The Tabernacle of David

The Historical Documents
In 1922 an eighteenth century writing called Emeq HaMelekh written by Rabbi Naphtali Hertz Bacharach, warned that the items from Solomon’s Temple would ““not be discovered until the day of the coming of Moschiach, son of David“.”

A Tosefta Mishnayot (Rabbinic writing) referenced in an 8th century storehouse for Hebrew books recovered from Cairo, Egypt, gave the same warning as the Emeq HaMelekh, and referenced a copper plate.

The Massechet Kelim (Treatise of the Temple Vessels), included as a prologue to the Emeq HaMelekh, also referenced a luach nechoshet (copper plate, tablet, or scroll). In addition, it gives the background of the people involved in the hiding of the Temple treasures: Shimur the Levite, Hezekiah, Zedekiah, and the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. Baruck, Jeremiah’s scribe, is listed as a co-conspirator.

2 Maccabees says the Prophet Jeremiah took the treasures of Solomon’s Temple, including the Wilderness Tabernacle, the Ark and its contents and hid them in a hollow cave near Mount Nebo, and that “the place shall be unknown until God gathers His people together again and shows His mercy, and then shall the Lord disclose these things” (Chapter 2:4-8). If 2 Maccabees is accurate, and the artifacts have remained in place where they were hidden, then perhaps they are still there today.

The Book of 2 Maccabees and other non-Biblical documents, such as the Emeq HaMelek, the Tosefta Mishnayot, and the Massechet Kelim, give insight to the background of the Copper Scroll.

The Tabernacle of David
The Copper Scroll, on two rolls of copper, was found along with many other scrolls in the caves around the Dead Sea on March 14, 1952 at the back of Cave 3 at Qumran.The Copper Scroll is believed to refer to the Tabernacle of David and the treasures of the Temple of Solomon which were hidden for safekeeping before the destruction of the Temple by the Babylonians. Those treasures are said to include tons of gold and silver, the Breastplate of the High Priest, the urn which held the ashes of the Red Heifer, artifacts from the Tabernacle of Moses, and again, the Tabernacle of David.

So what, exactly, is the Tabernacle of David?
2 Samuel 6:17 – “They brought the ark of Yahweh in and put it in its place inside the tabernacle that David had set up.”
1 Chronicles 16:39 – “David left Zadok the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of Yahweh at the high place in Gibeon.”
Is the tabernacle that David set up the same tabernacle as the Wilderness Tabernacle of Moses? 2 Maccabees seems to indicate that they may be one and the same. 2 Samuel 6:17 calls it an ‘ohel [H168 אֹהֶל], meaning a tent, but 1 Chronicles 16:39 calls it a mishkan [H4908 מִשְׁכָּן], the Hebrew word more prominently associated with the Wilderness Tabernacle of Moses! Throughout scripture both Hebrew words are used interchangeably for tent or tabernacle. Isaiah 16:5 tells us that Yahweh will set up a throne in the Tabernacle [‘ohel H168] of David, and on it will sit “an honest judge, seeking justice and pursuing righteousness.”

The Timing of its Installation
Amos 9:11 – “When that day comes, I will raise up the fallen tabernacle of David. I will close up its gaps, raise up its ruins and rebuild it as it used to be.”
Acts 15:16 – “After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; repair its breaches, and set it up, says Yahweh.”
Amos 9:11 calls the fallen tabernacle a sukkah [H5521 סֻכָּה] but Acts 15:16 calls it a skene [G4633 σκηνή], the official Greek word, same as the Hebrew word mishkan [H4908 מִשְׁכָּן], for the Tabernacle of Yahweh, in other words, the Wilderness Tabernacle of Moses! Either way, Yahweh declares that this tent, sukkah, mishkan, or tabernacle will be discovered, repaired, and rebuilt; then Yeshua will sit on a throne inside it. This tells me that the Tabernacle of David will not be set up until the Millennial Reign of Yeshua. Perhaps this will be the temporary structure he will use until the final temple, spoken of by Ezekiel, is built (Ezekiel Chapters 40 to 48).
Time will tell.

Conclusions
If the book of 2 Maccabees is accurate, and the artifacts remain in place, any discoveries made as a result of the Copper Scroll’s translations tells us that time is short – Yeshua is about to arrive, and the Wilderness Tabernacle of Moses is about to be discovered. Amos 9:11 and Acts 15:16 both call this the tabernacle of David. Perhaps they are indeed the same item.
Time will tell.

Israeli Rabbis have called Donald Trump the new King Cyrus and also Mashiach ben Joseph, a messianic figure said to show up just prior to the arrival of Mashiach ben David, whom Christians call Yeshua Ha’Mashiach. The tenth red heifer, the Parah Aduma, may be alive today. Many have called for the rebuilding of the Third Temple.

Mondo Gonzales puts it this way: “The timing of all these events is not coincidental if it comes to fruition. If the precious items from previous Temples were discovered and unveiled, it would provide even more impetus for the finalization and motivation to build the Third Temple allowing these items to be put in their ‘proper place’.”

Will the restoration of the Tabernacle of David and Israel’s Third Temple happen before the coming seven years of the Tribulation Period?
Time will tell. – we do NOT set dates.

Final Thought
Prophecy as foretold by the Hebrew prophets continues to unfold in an escalating pattern. The stage is nearly completely set. The great and terrible Day of Yahweh, Joseph’s Trouble, hastens forth and will not delay. Time is short – Yeshua Ha’Mashiach is coming soon – get busy reaching the lost.