The courtyard represents the earthly flesh and blood body of man where cleansings and sacrifices were performed before any priest could enter the Holy Place, but only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place once a year on the day of atonement. The courtyard includes the fence, the entrance, the laver for washing, and the altar for sacrifices, each with its utensils, such as spaces, forks, knives, etc.
1. The fence
The courtyard fence was a protective border for the tabernacle, or tent of meeting, which God told Moses to build after the Hebrew people exited Egypt. God gave specific instructions on how this courtyard fence was to be built:
Exodus 27:9-15
9 And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long for one side:
10 And the twenty pillars thereof and their twenty sockets shall be of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver.
11 And likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings of an hundred cubits long, and his twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver.
12 And for the breadth of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits: their pillars ten, and their sockets ten.
13 And the breadth of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits.
14 The hangings of one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.
15 And on the other side shall be hangings fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.
This corresponds to an area measuring 50 cubits (75 feet) in width and 100 cubits (150 feet) in length. The Tabernacle, along with the courtyard fence and all associated elements, was designed to be portable, allowing the Israelites to dismantle and transport it as they journeyed from one location to another.
The fence fulfilled several functions. Primarily, it distinguished the sacred ground of the Tabernacle from the surrounding encampment, preventing anyone from inadvertently entering the holy space or meandering into the courtyard. Additionally, it concealed the activities within, deterring onlookers from assembling to observe. Lastly, with a guarded gate, the fence limited access exclusively to men who were presenting animal sacrifices.
A significant aspect of the Tabernacle was its demonstration that God was not confined to a single region due to its mobility, unlike the idols revered by the Egyptians or the deities of other Canaanite tribes. Jehovah resided among His people, and His sovereignty was universal, affirming Him as the sole Sovereign God. The same applies today to Christians who walk around with God in their hearts Who protects us from evil and guides us in His ways.
2. Meaning of the Posts and Linen
The courtyard fence’s linen was pure white, encircling the Tabernacle, a divine meeting place. This white barrier potentially prefigured an event in Israel’s future: the wrapping of Jesus Christ’s crucified body in a linen shroud. It also prefigures that man would also become the temple of God, and possibly the congregation of God if one considers each post to represent a man and the hangings to our connection through Christ as the bride or body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
Exodus 31-7
The tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle
Thus, the pristine white linen of the courtyard fence symbolizes the righteousness surrounding God. It demarcated the sacred space, separating the holy presence of God from those outside, just as sin separates humanity from God without the cleansing sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our Savior.
The linen hangings for the courtyard enclosure were raised off the ground by posts with bronze bases (sockets), with hooks and pegs of silver to hold up the posts on either side. At the top of the posts were silver caps symbolic of the price of redemption required on mankind’s head. The silver hooks, and pegs which secured the posts from collapsing also symbolized the redemption required by man, for which Jesus paid the price. Ironically, Judas paid 30 silver coins for the capture of Jesus but the money belonged to Jesus’s ministry, though the true price was paid when Jesus laid down His life out of free will for humanity. The linen hangings were white representing righteousness and perhaps the shroud wrapped around Jesus for His burial. The bronze bases touching the ground represented judgment due to sin which Jesus took upon Himself on behalf of mankind.
3. The Courtyard Entrance
The entrance to the courtyard comprised 4 pillars holding up the linen hangings embroidered in blue, purple, and crimson. The 4 pillars at the entrance symbolize the start of our walk to physical and spiritual completeness when we become disciples of Jesus based on the 4 gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, as the pillars of the church whereby believers come to know the person and the work of Jesus Christ who came to bring grace and truth, not the law that came through Moses. The same concept appears at the entrance of the Holy Place where 5 authors wrote the epistles of grace, symbolised by the 5 pillars, where the number “5” also represents grace in scripture.
John 1:14-17
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
The white linen of the entrance hangings or curtains represents righteousness, the embroidery of blue represents the spirit or heaven, purple represents priestly authority or royalty as kings wore purple attire, and crimson represents blood for atonement or the flesh. The colours of the entrance gate represent that we enter with thanksgiving because of the blood of Jesus (crimson) Who redeemed us because He is our High Priest, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords (purple), and also because of the heavenly work of the Holy Spirit in Jesus (blue). It is appropriate that the colour blue mixed with the colour crimson, results in the colour purple, signifying that the Holy Spirit (blue) in the flesh and blood body of Christ Jesus (crimson) is the anointing that empowered Jesus Christ as king/priest (purple), Who was adorned with a purple robe before He was crucified as a propitiation for our sins. Jesus was the last Adam, a quickening spirit, as opposed to an earthly man like the first man Adam.
1 Corinthian 15:50
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Considering the above, we could then also say that Jesus prayed, “Let it be in earth as it is in heaven” in Matthew 6:10, and established it because He was the heavenly man in a flesh body who wore the purple robe (merging of blue and crimson), representing the manifestation of heaven or spirit (blue) in earth or the flesh body (crimson). The flesh and blood body of man is referred to in scripture as earthen vessels (2 Corinthians 4:7) because we are made from the dust of the earth. Jesus was the heavenly man because He came down from heaven as per Isaiah 64:1 below.
Matthew 6:10
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
2 Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
Isaiah 64:1
Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,
The colours in the sanctuary were prophetic of the person of Jesus Christ (the Word), and the work of the Holy Spirit, as they were placed at every entrance of the sanctuary, and on the inner layer of the roof of the Tabernacle to remind us of the work of Jesus throughout our walk as we grow in Christianity. The Word and the Spirit are inseparable because without the Spirit there is no power and without the Word (Jesus), there is no knowledge. The Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit in heaven bear witness of the Son. The blood, water, and Spirit on earth also bear witness of the Son, as follows:
- The Spirit of God points to His transforming work in our lives.
- Blood points to the remission of past sins and the forgiveness of present and future sins.
- Water points to the Word of God washing, renewing, and cleansing us from sin in the inner man to conform us to the image of Jesus, the Word made flesh.
1 John 5:6-8
6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
4. The Altar
How do we approach the presence of God, who is life itself? The Tabernacle provides guidance. Upon entering, one encounters the bronze altar first. Bronze symbolizes judgment and that forgiveness of sins requires sacrifice at the altar. A priest entering the courtyard would first offer a sacrifice for himself at the bronze altar, then proceed to the bronze laver, situated between the altar and the entrance to the Holy Place (entrance to the tent or tabernacle). Notably, the altar, symbolizing salvation, precedes the laver, which prepares one for service.
Hebrews 9:22
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Today, the blood of Jesus and faith in Him alone brings salvation to the believer, nothing else.
Ashes were left at the foot of the altar in a bronze jar, representing judgment, and were covered in purple cloth when travelling. Jesus was the final sacrifice to atone for sin for all people, and all time, and wore a purple robe just before His death.
Numbers 4:13
And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon:
We must acknowledge that Jesus is the truth given to us through the faith that God instils in the believer by grace, whether through a miracle, the Word, or the changed life of someone close. Bronze represents the judgement we deserve but Jesus took on all judgment for our sin. John 12:32 below says that Jesus “drew all men to Himself” but I believe that the word should be “judgment“, not “men“, which is in italics, denoting that the word was not included in the scripture. We know that not all men have been drawn to Jesus but all judgment was. We can see this from the previous line (verse 31 in John 12:31-32) that refers to judgment.
John 12:31-32
31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
The question we must ask is, “Did Jesus not take the judgment for all unto Himself?”. The answer is, yes! If Jesus had drawn all men unto Himself there would be none in hell, or going to hell, from that time forward. Many will say that every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, and thus no one will go to hell! True, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord because even the devils do that because they tremble knowing that He is Lord. My point is that not all men will bow their knees or confess because they followed Jesus.
James 2:19
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
The Lord gave us beauty for ashes through His sacrifice as the propitiation for mankind’s sin. This was represented by the purple robe they placed on Jesus when they placed a crown of thorns on Him as they mocked Him as being “a king”, which probably turned the robe into scarlet when blood flowed from His head. This may explain why Mark and John saw a purple robe but Matthew saw a scarlet robe at different times, or it may have been that Matthew saw it from a different angle where there was a shadow and it appeared different. We often make the same mistakes with colours depending on angles and shadows.
Matthew 27:28
And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
John 19:5
Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!
Mark 15:17
And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,
When Jesus died the temple veil split in two and opened the way to the Father for all who believed, and the oblation was no longer necessary, but God allowed a 40-year trial period for His people Israel to turn to Him, just as He did with Moses. Those who believed avoided the tribulation from the Roman soldiers because they abided in Christ as they kept the oil (Holy Spirit) burning (praying), those who did not abide in Christ died in 70 AD or were taken captive as they did not keep the oil burning, as symbolised by the 10 virgins in Matthew 25. This was the end of the old Jewish world or religion, with the new living way being introduced to the entire world of Jews and Gentiles, even though it had already started after Jesus died, however, the cut-off date to believe or “burn”, so to speak, was in 70 AD, or before if one was trapped in Israel when the Romans started to invade cities, representing by the 5 virgins that did not burn the oil. Many believe that Hebrews 1:10-12 below is about the end of the world, however, it relates to the end of the Jewish world which waxes old and shall be changed, or should I say the end of the Old Covenant to introduce the New Testament and is therefore linked to Hebrews 8:13 below.
Hebrews 1:10-12
10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
The word “perish” refers to the old being taken away so that the new can be introduced. Perish here does not mean that God is going to destroy everything He created as I hear on many churches.
Hebrews 8:13
In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
Here, the author states clearly that the waxing old refers to the old covenant vanishing away, and therefore replaced by the new covenant. The end of the world in scripture is about the end of the old Covenant but we tend to allow our understanding to drift away by thinking that God will be destroying the whole world, including the celestial bodies. Celestial bodies refer to those in authority or leadership.
The brazen altar had 4 horns representing power or strength and salvation to all the corners of the earth, i.e. north, east, south, and west, meaning that it is for everyone regardless of gender, nationality, race, or culture. Holding onto a horn of the altar could save one from the penalty of death but was not guaranteed as experienced by Joab, David’s army chief. The Sea of Solomon, a large round container for washing, that replaced the laver, also had 12 bulls holding up the sea, and 3 bulls pointed in each of the 4 directions of north, south, east, and west.
5. The laver
Behind the altar is the laver. Here we are reminded that God is clean. “Clean” describes the essential character of God, who is divine, righteous, faithful, merciful, and true. To be impure is not to share that character, and what does not share God’s character cannot exist in his burning presence. Only priests washed in this large basin before making sacrifices. Cleaning their hands and feet with water prepared the priests spiritually for service before entering the Holy Place.
Exodus 30:18-21
18 Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.
19 For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:
20 When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD:
21 So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.
Therefore, it is necessary that those who enter his presence be washed and cleansed.
Psalm 51:7
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Isaiah 6:5
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts
The water mixing with the blood in the laver when they washed their hands after sacrificing animals reminds us of the blood and water that came from Jesus when they thrust the spear into his side.
John 19:34
But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water
1 John 5:6-9
6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
When Solomon built the Temple, he replaced the laver with “the sea” which was a big pool-like structure with 12 bulls underneath holding it up. It was big enough for the priests to sit in and bathe. This indicates man’s carnality and their desire to aggrandise everything that God plans. We all know what happened to the temple because it became an idol, even though David did what was right in his heart. In other words, man changes things to suit his extravagant desires giving rise to pride and thus steadily growing apart from God with time.
Today, we become “clean”, not by washing away dirt or blood from our skin, but spiritually by the water of the Word and the Spirit to enter the true kingdom of God which is within the believer, as opposed to a copy of the real heaven symbolised by the Tabernacle. I believe that there are 3 symbolisms of the water in the laver, as follows:
- The water baptism is symbolic of our death to our sinful nature by being submerged in the water and raised to a new life when we come out of the water. This is a public declaration of our intent and thus shows faith in our prior acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour when we become born again by the spirit. It assists with having a good conscience towards God and our intentions.
- Washing of our minds by the “water” of the Word which renews our mind from impure thoughts as we pull down imaginations from the worldly belief systems unto the obedience of Christ.
- Water in scripture also symbolises the Holy Spirit whom we receive by faith which I believe is imperative for service to God by entering the kingdom of God within the believer.
It is the water of the Word (Jesus is the Word) and the blood of Jesus that has made all believers clean through the working of the Holy Spirit, i.e. the three witnesses on earth, the water, the blood and the Holy Spirit. This means that we can enter the kingdom of God with confidence and boldness into the Holy and Most Holy Places that are not made by man, but by God.