi cancy of these is too well known to need illustra tion. [OFFERINGS ; PURIFICATION.] Whilst the tabernacle was thus, in its different parts, symbolical of several important truths, there ate certain things in Christianity of which it, by itself, contained the types.