In the context of the Tabernacle, the shovel is a significant utensil used in the service and maintenance of the sacred space. The Hebrew word often translated as "shovel" is "yââh," which appears in the descriptions of the Tabernacle's furnishings and implements. The shovel was primarily used for handling ashes and coals from the altar of burnt offering, playing a crucial role in the daily rituals and sacrifices prescribed by the Mosaic Law.

Biblical References

The shovel is mentioned in the context of the Tabernacle's construction and the instructions given to Moses on Mount Sinai. In Exodus 27:3, the Berean Standard Bible states: "Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots to remove the ashes, and its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks, and firepans." This verse highlights the shovel as part of a set of bronze utensils, emphasizing its importance in the practical aspects of worship and sacrifice.

Function and Symbolism

The primary function of the shovel was to remove ashes from the altar, ensuring that the space remained clean and ready for subsequent offerings. This task was essential for maintaining the sanctity and order of the sacrificial system, which was central to Israelite worship. The removal of ashes can be seen as a symbolic act of purification, reflecting the need for cleanliness and holiness in approaching God.

The use of bronze for the shovel and other utensils is noteworthy. Bronze, a durable and resilient metal, was chosen for its ability to withstand the intense heat of the altar's fire. This choice of material underscores the enduring nature of God's commandments and the perpetual nature of the sacrificial system until the coming of Christ, who fulfilled the Law.

Priestly Duties

The priests, descendants of Aaron, were responsible for the use of the shovel in their daily duties. As outlined in Leviticus, the priests were to ensure that the fire on the altar was kept burning continuously (Leviticus 6:12-13). The shovel was indispensable in this task, as it allowed the priests to manage the coals and ashes efficiently, ensuring that the altar was always ready for the next sacrifice.

Typological Significance

From a typological perspective, the shovel and its use in the Tabernacle can be seen as a foreshadowing of Christ's work in cleansing and purifying believers. Just as the shovel was used to remove the remnants of past sacrifices, Christ's sacrifice on the cross removes the sins of those who believe in Him, purifying them and making them acceptable before God.

In summary, the shovel, though a seemingly mundane object, held a vital role in the worship practices of ancient Israel. Its presence in the Tabernacle underscores the importance of purity, order, and the meticulous observance of God's commands, all of which point to the greater reality fulfilled in Jesus Christ.Exodus 27:3
And you shall make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basins, and his meat hooks, and his fire pans: all the vessels thereof you shall make of brass.
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Exodus 38:3
And he made all the vessels of the altar, the pots, and the shovels, and the basins, and the meat hooks, and the fire pans: all the vessels thereof made he of brass.
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Numbers 4:14
And they shall put on it all the vessels thereof, with which they minister about it, even the censers, the meat hooks, and the shovels, and the basins, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread on it a covering of badgers' skins, and put to the staves of it.
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