<P> The Tabernacle (Hebrew: מִשְׁכַּן ‎, mishkan, "residence" or "dwelling place"), according to the Hebrew Bible, was the portable earthly dwelling place of God amongst the children of Israel from the time of the Exodus from Egypt through the conquering of the land of Canaan . Built of woven layers of curtains along with 48 boards overlaid with polished gold standing like vertical blinds held in place by five bars per side with the middle bar shooting through from end to end and furnished with items made from the gold, silver, brass, furs, jewels, and other valuable materials taken out of Egypt at Yahweh's orders, and according to specifications revealed by Yahweh to Moses at Mount Sinai, it was transported by the Israelites on their journey through the wilderness and their conquest of the Promised Land . Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem superseded it as the dwelling - place of God some 300 years later . </P> <P> The main source for the account of the construction of the Tabernacle is the biblical Book of Exodus, specifically Exodus 25--31 and 35--40 . It describes an inner shrine, the Holy of Holies, which housed the Ark of the Covenant, which was held up under the veil of the covering suspended by four pillars and an outer chamber (the "Holy Place"), containing a beaten gold reflector impressed into what is generally described as a lamp - stand or candlestick featuring a central shaft incorporating four almond - shaped bowls and six branches, each with three bowls shaped like almonds and blossoms, 22 in all . It was standing diagonally, partially covering a table for showbread and with its seven oil lamps over against it to give light along with the altar of incense . </P> <P> This description is generally identified as part of the Priestly source ("P"), written in the sixth or fifth century BCE . However whilst the first Priestly source takes the form of instructions, the second is largely a repetition of the first in the past tense, i.e., it describes the execution of the instructions . Many scholars contend that it is of a far later date than the time of Moses, and that the description reflects the structure of Solomon's Temple, while some hold that the description derives from memories of a real pre-monarchic shrine, perhaps the sanctuary at Shiloh . Traditional scholars contend that it describes an actual tabernacle used in the time of Moses and thereafter . According to historical criticism, an earlier, pre-exilic source, the Elohist ("E"), describes the Tabernacle as a simple tent - sanctuary . </P>

Where is the tabernacle mentioned in the bible