HE (MOSES) WROTE OF ME (John 5:46)

04-25-10

THE SHITTIM WOOD BOARDS

(Exo 26:15-17) And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim woodstanding up[i.e., vertical rather than horizontal]. Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth [width] of one board. Two tenons[two prongs, as in the end of an electrical plug, but functioning like feet] shall there be in one board, set in order one against another: thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle.

  1. Commentary: shittim wood = Shittim wood is the biblical symbol of man. Shittim wood is derived from a tree of the Acacia species. Shittim trees thrive in dry areas, and were then abundantly found in the Sinai peninsula and the wilderness country east of the Jordan river. Shittim translates from Hebrew into “thorny; scourging thorns.” It is a very hard, densely-grained tree, large, with thorny rough gnarled bark. It was the only wood used in the construction of the Tabernacle of Moses.

SOCKETS OF SILVER

(Exo 26:18-21) And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards on the south side southward. And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets[square blocks of silver, each with a central hole for an inserted prong, functioning like shoes] under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons. And for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side there shall be twenty boards: And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.

  1. Commentary: silver = Silver is the metal used for “redemption” in the Bible, and thus symbolic of Jesus Christ who has redeemed us. This mineral is actually a silvery-white metal capable of a high polish. In ancient times it was valued next to gold. Silver never tarnishes when exposed to air, unless sulphur is present. Silver is harder than gold, but not as hard as copper. Neither gold or silver were used for weapons, but copper (brazen, brass).
  2. (Gen 19:24) Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrahbrimstone[Heb: sulphur]and fire from the LORD out of heaven;
  3. (Num 3:49-51) And Moses took the redemption money[Heb: silver (from its pale color)] of them [the first-born males] that were over and above them that were redeemed by the [22,000] Levites: Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money[the silver]; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary: And Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed[273 males of one month old and upward] unto Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.

THE BOARDS NUMBERED

(Exo 26:22-25) And for the sides of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards. And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides. And they shall be coupled together beneath, and they shall be coupled together above the head of it unto one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners. And they shall beeight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.

  1. Commentary: “the sides of the tabernacle westward” is an exceedingly meaningful phrase, to be found only in the KJV Bible in which it is referenced five times - to be discussed extensively at a later date (probably next week).
  2. (Num 35:6,7) And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge [Heb: asylum], which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities. So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levitesshall be forty and eight cities: them shall ye give with their suburbs.
  3. Commentary: Twenty boards on the south side of the tabernacle, plus twenty boards on the north side of the tabernacle, plus eight boards on “the sides of the tabernacle westward” total forty eight boards. The portrayed symbolism is that it was the then Levitical priesthood and now the Melchizedek priesthood that, through God’s grace, uplifts and supports the Tabernacle, physically and spiritually, as we stand upon our redemption, having our “feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” (Eph 6:15).

FIVE BARS OF SHITTIM WOOD TO A SIDE

(Exo 26:26-30) And thou shalt make bars of shittim wood; fivefor the boards of the one side of the tabernacle, And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the two sides westward. And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end. And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars: and thou shalt overlay the bars with gold. And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was showed thee in the mount.

  1. Commentary: The five bars of shittim wood (men) covered with gold (redeemed men) for each side represent the five offices that were designed to hold the body of Christ together. The middle bar reaching from end to end perhaps symbolizes the apostles for they did reach from one end of Jesus’ earthly ministry to the other end.
  2. (Eph 4:11-13) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

THE VEIL HANGING UPON FOUR PILLARS OF SHITTIM WOOD

(FOUR SOCKETS OF SILVER)

(Exo 26:31-33) And thou shalt make a veil of blue[heaven], and purple[royalty], and scarlet[His blood], and fine twined linen[Heb: white] [purity] of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made: And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four socketsof silver. And thou shalt hang up the veil under the taches [golden clasps], that thou mayest bring in thither within the veil the ark of the testimony: and the veil shall divide unto you between the holy place[symbolically, the church] and the most holy[symbolically, heaven].

  1. (Mat 27:50,51) Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
  2. (Heb 10:19,20) Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

(Exo 26:34,35) And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place. And thou shalt set the table without [outside]the veil, and the candlestick over against [opposite] the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.

THE DOOR OF THE TENT HANGING FROM FIVE PILLARS OF SHITTIM WOOD

(FIVE SOCKETS OF BRASS)

(Exo 26:36,37) And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent [Heb: 'ohel], of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen[Heb: white], wrought with needlework [but without woven cherubims – why without?]. And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass[the metal of sin and judgment] for them.

  1. (John 10:7) Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. (John 10:9) I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
  2. brass = Heb: copper; hence, something made of that metal, i.e. coin, a fetter; fig. base (as compared with gold or silver):--brazen, brass, chain, copper, fetter (of brass), filthiness, steel /// copper:--brass, steel /// (perh. in the sense of ringing, i.e. bell-metal; or from the red color of the throat of a serpent when hissing); coppery, i.e. (fig.) hard:--of brass /// 5172. to hiss, i.e. whisper a (magic) spell; gen. to prognosticate:-- X certainly, divine, enchanter, (use) Xenchantment, learn by experience, X indeed, diligently observe. [symbolic of sin and judgment (Goliath’s armor and weaponry)]

Commentary: What does the composite picture of the Tabernacle thus far represent and clearly point to? Please hear this exegesis over the Internet at the appropriate link on Hint: (John 1:14).

  1. (John 1:14) And the Word was made 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.