Mennonite Life Visitors Center - Tabernacle

On Tuesday, we drove back into Lancaster (we've made that drive frequently!) to visit the Mennonite Life Visitors Center.

When we got there, the presentation about the Tabernacle was just starting, so we decided to join it.

A mural depicting the Israelite camp as they were journeying through the desert with the tabernacle in the midst of the camp.

Outside there were models of the bronze altar of sacrifice and the bronze laver.

...silhouettes of the priests preparing and performing sacrifices in the outer courtyard.

Inside the building was a lifesize model of the tabernacle, using dimensions as provided by God to Moses in the Old Testament. 

The table of shewbread with 7 armed candlestick beyond

 

Menorah or seven-armed candlestick

Looking toward the altar of incense, with a model of the high priest and curtain separating the Holy-of-Holies.

Representations of the types of coverings that would have provided the roof of the tabernacle - woven cloth would have been on the inside, then black goats' skin, lambswool dyed red, and then cows-hide leather on the outside.

Model of the altar of incense

We could look through windows into the area behind the curtain into the Holy of Holies,

Model of Ark of the Covenant

Another view of the model of the Ark of the Covenant

A model representing Aaron (or the high priest) with the high priestly garments including 2 stones on his shoulders each with names of 6 of the tribes engraved on the stones, the breastplate with stones representing each of the 12 tribes of Israel, the breastplate had a pouch in which the Urim and Thumin were kept. Bells at the hem of his robe could be heard outside the tabernacle so the people knew that the high priest was carrying on his duties inside.

Curtain between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies

Another view of the lampstand

One of the things mentioned in the presentation was that the wooden sides of the tabernacle were all covered with gold - and the only light in the tabernacle was from the lampstand, but the reflection off the gold would have increased the distribution of the light.

It was very interesting to see this full scale model of the tabernacle and hear explanations of the objects in it.