The Two Tabernacles (Moses and David’s exist at same time)
Tent terms: “mishkan”=tabernacle, “sukkah”=booth, “ohel”=tent/temporary dwelling
–Moses’ tent (tabernacle. Hebrew: Mishkan)
-stays in Gibeon (about 10 miles NW of Jerusalem). Before that, all we know of its location was that it was in Shiloh. The Philistines ransacked Shiloh and Ark was taken (1 Sam 6). Next thing we know about the tabernacle, is it’s in Gibeon, without the ark. (1 Chron 16:39, 1 Chron 21:29. Note: where the ark ends up: Kir.Jearem is in vicinity of Gibeon (which is in Benjamin).
-Moses’ tabernacle and altar rejoin the ark when temple is built (2 Chron 5:5; 1 Kings 8:4).
-When David found out Obed-edom was blessed because the ark was with him, (1Chr 13:14)(2 Sam 6:11) David saw it as a sign of God’s approval that the ark could be moved and housed without Moses’ tabernacle. (2Sam 6:12)
David’s tent (Hebrew: Ohel-a typical dwelling tent)
-David acts like Melchizedek by being a King/Priest. He wears ephod and sacrifices offerings and gives away bread and wine (in KJV). (1 Sam 6:19 and 1 Chr 16:3). His sons are “priestly leaders” (2Sam 8:18). (chief rulers in KJV).
-David able to go “before God” and inquire of Him, at his tent.
-God’s approval of this is eluded to in Acts 7:45-46, “David found favor in the sight of God”. The dwelling place David asks about obviously refers to the temple but may also refer to his tent.
-was dedicated and purifed with sacrifices but not set up for sacrifices (no altar).
-This tabernacle was one of worship. The tent was open for all to see the ark, and David was the first to establish worship around it. “Sacrifices of Praise (Hebrews 13:15).
-after David brought ark to his tent, Moses’ tabernacle still remained in Gibeon, where Zadak regularly do the offerings. The altar was with Moses’ ark. (1Chr16:39-41).
-while Asaph, his brothers, Obed-edom and his family, and Hosah watched over the ark in David’s tent. ( 1Chr 16:4-6)(1Chr 16:37-38).
-Psalms for the ark going into David’s tent: 96, 105, 106
-also in 1Chr 16
Amos 9:11: referring to restoring David’s tent as in the days of old. This is end times prophesy. Something special about David’s tent. God doesn’t speak of restoring Moses’ tent.
-This is cited in Acts15:16-18 by James. (context: meeting where apostles and elders meet to discuss whether gentiles should be circumcised. This citation by James settles the argument that they don’t need to be. Because David’s tent was set up for all to see the ark and minister to it: gentile or not.
So David’s tent was a temporary look forward to Jesus’s work: the order of Melchizedek, where one will be a priest/king and anyone, gentiles included, may come before God (the ark). Of course, once the temple goes up, it’s back to Mosaic rules.
David has a thing for the gentiles (known as the Mercies of David in KJV)
-David’s is part gentile (Ruth and Rahab, all the way to Tamar)
-David encamps in Philistine territory oftentimes and converts many of them.
-many of David’s troops were converted gentiles.
-David had loyal gentile friends (Uriah the Hittite)
-Ittai the Gittite in 2 Sam 15
-some Gittites were Israeli (there were two Gaths (the Phillistine one and the one of Josh 19:45) , like Obed-Edom who was son of Jeduthun (a Korahite) possibly the same Obed-edom who kept the ark for 3 months.
–1Chr16 psalm includes the nations. David always includes the ‘nations’ and ‘all the earth’.
-even in his speech to Goliath, David includes the nations to know God (1Sam 17:46).
-The Mercies of David (in KJV) is mentioned:
–2 Chron 6:42: (Solomon prays for the Mercies of David): O LORD God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant.
–Isaiah 55:3: (the promise): Incline your ear, and come unto me: Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, Even the sure mercies of David.
–Acts 13:34: And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.
Once Temple was put in place, the Mosaic way was continued, with the ark- possibly inside David’s tent- placed in the Holy of Holies. David’s tabernacle was a temporary thing until Jesus.