The Lord gave instructions on the building of the Tabernacle to Moses on Mount Sinai. It was created by skilled craftsmen from valuable materials given to the Lord by the Children of Israel. In addition to the Ark of the Covenant with its solid gold Mercy Seat, there was the solid gold Lampstand, containing over three million dollars worth of gold at today’s prices. Also, there were many articles of gold or covered with gold leaf. This included the boards that formed the sides of the Tabernacle. There were heavy bases made of silver for the posts of the Tabernacle and the surrounding fabric wall. The obvious point is that the Tabernacle and its furnishings were extremely valuable in worldly, monetary terms.

The Tabernacle stood at Shiloh for most of the three-hundred, ninety years of the Judges of Israel. During the time of Eli the High Priest and his two wicked sons, Hophni and Phineas, the Ark of the Covenant was taken into battle against the Philistines (I Samuel 4:4). And it was lost to the Philistines. All of Israel fled the battlefield (I Samuel 4:17). The Philistines were apparently unaware of the wealth contained in the unguarded Tabernacle, or they would have taken it, too.

No more is written of the Tabernacle after that defeat – until after King David brought the Ark to the City of David. One place that we are told the Tabernacle was located was Gibeon according to I Chronicles 21:29. There is conjecture, but no further Scriptural reference about the location of the Tabernacle of God.

Later, the Lord showed Jeremiah the Prophet that He would make Jerusalem and the Temple like Shiloh, where the Tabernacle once stood (Jeremiah 7:12, 26:4-6), because of the rebellion of Israel.

After the Philistines returned the Ark of the Covenant to Israel, it was placed in the house of Abinadab (I Samuel 7:1) The Ark remained there for many years until King David brought it to the City of David with great ceremony and celebration as recorded in First Chronicles chapter fifteen.

The word “tabernacle” means a tent or dwelling place. King David had prepared a tent for the Ark of the Covenant to reside in. It is sometimes referred to in the Bible as a “tabernacle.”

“So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it: And when David had made an end of offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.” – I Chronicles 16:1-2

The explanation for no altar being built is found when King David announced that his son Solomon would succeed him as king of Israel. David told Zadok the priest, Nathan and Benaiah to take Solomon down to the Gihon Spring (I Kings 1:33). There Zadok took a horn of oil from the tabernacle, or tent, and anointed Solomon king of Israel (I Kings 1:38-39).

These passages tell us two things; the Gihon Spring was below the City of David, which we know to be true, and the tabernacle, or tent, erected for the Ark of the Covenant was located there, also.

There is another holy site located there, and recently unearthed, but not directly mentioned in the Bible. In 2010, Israeli archaeologist Dr. Eli Shukron uncovered an ancient worship site not ten yards from the Gihon Spring. Based on what was unearthed there, Dr. Shukron stated that the site was very old, possibly dating back to the time of Melchizedek and Abraham. This site contained an altar, which explains why it was probably unnecessary to build an altar for the offerings King David made when he brought the Ark to the City of David, because the Ark was located in the tent just a few feet away.

The Ark was guarded by priests who ministered before it and regularly played music and sounded trumpets in praise to the Lord. Offerings were made at the adjacent worship site.

Also found at this ancient worship site was a standing stone, or matzebah, possibly the very stone anointed by Jacob at Bethel (Genesis 28:18). A small olive press was found there, which allowed olive oil to be made to anoint the standing stone. And more astonishing was the mysterious markings found carved in the bedrock of this worship site. The markings, in my opinion, are Paleo-Hebrew letters, Beit and Jod. Together they mean, “House of God.” For more information please click HERE.

King David’s tabernacle provides us with fascinating clues regarding the recently discovered worship site at the City of David. I believe this is where the Lord was worshipped, and had been worshipped for centuries, until the Temple was built by Solomon. It was clearly where Solomon was anointed king of Israel.

If it is the Lord’s will, this worship site will be acknowledged at the time He designates. Until then, always praise His Holy Name!