The Courtyard of the Tabernacle

After putting together the pieces for the tabernacle and its furnishings, Bezalel made the things for the courtyard. First, he made the altar of burnt offering which would be placed between the entrance to the tabernacle and the entrance to the courtyard. Next he made the laver of bronze. In relating the making of the laver, a detail is added that has much symbolic meaning. The laver is made from the bronze mirrors of the women that went to the tabernacle of meeting. The waching that occurs at the laver is related to seeing yourself because you have approached God. Then the court itself is described. It is one hundred cubits by fifty cubits. There is a screen covering its entrance of twenty cubits wide which would screen the altar of burnt offering. As we consider the courtyard, it is what the normal Israelite would have access. They would be able to see the blood, smoke and fire and they would see the cleansing that was necessary for both priests and offerings.