So yesterday I had an idea.
I don’t know about you, but I am an idea person. And if I have an idea that I think is good, I don’t want to waste any time letting it sit around in my head. I have to do something about it.
Well, I realized that Exodus 36-39 are the chronicle of Bezalel and co. building all the things God told them to build back in Exodus 25-31. He pretty much follows the instructions word for word.
Suffice to say, it doesn’t make for very interesting reading.
But it does make for interesting building.
Celebrating Exodus
When I finished working my way through Genesis I decided to celebrate by walking around town taking pictures of significant places. These became little altars of remembrance for me.
This time, I am going to build a scale model of the entire tabernacle.
My scale will be as follows: 1 Cubit = 1/2 inch.
Here is what I have done so far . . . in pictures!
So I went to the craft store and bought a bunch of appropriately colored (red, purple, and blue; gray for the dolphin skin and brown for the ram and goat skin) felt, a couple bags of 6-inch wood dowels, and a foam base.
Total Cost: $16
I did a little research and found that the actual tabernacle was 45-feet long and 15-feet wide. So I made a cutout with my scaled dimensions. Mine would be 15-inches long and 5-inches wide.
Next I measured out (what I thought was) the right spacing of the poles but I miscalculated and figured it out a little too late. Whoops! Oh well, my tabernacle will have 19 poles on one side instead of 20.
I'm hoping this isn't a smite-worthy offense!
Then I realized I would need a glue gun for the crossbeams. I didn’t have one so I set to work on the inner curtain. This was done by cutting out felt and (wait forit!) sewing it together! I am so domestic!
Somewhere in the world a seamstress is crying and doesn't know why
And that was about all I got done today. I managed borrow a hot glue gun so tomorrow I will get on those cross beams.
My ultimate goal is to build the entire enclosure with all the pieces. Though that may be a bit ambitious given how crazy my life is about to get. So we will see. At the very least I want to build this thing.
Look for some more updates later on!
Question: What on earth should I do with this thing when I’m done with it?
The Whole Dang Thing 
This is epic. I love how you’re celebrating what you’ve read – it’s something we often completely miss out on.
I’d say you should… put it up for sale on Etsy? =) Ha.
hmm, etsy . . . I may have a future as a miniature biblical artifact maker!
Sounds like an interesting project…my question is: how far are you going to take it? Are you building the inner and outer courts too?
I would at least share it with your church if you have one, and it turns out to be semi-portable.
I may try to make the inner and outer courts. We’ll see . . .
If the real tabernacle was a “picture” of the Messiah who was to come, then you have one of the Messiah who came.
i really like this. hooray for construction projects!
I just finished putting the frame together. It is pretty fun.
That is INCREDIBLE!! I can’t wait to see the finished product. Donate it to the Smithsonian Institute – screw the whole separation of church and state thing.
Wait, no trolls commenting on your miscalculation or the heretical nature of your endeavor yet? Well, let me be the first.
Dowelseth and felt-eth shalt not be used-eth (pronounced use-ed-eth) in miniature-eth biblical-eth…sheesh, I’m already tired. Forget it.
Nice work, dude. Love it.
Thanks. Wait till you see the finished product!
And I should put a “no KJV allowed” on my comment policy. If I had a comment policy.