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that, in less than six months, the tabernacle, with all its rich furniture, was entirely completed; and of which the following is an accurate description:

The tabernacle was formed somewhat like a tent, though much larger, and the whole was covered with curtains and skins. It was divided into two parts-the one covered, and properly called the tabernacle; and the other open, called the court. The covered part was again divided into two other parts, one of which was called the "holy of holies," and the curtains belonging to it were made of embroidered linen of several colors. There were ten curtains, twenty-eight cubits long and four broad: five curtains together made the two coverings, and the other five, being joined to these, covered the whole tabernacle. Above the rest were two other coverings, the one of goat's hair, the other of sheep-skins. These veils or coverings were laid on a square frame of planks resting on bases. There were forty-eight large planks, each a cubit and a half wide and ten cubits high, twenty of them on each side, and six at one end to the westward, and one on each corner: each plank was borne on two silver bases; they were let into one another, and held by bars running the length of the planks. The east end was open, and only covered with a curtain. The holy of holies was parted from the rest of the tabernacle by a curtain made fast to four pillars, standing ten cubits from the end. The whole length of the tabernacle was thirty-two cubits; the upper curtain which hung on the north and south sides was eight cubits in length, and that on the east and west four cubits.

The court was a spot of ground a hundred cubits long and fifty in breadth, enclosed by twenty columns, each of them twenty cubits high and ten in breadth, covered with silver, and standing on copper bases five cubits distant from each other, between which there were curtains drawn and fastened with hooks. At the east end was an entrance twenty cubits wide, covered with a curtain hanging loose.

The ark was in the sanctuary; it was a square chest made of shittim-wood, two cubits and a half long, and one cubit and a half wide and deep. It was covered with gold plates, and had a gold cornice which bore the lid. On the sides of it were rings, to put poles through to carry it. The covering was all of gold, and called the propitiatory or mercy-seat. There were two cherubims on it, which covered it with their wings; the tables of the law were in the ark, which was therefore called the ark of the testimony, or of the covenant.

The table was made of cedar covered with gold, two cubits long, one in breadth, and one and a half in height. About the edge of it was an ornament; it stood on four feet, and had wooden bars plated with gold to carry it on. On it was laid the offering or show-bread (which was changed every day), six loaves at each end, with incense over them. It was not lawful for any but the priests to eat of that bread.

The candlestick was of pure gold, had seven branches, three on each side and one in the middle each branch had three knobs like apples, and three sockets in the shape of half almond-shells: that in the middle had four. On each branch was a gold lamp, and there were gold snuffers and nippers to dress them.

There were two altars: one for the burnt-offerings, five cubits long and wide, and three in height, with the figure of a seraphim at each corner. It was hollow, covered both within and without with brass plate, and open both at top and bottom. In the midst of it was a copper grate, standing on four feet, a cubit and a half high, and fastened with hooks and rings. On this grate were bound the offerings, for the formance of which there was every necessary article, such as kettles, ladles, tongs, hooks, &c.

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The altar for incense was but one cubit in length and breadth, and two cubits high. It was plated with gold, and over it was a crown of the same metal. This altar was in the sanctuary with the ark, but that for burnt-offerings was placed on the north side of the tabernacle. On a pillar in the court was a large copper basin, with several cocks for the water to run out, that those who ministered might conveniently wash their hands previous to the discharge of their priestly function.

The vestments of the high-priest were, the breast-plate, the ephod, the robe, the close coat, the mitre, and the girdle. The ephod, the robe, and the close coat, were of fine linen, and covered the whole body from the neck to the heels. Over all was a purple tunic, a vestment larger and finer wrought, but no reaching so low, the bottom of which was ornamented with the representation of pomegranates and bells. The ephod consisted of two bands made of gold thread, and fastened to a kind of collar which hung down both before and behind from each shorlder, and meeting,

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Probable Form of the Table of Shew-bread. (After Bernard Lamy.) Priests removing the old and placing the new.

served as a girdle to the tunic or vestment. On the shoulders were two large precious stones, which joined the front and hind parts of the ephod, and on them were marked the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, six on each. The breastplate was made of the same materials as the ephod, to which it was fastened with gold chains. It was a square ornament, very thick, and covered the whole breast. The girdle was likewise made of the same materials with the ephod. The mitre was made of fine flax, and covered the head; and in the front was a gold plate, on which were These were the solemn ornacarved these words: HOLINESS TO THE LORD. ments belonging to the high-priest: the others were only a simple tunic or vestment, a linen mitre, and a girdle. They had all garments made of linen and cotton, which were fastened at the waist, whence they reached down to about the middle of the legs. Such was the form of the tabernacle, and such the vestments appointed for the high-priest; the whole of which, as soon as completed, was presented to Moses for his inspection and approbation. Having viewed them attentively, and found that all was done as the Lord had commanded, he first praised God, and then bestowed his benediction on the people, for having so diligently attended to the divine injunction. All things being now ready, on the first day of the first month,* in the second year * MONTH, a space of four weeks, or the period of the revolution of the moon. Gen. xxix. 14. The Israelites reckoned their time by months, of which they had two series: one for civil purposes, commencing the year in their month Ethanim, the seventh of the sacred year (1 Kings viii. 2), computing from the creation of the world, and answering to our September; the other for their sacred purposes in their festivals, commencing the year in their month Abib, the seventh of the civil year, computing from the redemption from Egypt (Exod. xii. 2-18, xiii. 4), and answering to our March. The following table exhibits the order of the Jewish months, with the principal religious festivals of the Israelites and Jews:

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