Scholars of the ancient near east often point out the parallels between Israel’s worship and the cultures that surrounded them.
It is at least interesting to note that the layout of the Tabernacle has a lot of parallels to Ramesses’ throne tent, which is depicted on the monuments where Ramesses Victory Song was also inscribed.
Just a few weeks before, Pharaoh’s army had been pursuing them. They may well have seen Pharaoh’s throne tent (from a distance) at the Red Sea. As slaves they may even have been involved in making the throne tent – or at least building the monuments where the depictions were carved.
So when God tells Moses to make a “throne tent” for Yahweh – with the same layout – twice as long as it is wide; an entrance in the east; in the middle of the courtyard is a tent with two compartments – you can see why a skeptic might say that this is just an imitation of Pharaoh’s throne tent!
What is God doing here? Remember the constant refrain? “do everything shown you on the mountain”? On the mountain, Moses sees the heavenly pattern. And God tells him how to build the tabernacle as an imitation of that heavenly pattern.
We shouldn’t be surprised when unbelievers get things right. As Paul says, “For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law” (Romans 2:14)
Human beings cannot help but live in God’s world. Therefore, all peoples everywhere will get some things right. (The problem is that we all get things wrong as well – which means that we all need the gospel – which is kind of Paul’s whole point in Romans 1-3!)
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