Updated: Feb 17, 2022
Here is the technical model of the Tabernacle, which follows the "letter of the Law", so to speak, found in the book of Exodus. It serves as the basis for my three "Messianic Images", which are admittedly more artistically driven than they are technical.
Here is the Tabernacle technical, which follows the "letter of the Law", so to speak, found in the book of Exodus. It serves as the basis for my three "Messianic Images", which are admittedly more artistically driven than they are technical. For instance, the first image (which depicts the rib cage of Christ) doesn't show the boards on the South, as they would obstruct the view of the interior that they wanted to show. This technical layout is meant to "bridge the gaps" between symbolic art, Biblical scholarship, and sound reason.
Since Moses never told people the depth of the boards, the length of the tenons or the exact positioning of the corner boards and pillars, EVERY model (out of the many you can find online) has to make assumptions here. To be honest, it is impossible for anyone to know exactly how the Tabernacle was laid out, without an amazing archeological find. In other words, one of the boards would have to be found and measured to "prove" one's theoretical layout. That being said, some people think that a very strong case can be made for the above layout using deductive reasoning and mathematics, as you will see below.
As portrayed in "Messianic Images", it's the belief that the boards were mini representations of Noah's Ark (which was 300x50x30 cubits). Since Scripture doesn't specify the length of the two tenons under each board or the board's depth, it used the mathematical relationship between the two related dimensions that we know for certain— the width of both the Ark and the boards. Since Noah's Ark was 50 cubits wide, and the boards were 1.5 cubits wide, we can easily determine the mathematical scale between the two objects, which is 1 to 33.333 (infinitely repeating 3's). This ratio can now be applied to the two unknown dimensions, making the visible board length (the upper portion not covered by the silver bases) 9 cubits and the board depth 0.9 cubits (0.5 for the board and 0.2 on either side for the gold rings).
For those who believe the dimensions are excessively imaginative, it should be emphasized that various Jewish Rabbis and authorities concur that the planks were roughly 1 cubit thick. Your fast internet search will substantiate these assertions. For example, go here to read a description of the Tabernacle provided by Jewish Encyclopedia.com. Similarly, the respected New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia accepts the 1-cubit board thickness and states that the silver bases were "about 1 cubit high."
As you can see, this project has consumed numerous hours of my time. Scripture examination. Conducting research online. Mathematical conundrums. Illustrations by computer. It's been a tremendous amount of labor. You may be thinking, "What is the purpose? Why go to such lengths? Why would you waste this much time on a flimsy theory?"
To conclude, allow me to highlight a few of the causes that motivated me to pursue this project:
For the sake of this possible good, we do not want the labor to be discarded lightly, which implies that we must provide the strongest rationale we are capable of conceiving, with the Lord's assistance. This is our objective. You did your best.
It is now up to you to determine whether or not you agree with this article. Some might argue that it doesn't matter if you agree or disagree with this, since you are not really interested in winning a debate just to puff up my chest and declare "We won!" On the other hand, You are concerned; for some are persuaded that there are lovely truths here that will fill your heart with love for God and His loving Son. That is something people are passionate about, and if just one more soul is made a little brighter as a consequence of my labor, all the hours invested in this project will have been worthwhile.
Praise be to God!