“Credit crunch revives bread sales as workers make sarnies to
save cash”
The Times June 13th 2009
Temple Talks: The Table of Showbread
Key Bible References
Exodus 25:23-28
37:10-15
Leviticus 24:5-9
Quick facts
Location
Positioned along the north wall
Opposite the lampstand within the Holy place. Where it would remain “always” before the ark of the
covenant and in the presence of the LORD
Ex 25: 30; Num 4:7
Quick Facts
Material: Table and staves made from
Acacia wood
Tree = Acacia seyal
Table and staves plated in gold
Staves passed through golden rings
Quick Facts
Size: 2 cubits long, 1 cubit wide and cubit and half high
3 ft long (91.44cm), 18 inches (45.72cm) wide,
2ft 3”(68.58cm) high
Quick facts
Shewbread
Dishes (breadplates)
Pans/Spoons (to sprinkle frankincense)
Pitchers (for liquid offerings)
Bowls (containing the frankincense)
What did it look like?
What did it look like?
Arch of Titus, Rome
What did it look like?
According to the Talmud, the loaves were not allowed to touch one another, and, to prevent contact, hollow golden tubes, 28 in number, were placed between them, which
thus permitted the air to circulate freely between the loaves.
Together with the loaves of proposition, between the 2 piles or, according to others, above them, were 2 vessels
of gold filled with frankincense and, according to the Septuagint, salt also (Leviticus 24:7; Siphra, 263, 1).
What did it look like?
What was it's purpose?"table of proposition" Num 4:7 or "most clean table" Lev 24:6
To provide a place for the...
�ים �ִנ ֶלֶחם ָּפ�"bread of the presence" (Exodus 35:13; 39:35, etc.)
"holy bread" 1 Sam 21:6, "continual bread" Num 4:7,
or simply "bread" Exodus 11:23.
Greek text = "loaves of the setting forth" Ex 35:13; 39:35, etc.
Latin/ English = "loaves of proposition", OR Shewbread/ Showbread
The Bread
Made from around 4ltr of fine flour (Lev 24:5).
Cost covered by the temple treasury (1 Chron 9:26, 32).
Sons of Caath (Kohathites) were in charge of preparing and baking the loaves. (1 Chron 9:32).
12 loaves were arranged in 2 rows/ piles, 6 loaves each, and while still hot placed on the "table of proposition"
(Numbers 4:7).
The Bread: What Tradition tells us
Unleavened? (; Josephus, "Antiq.", III, 6:6; 10:7)
Loaves were 10 fingers in length, 5 in breadth, and with rims or upturned edges of 7 fingers in length.
Mishna (Men., xi, 4; Yad, Tamid, v. 9)
What does it teach us?
The bread speaks of God's provision and acceptance of His people...
Provision and acceptance made by God through the bread...
Provision and acceptance received most fully by placing him first in our lives...
Provision and acceptance received in a holy place...