3. Altar of Sacrifice
Laver
THE SANCTUARY
HOLY PLACE
MOST HOLY PLACE
Ark of the Covenant
Table
of Shewbread
7-Branch
Candlestick
Altar of Incense
VEIL
COURTYARD
4. The Shewbread…
consecrated unleavened bread
ritually placed by the Jewish priests of
ancient Israel on a table in the
sanctuary of the tabernacle on the
Sabbath. (Merriam Webster).
5. • ם ֶח ֶֶ֜ל ‘ lechem ’ – which
means bread, food, grain
• ἄρτων ‘ arton ’ – which
means bread
6. The Shewbread…
On the Sabbath day the Levites made twelve loaves
of unleavened bread (1 Chr 9:32, Lev 24:5). These
cakes were placed on the table hot, each Sabbath
day (Lev 24:8; 1 Sam 21:3-6; Matt 12:3-4),
arranged in two piles, six in a row, with pure
frankincense on each row (Lev 24:6-7).
7. The Shewbread…
During the entire week the bread lay on the table. By
some translators it is called "the bread of the presence."
At the end of the week it was removed and eaten by the
priests (Lev 24:9). The bread was prepared on the
Sabbath, and while hot was placed upon the table. The
following Sabbath it was removed, and eaten by the
priests on that day.
8. The Shewbread…
• Every seventh (Sabbath) day, fresh hot loaves were
provided by Aaron. The priests were entitled to eat the
old loaves while standing in the Holy Place.
• The frankincense that was removed each week was as a
special oblation (offering) to God.
• 12 loaves were the same material, size, and weight (no
partiality).
9. The Shewbread…
• According to Lev 22, if a priest was unclean he couldn't eat
of the shewbread. No layman, or daughter married to a
layman, or a hired servant could eat of the shewbread. But a
purchased slave or those born in his house could.
• According to tradition 8 priests held hands as they changed
the bread, and passed it for fellowship.
• They were to be holy because of the bread
10. (Exo. 25:23-30, CEB) “Make an acacia-wood table,
three feet long, eighteen inches wide, and twenty-
seven inches high. Cover it with pure gold and make a
gold molding all around it. Make a frame around it that
is four inches wide and a gold molding around the
frame. Make four gold rings for the table. Fasten the
rings to the four corners at its four legs…”
The Table…
11. “…The rings that house the poles used for carrying the
table should be close to the frame. Make the poles from
acacia wood and cover them with gold. The table should
be carried with these poles. Make its plates, dishes, jars,
and bowls for pouring drink offerings. Make them of
pure gold. Set the bread of the presence on the table so
it is always in front of me.”
The Table…
12. It was made of acacia wood overlaid with gold.
It was 3 feet long, 18 inches wide and 27 inches high. (the
ark was the same height).
It had a gold molding (crown) all around.
The molding was the width of a hand (to secure the bread)
It had a gold ring at each corner leg for the staves (wood
overlaid with gold).
The Table…
13. The purpose of the golden table
was to hold the 12 pieces of
bread, known as the “shewbread”.
The Table…
14. The table is a symbol of Christ's
throne. This table represented the
throne of the triple-crowned
Saviour in the holy place.
Wherever a
king takes his seat there is his
throne. The table moved wherever
the King chose.
15. This is the first mention of the
word "table" (which symbolize
communion & fellowship) in the
Bible. The table itself has no
particular significance apart from
the bread which was set upon it.
16. The Ark of the Covenant and the things
which it contained represented the Lord
Jesus Christ. Not only did the piece of
furniture represent it, but the contents
represented the Lord Jesus Christ.
When we come to the shewbread, we
find again that both the furniture and
the contents of the furniture represented
the Lord Jesus Christ.
17. The Anti-type
NLT John 6:33 The true bread of God is the one who comes
down from heaven and gives life to the world.“
NLT John 6:34 "Sir," they said, "give us that bread every
day.“
NLT John 6:35 Jesus replied, "I am the bread of life. Whoever
comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in
me will never be thirsty.
18. John 6:34 "Sir," they said, "give us that
bread every day.“
Fill the whole heart with the words of God. They are the living
water, quenching your burning thirst. They are the living bread from
heaven. Jesus declares, “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man,
and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.” [JOHN 6:53.] And he
explains himself by saying, “The words that I speak unto you, they
are spirit, and they are life.” [JOHN 6:63.] Our bodies are built up
from what we eat and drink; and as in the natural economy, so in the
spiritual economy, it is what we meditate upon that will give tone
and strength to our spiritual nature. {CE 56.3}
19. John 6:34 "Sir," they said, "give us that
bread every day.“
We must examine for ourselves, and learn the reasons of
our faith by comparing scripture with scripture. Take the
Bible, and on your knees plead with God to enlighten
your mind. If we would study the Bible diligently and
prayerfully every day, we should every day see some
beautiful truth in a new, clear, and forcible
light. Review and Herald, March 4, 1884. {CSW 22.2}
20. As there was a table of
shewbread in the tabernacle,
there should be a table of
shewbread in your life.
Editor's Notes
Now we will pass through the door of the tabernacle and enter the holy place. The priest had at his right hand the table of shewbread or also referred to as the table of the presence.
It was placed in the northern part of the Holy Place of the Sanctuary
They were placed there in two rows of six, each loaf representing one of the tribes of Israel (Lev. 24:8).
According to Leslie Harding, in her book With Jesus in His Sanctuary…
The table, if apart from the showbread has no significance.
All the furnitures in the Sanctuary is a representation of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the true bread. When He ascended to heaven, others thought that the Bread left us. But the truth is, He never did. When the Bread of Life, the Living Word which is Jesus Christ ascended, He left us the written word for us to be able to know Him, the True Bread. Let us long and feast with His word, the Holy Bible, everyday.
Our hearts must be filled with the words of the Living Word. Our spiritual life is built up with the amount of Spiritual nutrients we get from the True Bread of Life.
The table of showbread was placed in the holy place for daily services. Thus, we also have to read our Bibles daily. However, on the Sabbath day is a unique experience with the Bread.
We often read the Bible as a mere form of godliness, or to get something to give to others; but if we would receive its life-giving power into our own souls, we must have it "hot," warm from heaven.
There is no more appropriate time to let God speak to our own souls through His word than on the Sabbath day, when we lay aside our worldly cares and business, and take time to study the Holy Word and let it come into our inmost heart until we hear God speak to us, not to another.
Let us have a better relationship with True and Living Bread which is Jesus Christ through His word.