The Temple and the Tabernacle: A Study of God's Dwelling Places from Genesis to Revelation

by J. Daniel Hays

Publisher:

Baker

, 2016

Overview

At various points in Israel's history, God dwelt in specific, significant places, most notably in the tabernacle and the temple. These structures, meticulously planned, extravagantly furnished, and regularly frequented by the devout, were more than just places of worship and sacrifice. They were pictures of God's relationship with his chosen people and of the atoning work that would be done by the Messiah. To understand the tabernacle and the temple, then, is to understand how we are brought into God's family through the sacrifice of his only Son, Jesus.

Visually stunning and theologically rich, this full-color resource brings together the latest scholarship and archeological discoveries to make God's dwelling places come alive for modern believers. It places these important structures in their historical and theological contexts, connects them with the overall biblical story, and shows how they bring meaning and depth to the faith of Christians today.

Key Features

• Introduces readers to the archaeological discoveries that illustrate the Temple's design and decoration
• Examines God's relationship with his people through his dwelling places
• Presents an insightful account of how these structures were planned furnished and used by the people of God

Contents

• The Temple and the Tabernacle: An Overview
• God’s Garden Temple
• The Ark and the Tabernacle
• Solomon’s Temple
• The Departure of God from the Temple
• The Second Temple
• The Temple of God in the New Testament
• Conclusions: What Does It All Mean for Us Today?

Top Highlights

“First and foremost, of course, is the presence of God.” (Page 22)

“Like a king’s palace, the heavenly temple is described as a place both of God’s residence and of his reign, a dual concept captured by the Hebrew word hekal, which can mean either ‘royal palace’ or ‘temple.’” (Page 19)

“So the story of the Bible starts with God and his people in a garden and ends with God and his people likewise in a garden (actually a garden-city).” (Page 25)

“the exodus event is to the Old Testament what the death and resurrection of Christ is to the New Testament” (Page 29)

“When referring to the temple, the New Testament frequently uses the Greek words hieron or naos.” (Page 17)

Endorsements

The word fresh would not normally be the first descriptor to come to mind when dealing with a book grounded in biblical backgrounds, but it fits here. I really enjoyed Danny Hays's The Temple and the Tabernacle, and I learned a lot. Hays has dug a way out of a number of ruts in thinking about the tabernacle and Solomon's temple, and his insights continue to reverberate through his treatment of the temple(s) in the rest of the biblical story. The theological fruit of the study are especially exciting as the author draws out implications for the modern church.

—George H. Guthrie, Benjamin W. Perry Professor of Bible, Union University

Finally, there is a smart alternative to the silly dribble often proffered to the church about how Christians should understand Israel's tabernacle and temple. Bible teachers in the church often have had to choose between dismissing the tabernacle as old covenant or giving allegories about tent pegs. Hays offers a refreshing alternative, grounded solidly in Scripture. Sound evangelical theology is presented in clear, simple language with practical application. Temple as the presence of God is traced from Genesis to the Revelation, and God's plan for sacred space is described from Eden's garden, to the tabernacle, Solomon's temple, and the second temple, and finally to God's temple in the New Testament. Hays concludes by answering the 'So what?' question with practical wisdom: Why does the temple matter for Christians? It tells us how to live with God in our midst.

—E. Randolph Richards, professor of biblical studies, Palm Beach Atlantic University

Product Details

• Title: The Temple and the Tabernacle: A Study of God’s Dwelling Places from Genesis to Revelation
• Author: J. Daniel Hays
• Publisher: Baker
• Print Publication Date: 2016
• Logos Release Date: 2021
• Pages: 208
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Presence of God › Biblical teaching; Temple of God › Biblical teaching; Tabernacle › Biblical teaching
• ISBNs: 9781493419135, 9780801016202, 1493419137, 0801016207
• Resource ID: LLS:TMPLTBRNCLRVLTN
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T03:24:52Z

About J. Daniel Hays

J. Daniel Hays is dean of the Pruet School of Christian Studies and professor of Old Testament at Ouachita Baptist University. He is the author of From Every People and Nation, and he has co-authored Grasping God's Word; Preaching God's Word; Journey into God’s Word; The Story of Israel: A Biblical Theology; Iraq: Babylon of the End Times?; Apocalypse; and The Dictionary of Biblical Prophecy