The term "Tabernacle-door" refers to the entrance of the Tabernacle, the portable dwelling place for the Divine Presence among the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness, as described in the Old Testament. The Tabernacle itself was a central element of Israelite worship and served as the focal point for sacrificial offerings and divine communication.

Biblical Description and Function

The Tabernacle-door, also known as the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, was a significant location within the Israelite camp. It was situated at the eastern end of the Tabernacle and was the primary access point to the sacred space. The door was covered by a curtain, or screen, made of finely twisted linen and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, as described in Exodus 26:36: "For the entrance to the tent, make a curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and finely spun linen, the work of an embroiderer."

The Tabernacle-door served several key functions:

1. Access to the Divine Presence: The door was the threshold through which priests entered to perform their duties, including offering sacrifices and maintaining the sacred space. It symbolized the boundary between the common and the holy, emphasizing the sanctity of the Tabernacle.

2. Place of Revelation and Communication: The Tabernacle-door was often the site where God communicated with Moses and the Israelites. In Exodus 29:42-43, it is stated, "There I will meet with you to speak with you; there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by My glory."

3. Location for Sacrificial Offerings: The entrance was the designated area for presenting offerings to the Lord. Leviticus 1:3 instructs, "If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to present an unblemished male; he must bring it to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting for acceptance on his behalf before the LORD."

Symbolism and Theological Significance

The Tabernacle-door holds deep symbolic meaning within the biblical narrative. It represents the accessibility of God to His people, while also underscoring the need for holiness and reverence when approaching Him. The door's design, with its rich colors and craftsmanship, reflects the beauty and majesty of God's dwelling place.

Theologically, the Tabernacle-door prefigures the concept of Christ as the mediator between God and humanity. In the New Testament, Jesus refers to Himself as the "door" in John 10:9, "I am the door. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved." This connection highlights the continuity of God's plan for redemption and the fulfillment of the Tabernacle's purpose in the person of Jesus Christ.

Cultural and Historical Context

In the cultural and historical context of ancient Israel, the Tabernacle-door was a place of assembly and judgment. It was where the community gathered for important announcements and where disputes were settled. The elders of Israel often sat at the entrance, signifying its role as a place of authority and governance.

The Tabernacle-door, therefore, was not merely a physical structure but a vital component of Israel's religious and communal life. It served as a constant reminder of God's presence among His people and the covenant relationship established at Sinai.

The Mediator's Threefold Prayer
... tokens of God's friendship, and the people stood wistfully and tremblingly gazing
from afar, while the cloudy pillar wavered down to the Tabernacle door. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the mediators threefold prayer.htm

Following the Cloud.
... All who sought the Lord went to worship there, and the pillar of cloud came and
stood at the Tabernacle door while Moses talked with God, and all the people ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xii following the cloud.htm

Suffering the Birth-Pains of a New Life.
... The devout Hebrew, reverently, penitently standing with his hand on the head of
his sacrifice, at the tabernacle door, believed God and it was reckoned to him ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks about jesus/suffering the birth-pains of a.htm

The Real Presence, the Great Want of the Church
... You know what it was that brought the evil upon the house of Eli. It was because
his sons made themselves vile even at the tabernacle door. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/the real presence the great.htm

The King after Man's Heart
... While everything was rushing down to destruction in Eli's time, and his sons were
rioting at the Tabernacle door, the child was growing up in the stillness ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the king after mans heart.htm

The First Book
... And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all
the people rose up and worshipped, every man at his tent door. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/salvian/on the government of god/the first book.htm

Tabernacle-door (2 Occurrences)
Tabernacle-door. Tabernacled, Tabernacle-door. Tabernacles .
Multi-Version Concordance Tabernacle-door (2 Occurrences). ...
/t/tabernacle-door.htm - 7k

Tabernacled (6 Occurrences)

/t/tabernacled.htm - 8k

Hanging (82 Occurrences)
... Exodus 36:37 And he made an hanging for the tabernacledoor of blue, and purple,
and scarlet, and fine twined linen, of needlework; (KJV WBS). ...
/h/hanging.htm - 35k

Tabernacles (43 Occurrences)

/t/tabernacles.htm - 21k

Needlework (23 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Exodus 36:37 And he made an hanging for the tabernacledoor of blue, and
purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, of needlework; (KJV BBE RSV). ...
/n/needlework.htm - 14k

Needle-work (7 Occurrences)
... (WBS). Exodus 36:37 And he made a hanging for the tabernacle-door of blue, and purple,
and scarlet, and fine twined linen, of needle-work; (WBS). ...
/n/needle-work.htm - 8k

Tent-door (6 Occurrences)
... (WBS). Exodus 33:10 And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle
door: and all the people rose and worshiped, every man in his tent-door. ...
/t/tent-door.htm - 8k

Cloudy (6 Occurrences)
... Exodus 33:10 And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacledoor:
and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door. ...
/c/cloudy.htm - 8k

Punishments (31 Occurrences)
... 19:13, 20), not bringing offering after slaying a beast for food (Leviticus 17:9),
slaying the animal at a place other than the tabernacledoor (Leviticus 17:4 ...
/p/punishments.htm - 36k

Worshipped (81 Occurrences)
... Exodus 33:10 And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacledoor:
and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door. ...
/w/worshipped.htm - 32k

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