Topical Encyclopedia The Tabernacle, also known as the Tent of Meeting, was the portable earthly dwelling place of God among the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness. It served as the central place of worship and sacrifice until the construction of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. One of the significant aspects associated with the Tabernacle was the institution of the Tabernacle Tax, also referred to as the half-shekel offering or atonement money.Biblical Foundation The Tabernacle Tax is first introduced in the Book of Exodus. God commanded Moses to collect a half-shekel from every Israelite male over the age of twenty as a ransom for their lives, to prevent any plague among them when they were numbered. This tax was to be used for the service of the Tabernacle. The relevant passage is found in Exodus 30:11-16: "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'When you take a census of the Israelites to number them, each one must pay the LORD a ransom for his life when he is counted. Then no plague will come upon them when you number them. Everyone who crosses over to those counted must pay a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the LORD. Everyone twenty years of age or older who crosses over must give this offering to the LORD. The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than a half shekel, when giving the offering to the LORD to make atonement for your lives. Take the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting. It will serve as a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD, making atonement for your lives.'" (Exodus 30:11-16) Purpose and Significance The primary purpose of the Tabernacle Tax was to provide for the maintenance and service of the Tabernacle. It was a means of ensuring that the place where God dwelled among His people was properly cared for and that the necessary resources were available for its upkeep. The tax also served a spiritual purpose, as it was considered an atonement offering, symbolizing the ransom of each individual's life before God. The uniformity of the tax—where both rich and poor were required to pay the same amount—emphasized the equality of all Israelites before God. It underscored the principle that every person, regardless of their economic status, was equally in need of atonement and equally responsible for the communal worship life of Israel. Historical Context and Later Developments The Tabernacle Tax continued to be a part of Israelite religious practice even after the Tabernacle was replaced by the Temple in Jerusalem. In the time of Jesus, the tax was still collected, as evidenced by the account in the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus instructs Peter to find a coin in the mouth of a fish to pay the Temple tax for both of them (Matthew 17:24-27). The tax was a reminder of the covenant relationship between God and Israel, and it played a role in the communal and religious identity of the people. It was a tangible expression of their commitment to the worship and service of God, as well as a reminder of their need for atonement and redemption. Theological Implications Theologically, the Tabernacle Tax highlights the concept of atonement and the need for a ransom to be paid for sin. It foreshadows the ultimate atonement provided by Jesus Christ, whose sacrificial death on the cross paid the ransom for humanity's sins. The tax also reflects the communal responsibility of God's people to support the work of ministry and worship, a principle that continues to be relevant in the life of the Church today. Nave's Topical Index Exodus 30:11-16And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, Nave's Topical Index Library Exodus Refutation of Another Argument Adduced by the Marcionites, that ... Ordination and Duties of the Clergy. Exegetic. A People Prepared for the Lord Talmage -- a Bloody Monster The Cleansing of the Temple. A Paradox God's Love for a Sinning World Glad Givers and Faithful Workers Resources What was the tabernacle of David? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was the tabernacle of Moses? | GotQuestions.org What were the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place in the temple / tabernacle? | GotQuestions.org Tabernacle: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Tabernacle of Testimony Witness Tabernacle was a Moveable Tent Suited to the Unsettled Condition of Tabernacle was Set up by Moses at Mount Sinai Tabernacle was Set up in Shiloh Tabernacle was Set Up: At Gilgal Tabernacle was Set Up: Finally at Gibeon Tabernacle: (The Holy of Holies) Heaven Tabernacle: (The Vail) Christ's Body Tabernacle: (The Vail) the Obscurity of the Mosaic Age Tabernacle: A Permanent House Substituted For, when the Kingdom Was Tabernacle: All Males Required to Appear Before, Three Times Each Year Tabernacle: All offerings to be Made At Tabernacle: Anointed and Consecrated With Oil Tabernacle: Anointed With Holy Oil Tabernacle: Brought to the Temple by Solomon Tabernacle: Called The: House of the Lord Tabernacle: Called The: Tabernacle of Joseph Tabernacle: Called The: Tabernacle of Shiloh Tabernacle: Called The: Tabernacle of Testimony or Witness Tabernacle: Called The: Tabernacle of the Congregation Tabernacle: Called The: Tabernacle of the Lord Tabernacle: Called The: Temple of the Lord Tabernacle: Carried in Front of the People of Israel in the Line of March Tabernacle: Court of all the Pillars of, Filleted With Silver Tabernacle: Court of all the Vessels of, Made of Brass Tabernacle: Court of Contained the Brazen Altar and Laver of Brass Tabernacle: Court of One Hundred Cubits Long and Fifty Cubits Wide Tabernacle: Court of Surrounded by Curtains of Fine Line Suspended from Pillars Tabernacle: Court of The Gate of, a Hanging of Blue, Purple Twenty Cubits Tabernacle: Coverings of The First or Inner, Ten Curtains of Blue, Purple Joined Tabernacle: Coverings of The Fourth or Outward of Badgers' Skins Tabernacle: Coverings of The Second, Eleven Curtains of Goats' Hair Tabernacle: Coverings of The Third of Rams' Skins Dyed Red Tabernacle: Defilement of, Punished Tabernacle: Description of The Frame Tabernacle: Designed for Manifestation of God's Presence and for His Tabernacle: Divided by a Vail of Blue, Purple, Suspended from Four Tabernacle: Divided Into: The Holy Place Tabernacle: Divided Into: The Most Holy Place Tabernacle: Divine Wisdom Given to Bezaleel to Make Tabernacle: Filled With the Cloud of Glory Tabernacle: First Reared, on the First Day of the Second Year After The Tabernacle: Free-Will offerings Made at the Dedication of the Altar of Tabernacle: Free-Will offerings Made at the First Rearing of Tabernacle: had a Court Round About Tabernacle: How and by Whom Carried Tabernacle: How Prepared for Removal During the Travels of the Israelites Tabernacle: Israelites Worship At Tabernacle: Made of the Free-Will offerings of the People Tabernacle: Materials For, Voluntarily offered Tabernacle: Moses Was Commanded to Make After a Divine Pattern Tabernacle: Offerings Brought To Tabernacle: One Existed Before Moses Received the Pattern Authorized on Mount Sinai Tabernacle: Pattern of, Revealed to Moses Tabernacle: Pitched: At Gibeon Tabernacle: Pitched: At Gilgal Tabernacle: Pitched: At Shiloh Tabernacle: Punishment for Defiling Tabernacle: Renewed by David, and Pitched Upon Mount Zion Tabernacle: Sanctified by the Glory of the Lord Tabernacle: Solomon offers Sacrifice At Tabernacle: Sprinkled and Purified With Blood Tabernacle: Sprinkled With Blood Tabernacle: Strangers (Foreigners) Forbidden to Enter Tabernacle: Symbol of Spiritual Things Tabernacle: The Ark and Mercy-Seat Put in the Most Holy Place Tabernacle: The Boards of had Each Two Tenons Fitted Into Sockets of Silver Tabernacle: The Boards of Made of Shittim Wood Tabernacle: The Boards of Six, and Two Corner Boards for West Side Tabernacle: The Boards of Supported by Bars of Shittim Wood Resting in Rings of Gold Tabernacle: The Boards of Ten Cubits High by One and a Half Broad Tabernacle: The Boards of Twenty on North Side Tabernacle: The Boards of Twenty on South Side Tabernacle: The Boards of With the Bars, Covered With Gold Tabernacle: The Cloud of Glory Rested On, by Night and Day During Its Tabernacle: The Door of, a Curtain of Blue and Purple Suspended by Gold Tabernacle: The Journeys of Israel Regulated by the Cloud On Tabernacle: The Levites: Appointed Over, and had Charge of Tabernacle: The Levites: Carried Tabernacle: The Levites: did the Inferior Service of Tabernacle: The Levites: Pitched Their Tents Around Tabernacle: The Levites: Took Down, and Put Up Tabernacle: The Lord Appeared In, Over the Mercy-Seat Tabernacle: The Lord Reveals Himself At Tabernacle: The Most Holy Place Tabernacle: The One Instituted by Moses Was Called of Testimony Tabernacle: The One Instituted by Moses Was Called: House of the Lord Tabernacle: The One Instituted by Moses Was Called: Sanctuary Tabernacle: The One Instituted by Moses Was Called: Tabernacle (A. V.), Tent (R. V.) Tabernacle: The One Instituted by Moses Was Called: Tabernacle (A. V.), Tent of Meeting (R. V.) Tabernacle: The One Instituted by Moses Was Called: Temple of the Lord Tabernacle: The One Instituted by Moses Was Called: Tent of Testimony (R. V.) Tabernacle: The Outer Covering Tabernacle: The Priests were the Ministers of Tabernacle: The Priests: Alone Could Enter Tabernacle: The Priests: Performed all Services In Tabernacle: The Second Covering Tabernacle: The Table of Show-Bread, the Golden Candlestick, and The Tabernacle: Tribes Encamped Around, While in the Wilderness Tabernacle: Value of the Substance Contributed For Tabernacle: Workmen Who Constructed It Were Inspired Related Terms |
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