The term "shewbread" or "showbread" refers to the sacred bread that was continually placed on a special table in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle and later in the Temple. This bread held significant religious symbolism and was a vital part of the worship practices of ancient Israel.

Biblical Description and Instructions

The instructions for the shewbread are found primarily in the Pentateuch. According to Exodus 25:30 , God commanded Moses, "And place the Bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times." This bread, also known as the "Bread of the Presence," was to be a perpetual offering before the Lord.

Leviticus 24:5-9 provides further details: "You are to take fine flour and bake twelve loaves with two-tenths of an ephah of flour in each loaf. Arrange them in two rows—six per row—on the table of pure gold before the LORD. And you are to place pure frankincense near each row, so that it may serve as a memorial portion for the bread, an offering made by fire to the LORD. Every Sabbath day the bread is to be set out before the LORD on behalf of the Israelites as a lasting covenant. It belongs to Aaron and his sons, who are to eat it in a holy place, because it is a most holy part of their perpetual share of the offerings made by fire to the LORD."

The Table of Shewbread

The table on which the shewbread was placed was a significant piece of furniture within the Tabernacle and later the Temple. Constructed according to divine specifications, the table was made of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold, as described in Exodus 25:23-30 . It measured two cubits long, one cubit wide, and one and a half cubits high. The table also featured a gold molding around it and rings for carrying poles, emphasizing its sacred purpose and mobility during the Israelites' wilderness journey.

Symbolism and Significance

The shewbread symbolized God's provision and His covenant with Israel. The twelve loaves represented the twelve tribes of Israel, signifying the unity and sustenance of the nation under God's care. The bread's perpetual presence before the Lord served as a reminder of His continual provision and the Israelites' dependence on Him.

Moreover, the shewbread foreshadowed the spiritual nourishment provided by Christ, who declared Himself to be the "bread of life" (John 6:35). This connection highlights the continuity of God's provision from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant, where Jesus fulfills and transcends the symbolic elements of the Tabernacle worship.

Priestly Consumption

The consumption of the shewbread was restricted to the priests, specifically Aaron and his sons, as part of their holy duties. This consumption took place in a sacred space, emphasizing the bread's sanctity and the priests' role as mediators between God and the people. The weekly renewal of the bread on the Sabbath underscored the rhythm of worship and the ongoing relationship between God and His chosen people.

In summary, the shewbread and its associated furniture played a crucial role in the liturgical life of ancient Israel, symbolizing God's provision, covenant, and the spiritual sustenance ultimately fulfilled in Christ.Exodus 25:29,30
And you shall make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover with: of pure gold shall you make them.
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Exodus 37:16
And he made the vessels which were on the table, his dishes, and his spoons, and his bowls, and his covers to cover with, of pure gold.
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Numbers 4:7
And on the table of show bread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover with: and the continual bread shall be thereon:
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What was the bread of the Presence (Exodus 25:30)? | GotQuestions.org

Shewbread: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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