Under the Covers of the Tabernacle

Let us now move away from the inside of the Tabernacle and view its outside and how it continues to speak to us. What a contrast though, as this structure is not attractive from the exterior. The first thing we see is this huge tent. Here in Exodus 26, we are told that the Tabernacle had four coverings. The fourth, or innermost covering was a beautifully embroidered tapestry of white, blue, purple and red threads, which included cherubim as part of its design. In contrast to this, we now take a closer look at the first or outer layer of the Tabernacle. This was the one in view for all to see.

What did this layer look like? It was called tahash, describing animal skin, however, no one knows what species it actually was. This is why different English bible translations will name various possibilities. From the NASV we read that it was porpoise skin. Others say badger skin (NKJV), goatskin (ESV) sealskin (ASV) while the NIV took no chance and wrote durable leather. Another version, the NRSV wanted to give it a beautiful shine and translated it as fine leather. But we don’t know where this skin came from. Ancient rabbis in a Midrash understood it to be a unicorn whose skin was made of six colors, created solely for this purpose. This is why in certain synagogues one will see designs of unicorns.

There is one thing however, that the Bible does tell us. This skin, tahash was used to make beautiful sandals. We read in Ezekiel 16 where God recounts His first encounter with Israel and says to her in vs.10, “I also clothed you with embroidered cloth and put sandals of tahash on your feet; and I wrapped you with fine linen and covered you with silk”. The sandals referred to what the Israelites wore in the desert, something that miraculously never frayed or tore. That was one miracle which Moses recalls in Deuteronomy 29:5 where God says, “And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet.”  Imagine wearing the same sandals for 40 years and they stay looking new every day.

But now, why such a contrast between the outermost and innermost covering of the Tabernacle?

Why do we have such an ordinary looking skin visible from the outside and yet, when one gets inside, the story is so different? Can you see the two comings of the Messiah here? The outer covering pointed to Yeshua’s First Coming and reminds us of those powerful prophecies like the one in Isaiah 53:2 where we read, “For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground, He has no stately form or majesty.” The Tabernacle’s outer covering was no great attraction for the eyes of men, likewise at His First Coming, Yeshua is named a yonech. Though this word is translated as tender shoot, it really means a young child, a harmless baby. We are also told that He had no form or comeliness because He was not born in a castle, nor surrounded by servants. He came and very few noticed His arrival.

The word majesty, hadar speaks of a King. This word is often translated as glory, majesty, honor, attributes given to God, especially in the Psalms. Yet in various prophecies, at His First Coming, the Messiah did not manifest these characteristics in royal fashion. He was born into poverty in Bethlehem and grew up in a carpenter’s shop, in one of the most despised cities, Nazareth, and at the end, His life was valued at only thirty pieces of silver; the price of a dead slave. This then is written all over the Hebrew Scriptures, and clearly seen in the tahash, the beautiful, ordinary yet lasting skin.

But this is just the beginning for each of the four coverings has a story to tell us. The second covering is made of ram’s skin dyed in red (Ex.26:14) and there is yet another, a third covering made of goat’s skin (26:7-13). Most translations speak of goat’s hair, but the word hair is not there. It could be goat’s wool or better still, skin.

But why were these two animals chosen, the ram and the goat, especially when the two coverings were barely visible to anyone, as if hidden from everyone. These two animals speak concerning the work of the Messiah. Looking at the history of the bible, the ram takes a prominent place in Genesis 22 and recalls the attempted sacrifice of Isaac. Instead of Isaac a ram was provided until the Lamb of God, Yeshua came. The ram must have been the first animal sacrificed on the Temple Mount, following through with the final sacrifice of the Lamb of God when Yeshua came some 2000 years later. And notice, it is not just the skin of a ram, but it was dyed red. Red is the color of blood and sacrifice.

Then the next layer, the third one, was made of goat. The goat reminds us of the Messiah on the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur. On this day, two goats were offered. One goat was sacrificed at the Temple, but the other goat, not sacrificed, was to carry the sins of Israel into the wilderness to confront Azazel, another name for Satan. Perhaps this is why it was not dyed, nor had it taken on any particular color. Perhaps this is because the struggle against evil is still an ongoing reality. So, both the ram and the goat remind us of the struggle and death of the Messiah for our sake, for our sins.

But the question we ask as we consider all these things is why are the three coverings below the tahash hidden from the public, yet they carry with them a message that should be proclaimed to all? The point is, its message is not hidden. On the contrary, it is written here in the Tabernacle, and it is written all over the Scriptures and it is today written over the lives of all who know and follow Yeshua as the Word changes lives.

After all, while the Israelites could not see the three hidden curtains, they knew of them through the Word of God. This is the same way we today find out truth about God. And Moses put a lot of emphasis on the what the Torah teaches, and so does Paul, from New Testament writings. Let’s read from Romans 10:8 where Paul quotes Moses and says, The Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the word of faith which we are preaching. This is a quote from Deuteronomy 30:14.  Jesus is present, He is at hand and in view of everyone who is seeking. And like the Star of Bethlehem it was only a few who saw it as only a few will recognize Yeshua as their Messiah.

Click Here for the Teaching: Exodus Sermon 28: If the Tabernacle Could Speak