THE COURTYARD

The Book of Numbers, Moses’ fourth book, begins with a census of the Hebrew people and an organizational map describing the way the twelve tribes were to set up their camp while in Sinai’s wilderness. “All the Israelites twenty years old or more, everyone who could serve in Israel’s army, were registered by their ancestral families. All those registered numbered 603,550”(Numbers 1:45–46). If you add to that the women, children, and the aged, one can expect that their numbers exceeded two million. That’s more than the population of Dallas!

When they set up camp, three tribes were to pitch their tents on the north side of camp, three on the east, three on the west, and three on the south. The tribe of Levi, the priestly tribe, wasn’t counted in the census (Numbers 1:47), and was to set up their tents around the tabernacle which was erected at the very center of the Hebrew’s encampment.

(Jacob had twelve sons which became twelve tribes. Joseph became two tribes: Ephraim and Menasseh. So, thirteen tribes… or twelve tribes plus the tribe of Levi.)

The tribe of Levi was appointed to care for and protect the tabernacle. No one else was to even come close. “Any unauthorized person who comes near it is to be put to death” (Numbers 1:51). The Levites were to “carry out their priestly responsibilities, but any unauthorized person who comes near the sanctuary is to be put to death” (Numbers 3:10).

An observer might have marveled at the organization of the Hebrew camp, but surely their attention would have been drawn to the tabernacle with its white curtain-like surroundings. As the epicenter of Hebrew life, “the courtyard (was) 150 feet long, 75 feet wide at each end, and 7½ feet high, all of it made of finely spun linen” (Exodus 27:18). The enclosure was smaller than a football field, but bigger than a regulation basketball court. That’s not little. It would have been a striking sight on the sands of Sinai.

Whenever the tabernacle was set up, the single doorway leading into and out of the courtyard was always “on the east side toward the sunrise” (Exodus 27:13). Similarly, the Garden of Eden had a gateway on its eastern side (Genesis 3:24). Interesting!

The entrance to the courtyard was 30 feet wide (Exodus 27:16), an ample passage for the Levitical priests bringing sacrifices into God’s presence. Just as there was only one door in Noah’s Ark (Genesis 6:16), and one door into the courtyard, there is only one way into the saving presence of our Holy God … that’s through Jesus (John 14:6), who is Himself, “the door” (John 10:7, NKJV).

Is there an application for Christians today? Sure. We need to keep Christ at the center of our camp, at the center of our homes and hearts! He is holy, and yet, because of Christ’s sacrifice, He invites us to come close! And, when an observer watches, they should see evidence that our focus isn’t health, wealth, and prosperity … but at the center of our camp is Christ alone!

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).