This is the second in a series of biblical summaries derived from David Dorsey's book The Literary Structure of the Old Testament.
a Ten Commandments - and holiness on Mount Sinai (Exod. 19:3-20:21)
b civil laws - moral, ethical purity (Exod. 20:22-24:11)
c tabernacle instructions - sacrificial altar (Exod. 24:12-34:28)
d CLIMAX: tabernacle built and filled with Yahweh's glory! (Exod. 34:29-40:38)
c' sacrificial instructions - for sacrificial altar (Lev. 1-10)
b' purity laws - ritual, moral purity (Lev. 11-18)
a' holiness laws - most of Ten Commandments repeated (Lev. 19:1-Num. 10:10)
The 'a' pattern corresponds with the Israelites arrival at, and departure from, Mount Sinai. The experience of Sinai seals itself on Israel's worship and manner of life. In the first section, Israel arrives at Sinai. In the last, they are departing from Sinai. God's glory appears on Mount Sinai like cloud and fire. Later, God's glory on the tabernacle is like cloud and fire. On the mountain, God's presence sounds like trumpets. At the end, silver trumpets sound orders from God's tabernacle. The Ten Commandments are introduced at the beginning. Most of them are reiterated at the end. All this suggests that the tabernacle bears many reminders of what it was to stand before God at Sinai. As Peter Leithart put it, they are taking the mountain with them.
The 'b' pattern is weak, consisting mostly in the common pattern of laws concerning moral and ethical purity. Still it is worth attending to, for despite the tenuous connections, the common link is the purity of the people entailed in the first section, and the purity of the house of God in the second section. Both sections focus on moral, ethical behavior. There is a shared condemnation of "following the practices" of Canaanites, and also of eating meat of animals torn by wild beasts. Both treat of the topic of the use of blood and fat in sacrifices, and the use of blood for ritual cleansing. All this suggests that the tabernacle is a picture of Israel: tending to the ethical purity of God's people entails tending to the ritual purity of God's house.
The 'c' pattern is linked by the tabernacle itself. The first section shows how to build it. The second section shows how to conduct sacrifices inside it. Both sections provide instructions for sacrifices to be offered on the altar. Priestly ordination is prescribed earlier, and described later. Both sections conclude with sins: the first concludes with Aaron's sin with the golden calf, and the second concludes with the sin of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu. All of this suggests that there is a strong link between the rooms and furniture of God's house, and the types of sacrifices that are offered there. Two quotes help: "So the house of Israel is like the house of the Lord, and the house of the Lord is a picture of the house of Israel. This is why the blood of the animal offerings is always sprinkled or thrown on some piece of furniture in the tabernacle and never on the people. This seems odd at first. How can blood make a sinner clean if the blood is never put on him? The answer is that the tabernacle is a picture of Israel, and so putting blood on the tabernacle is counted as putting blood on the sinner." (Leithart, A House for My Name, 84) And this one: "(God) doesn't need (sacrifices) to stay alive, but He eats Israel's food as a sign that He is their friend. He "eats" to make a covenant with Israel, to continue the "wedding" feast that started at Sinai. Of course, what God truly desires is not the flesh of animals but instead people who love and obey Him. God wants us to be thankful, humble, and sorry for our sins. That's the sacrifice that pleases Him (Psalm 51:14-17). God wants to eat you." (Leithart, 88) These quotes show the sense that the tabernacle itself, its architecture, its furniture and the sacrifices offered within both convey a wealth of symbolism that both represent the people Israel.
Finally, the 'd' pattern centers on God's own presence indwelling the tabernacle. This is important because this whole section highlights a treaty between God and his people. At its heart, at its climax, is God's own presence among his people. This makes everything go. As Dorsey writes, "Israel's life, its calendar, its camp, its order of march - everything - will now center around Yahweh's sanctuary. Yahweh's sacred presence is the reason for Israel's special status among the nations; and it is the focus of all its laws." (Dorsey, 82)
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