tab·er·na·cle /ˈtæbɚ/
  臨時房屋,帳篷,身體,禮拜堂,神龕,壁龕(vt.)使住于臨時房屋(vi.)給于住宿
  Tab·er·na·cle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Tabernacled p. pr. & vb. n. Tabernacling ] To dwell or reside for a time; to be temporary housed.
     He assumed our nature, and tabernacled among us in the flesh.   --Dr. J. Scott.
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  Tab·er·na·cle n.
  1. A slightly built or temporary habitation; especially, a tent.
     Dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob.   --Heb. xi. 9.
     Orange trees planted in the ground, and secured in winter with a wooden tabernacle and stoves.   --Evelyn.
  2. Jewish Antiq. A portable structure of wooden framework covered with curtains, which was carried through the wilderness in the Israelitish exodus, as a place of sacrifice and worship.
  3. Hence, the Jewish temple; sometimes, any other place for worship.
  4. Figuratively: The human body, as the temporary abode of the soul.
     Shortly I must put off this my tabernacle.   --2 Pet. i. 14.
  5. Any small cell, or like place, in which some holy or precious things was deposited or kept. Specifically: --
  (a) The ornamental receptacle for the pyx, or for the consecrated elements, whether a part of a building or movable.
  (b) A niche for the image of a saint, or for any sacred painting or sculpture.
  (c) Hence, a work of art of sacred subject, having a partially architectural character, as a solid frame resting on a bracket, or the like.
  (d) A tryptich for sacred imagery.
  (e) A seat or stall in a choir, with its canopy.
  6. Naut. A boxlike step for a mast with the after side open, so that the mast can be lowered to pass under bridges, etc.
  Feast of Tabernacles Jewish Antiq., one of the three principal festivals of the Jews, lasting seven days, during which the people dwelt in booths formed of the boughs of trees, in commemoration of the habitation of their ancestors in similar dwellings during their pilgrimage in the wilderness.
  Tabernacle work, rich canopy work like that over the head of niches, used over seats or stalls, or over sepulchral monuments. --Oxf. Gloss.
  Tabernacle
       n 1: the Mormon temple [syn: Mormon Tabernacle]
       2: (Judaism) a portable sanctuary in which the Jews carried the
          Ark of the Covenant on their exodus
       3: (Judaism) the place of worship for a Jewish congregation
          [syn: synagogue, temple]
  Tabernacle
     (1.) A house or dwelling-place (Job 5:24; 18:6, etc.).
       (2.) A portable shrine (comp. Acts 19:24) containing the image
     of Moloch (Amos 5:26; marg. and R.V., "Siccuth").
       (3.) The human body (2 Cor. 5:1, 4); a tent, as opposed to a
     permanent dwelling.
       (4.) The sacred tent (Heb. mishkan, "the dwelling-place"); the
     movable tent-temple which Moses erected for the service of God,
     according to the "pattern" which God himself showed to him on
     the mount (Ex. 25:9; Heb. 8:5). It is called "the tabernacle of
     the congregation," rather "of meeting", i.e., where God promised
     to meet with Israel (Ex. 29:42); the "tabernacle of the
     testimony" (Ex. 38:21; Num. 1:50), which does not, however,
     designate the whole structure, but only the enclosure which
     contained the "ark of the testimony" (Ex. 25:16, 22; Num. 9:15);
     the "tabernacle of witness" (Num. 17:8); the "house of the Lord"
     (Deut. 23:18); the "temple of the Lord" (Josh. 6:24); a
     "sanctuary" (Ex. 25:8).
       A particular account of the materials which the people
     provided for the erection and of the building itself is recorded
     in Ex. 25-40. The execution of the plan mysteriously given to
     Moses was intrusted to Bezaleel and Aholiab, who were specially
     endowed with wisdom and artistic skill, probably gained in
     Egypt, for this purpose (Ex. 35:30-35). The people provided
     materials for the tabernacle so abundantly that Moses was under
     the necessity of restraining them (36:6). These stores, from
     which they so liberally contributed for this purpose, must have
     consisted in a great part of the gifts which the Egyptians so
     readily bestowed on them on the eve of the Exodus (12:35, 36).
       The tabernacle was a rectangular enclosure, in length about 45
     feet (i.e., reckoning a cubit at 18 inches) and in breadth and
     height about 15. Its two sides and its western end were made of
     boards of acacia wood, placed on end, resting in sockets of
     brass, the eastern end being left open (Ex. 26:22). This
     framework was covered with four coverings, the first of linen,
     in which figures of the symbolic cherubim were wrought with
     needlework in blue and purple and scarlet threads, and probably
     also with threads of gold (Ex. 26:1-6; 36:8-13). Above this was
     a second covering of twelve curtains of black goats'-hair cloth,
     reaching down on the outside almost to the ground (Ex. 26:7-11).
     The third covering was of rams' skins dyed red, and the fourth
     was of badgers' skins (Heb. tahash, i.e., the dugong, a species
     of seal), Ex. 25:5; 26:14; 35:7, 23; 36:19; 39:34.
       Internally it was divided by a veil into two chambers, the
     exterior of which was called the holy place, also "the
     sanctuary" (Heb. 9:2) and the "first tabernacle" (6); and the
     interior, the holy of holies, "the holy place," "the Holiest,"
     the "second tabernacle" (Ex. 28:29; Heb. 9:3, 7). The veil
     separating these two chambers was a double curtain of the finest
     workmanship, which was never passed except by the high priest
     once a year, on the great Day of Atonement. The holy place was
     separated from the outer court which enclosed the tabernacle by
     a curtain, which hung over the six pillars which stood at the
     east end of the tabernacle, and by which it was entered.
       The order as well as the typical character of the services of
     the tabernacle are recorded in Heb. 9; 10:19-22.
       The holy of holies, a cube of 10 cubits, contained the "ark of
     the testimony", i.e., the oblong chest containing the two tables
     of stone, the pot of manna, and Aaron's rod that budded.
       The holy place was the western and larger chamber of the
     tabernacle. Here were placed the table for the shewbread, the
     golden candlestick, and the golden altar of incense.
       Round about the tabernacle was a court, enclosed by curtains
     hung upon sixty pillars (Ex. 27:9-18). This court was 150 feet
     long and 75 feet broad. Within it were placed the altar of burnt
     offering, which measured 7 1/2 feet in length and breadth and 4
     1/2 feet high, with horns at the four corners, and the laver of
     brass (Ex. 30:18), which stood between the altar and the
     tabernacle.
       The whole tabernacle was completed in seven months. On the
     first day of the first month of the second year after the
     Exodus, it was formally set up, and the cloud of the divine
     presence descended on it (Ex. 39:22-43; 40:1-38). It cost 29
     talents 730 shekels of gold, 100 talents 1,775 shekels of
     silver, 70 talents 2,400 shekels of brass (Ex. 38:24-31).
       The tabernacle was so constructed that it could easily be
     taken down and conveyed from place to place during the
     wanderings in the wilderness. The first encampment of the
     Israelites after crossing the Jordan was at Gilgal, and there
     the tabernacle remained for seven years (Josh. 4:19). It was
     afterwards removed to Shiloh (Josh. 18:1), where it remained
     during the time of the Judges, till the days of Eli, when the
     ark, having been carried out into the camp when the Israelites
     were at war with the Philistines, was taken by the enemy (1 Sam.
     4), and was never afterwards restored to its place in the
     tabernacle. The old tabernacle erected by Moses in the
     wilderness was transferred to Nob (1 Sam. 21:1), and after the
     destruction of that city by Saul (22:9; 1 Chr. 16:39, 40), to
     Gibeon. It is mentioned for the last time in 1 Chr. 21:29. A new
     tabernacle was erected by David at Jerusalem (2 Sam. 6:17; 1
     Chr. 16:1), and the ark was brought from Perez-uzzah and
     deposited in it (2 Sam. 6:8-17; 2 Chr. 1:4).
       The word thus rendered ('ohel) in Ex. 33:7 denotes simply a
     tent, probably Moses' own tent, for the tabernacle was not yet
     erected.