TABERNACLE TOURS
ONE OF THE BEST TABERNACLE COLLECTIONS IN THE WORLD!
AN IMMERSIVE, EXPERIENTIAL TOUR OF BEAUTIFUL AND INSPIRING...
MUSEUM-QUALITY, FULL SIZE REPRODUCTIONS OF THE TABERNACLE FURNISHINGS
AND OTHER BIBLICAL ARTIFACTS!
We are the first and only retreat center in our local community to offer our guests an exclusive opportunity to have this intimate and immersive journey. Our mission is to provide our guests with an unparalleled, private and memorable wilderness experience that promotes personal growth and self-reflection.
You'll see for yourself that The Tabernacle, i.e. the "Tent of Meeting", was a very functional facility! The Tabernacle of Moses served as a meeting place between God and men, and we believe that our campground is the perfect place to connect with nature and reflect on life’s important things. If you’re looking for a unique camping experience that’s both educational and inspiring, look no further than Shabbat Retreat. Our venue offers a truly authentic experience that you won’t find anywhere else.
Shabbat Retreat is your home away from home in nature! Getaway for a weekend - come learn more about the history of the Tabernacle or simply enjoy the great outdoors exploring the nearby trails and enjoying the peace and quiet. You’ll find everything you need to relax and recharge.
Our Tabernacle in The Wilderness collection’s biblical artifacts are part of Shabbat Retreat’s exciting invitation and clarion call to the community of believers to “Come, Draw Near!” to GOD, the Creator of Heaven and Earth. We have been blessed and allowed by GOD to be in possession of one of the best Tabernacle Collections in the WORLD. It’s definitely a collection worth seeing in person, and we are prayerful it’s an experience that anyone who heeds the clarion call of Drawing Near... for their obedience - will experience miracles, signs and wonders in their life and be blessed.
The BIBLICAL account of the tabernacle in the wilderness of Sinai is the first dwelling place (earthly home or house) of the living GOD that GOD, Himself, requested to be built for Him. During the forty days and nights Moses spent on the holy mountain, he received very distinct and important things: the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments - written with the finger of GOD and Moses received divine instructions - in very minute detail - for the building of the "Tabernacle" or "Tent of Meeting'' that GOD, Himself, had outlined for its very unique construction.
An amazing fact that many people are not aware of is that the Tabernacle was actually in service for about 500 years! Holy services were performed in this Tabernacle by priests who were from the Tribe of Levi - members of the family of Aaron - who was not only the brother of Moses, but the God anointed and appointed High Priest. The priestly duties consisted of conducting holy offerings, prayer, praise and worship to the one true GOD - The GOD of Israel. Most notably, we read in our bibles that holy incense was burnt before the Lord Our GOD in this "Tent of Meeting". GOD's Holy Presence manifested within the tent. He communed there with man - providing wisdom and guidance for the nation of Israel through both Moses and Aaron - the High Priest,
What we truly love about The Tabernacle is that...
it served as a meeting place between GOD and men,
...it is the "Tent of Meeting".
"I will commune with thee from above the mercy-seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony." (Exodus 25:22)
The Golden Candlestick
(Exodus 25:31-40; Exodus 27:20-21)
Made of one solid piece of PURE GOLD! One of the more stunning pieces and awe inspiring items of The Tabernacle. Today it is now well recognized as it has come to be used as both a messianic symbol and is now also well associated with the nation of Israel.
“Make a lampstand of pure gold. Hammer out its base and shaft, and make its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them. 32 Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. 33 Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. 34 And on the lampstand there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. 35 One bud shall be under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair—six branches in all. 36 The buds and branches shall all be of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.
37 “Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it. 38 Its wick trimmers and trays are to be of pure gold. 39 A talent[a] of pure gold is to be used for the lampstand and all these accessories. 40 See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.
ALTAR OF INCENSE
(Exodus 30:1-10; Psalm 141:2; Revelation 8:3-4)
This altar typifies PRAYER AND WORSHIP.
“Make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense. 2 It is to be square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits high[a]—its horns of one piece with it. 3 Overlay the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it. 4 Make two gold rings for the altar below the molding—two on each of the opposite sides—to hold the poles used to carry it. 5 Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 6 Put the altar in front of the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law—before the atonement cover that is over the tablets of the covenant law—where I will meet with you.
7 “Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. 8 He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the Lord for the generations to come. 9 Do not offer on this altar any other incense or any burnt offering or grain offering, and do not pour a drink offering on it. 10 Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on its horns. This annual atonement must be made with the blood of the atoning sin offering[b] for the generations to come. It is most holy to the Lord.”
BRAZEN ALTAR
“Build an altar of acacia wood, three cubits[a] high; it is to be square, five cubits long and five cubits wide.[b] 2 Make a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar are of one piece, and overlay the altar with bronze. 3 Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots to remove the ashes, and its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans. 4 Make a grating for it, a bronze network, and make a bronze ring at each of the four corners of the network. 5 Put it under the ledge of the altar so that it is halfway up the altar. 6 Make poles of acacia wood for the altar and overlay them with bronze. 7 The poles are to be inserted into the rings so they will be on two sides of the altar when it is carried. 8 Make the altar hollow, out of boards. It is to be made just as you were shown on the mountain.
BRAZEN LAVER
The Laver, as well as its stand, was made of brass. It stood between the brazen altar and the tabernacle. Out of the smitten rock flowed the stream of water, and from it this basin was constantly refilled. Here the sacrifices were washed and the priests cleansed before entering the Tabernacle. From the mention of the "Laver and its Foot" one gets the idea of two containers, like a cup and saucer.
Exodus 30:18
Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.
The Brass was taken from looking glasses - Exodus 38:8
And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the looking glasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
The Priests had to wash in the brazen laver before entering the Tabernacle (Holy Place and Holy of Holies)
Exodus 30:19-21
TABLE OF SHEWBREAD
(Exodus 25:23-30; Leviticus 24:5-9
“Take the finest flour and bake twelve loaves of bread, using two-tenths of an ephah[a] for each loaf. 6 Arrange them in two stacks, six in each stack, on the table of pure gold before the Lord. 7 By each stack put some pure incense as a memorial[b] portion to represent the bread and to be a food offering presented to the Lord. 8 This bread is to be set out before the Lord regularly, Sabbath after Sabbath, on behalf of the Israelites, as a lasting covenant. 9 It belongs to Aaron and his sons, who are to eat it in the sanctuary area, because it is a most holy part of their perpetual share of the food offerings presented to the Lord.”
GARMENTS OF THE HIGH PRIEST
The high priest holy garments ....also referenced as the priestly garments.
(Exodus 28:1-40; Exodus 39:1-31; Leviticus 8:109).
Aaron, brother of Moses, was commissioned by God to serve as High Priest for Israel. He not only was called (Exodus 28:1; Hebrews 5:4,10), but he was cleansed in order to be properly prepared to perform his sacred duties (Exodus 29:4).
Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests. 2 Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor. 3 Tell all the skilled workers to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest. 4 These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests. 5 Have them use gold, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen.
ARK OF COVENANT
Exodus 40:20
“And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark:”
"Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth"; so the ark is called in the Holy Scriptures (Joshua 3:11). This most holy object was made of acacia wood, completely covered with fine gold, and decorated with a golden wreath.
