The term "shewbread," also known as "showbread" or "bread of the Presence," refers to the twelve loaves of bread that were continually placed on a specially designated table within the Holy Place of the Tabernacle and later the Temple. This bread was a perpetual offering before the LORD, symbolizing God's provision and the covenant relationship between Him and the twelve tribes of Israel.

Biblical Description and Instructions

The instructions for the shewbread are detailed in the Old Testament, primarily in the books of Exodus and Leviticus. According to Exodus 25:23-30 , God commanded Moses to construct a table of acacia wood, overlaid with pure gold, to hold the shewbread:

> "You are also to make a table of acacia wood two cubits long, a cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high. Overlay it with pure gold and make a gold molding around it. And make a rim around it a handbreadth wide and put a gold molding on the rim. Make four gold rings for the table and fasten them to the four corners at its four legs. The rings are to be close to the rim, to serve as holders for the poles used to carry the table. Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold, so that the table may be carried with them. You are also to make its plates and dishes, as well as its pitchers and bowls for pouring drink offerings. Make them of pure gold. And place the Bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times."

Leviticus 24:5-9 provides further instructions on the preparation and arrangement of the shewbread:

> "You are to take fine flour and bake twelve loaves with two-tenths of an ephah of flour in each loaf, and set 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 perpetual 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."

Symbolism and Significance

The shewbread served as a powerful symbol of God's provision and His sustaining presence among His people. The twelve loaves represented the twelve tribes of Israel, signifying that each tribe was continually before the LORD. The bread was a reminder of the manna provided in the wilderness, emphasizing God's ongoing sustenance and care.

The table itself, covered with gold, signified the holiness and purity required in approaching God. The use of gold, a precious and incorruptible metal, underscored the divine nature of the covenant and the sacredness of the offerings made to God.

Priestly Duties and Rituals

The priests, specifically the descendants of Aaron, were responsible for the care and maintenance of the shewbread. Each Sabbath, the loaves were replaced with fresh bread, and the old loaves were consumed by the priests in a holy place, as stipulated in Leviticus 24:9. This consumption by the priests symbolized their role as mediators between God and the people, sharing in the holy provisions of the LORD.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, the shewbread is mentioned in the context of Jesus' teachings and actions. In Matthew 12:3-4 , Jesus refers to an incident involving David:

> "Jesus replied, 'Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for them to eat, but only for the priests.'"

This reference highlights the shewbread's sacred status and the flexibility of ceremonial law in the face of human need, pointing to Jesus' authority over religious traditions.

Conclusion

The shewbread, with its table covered in gold, remains a profound testament to God's covenantal relationship with Israel, His provision, and the holiness required in worship. It serves as a precursor to the spiritual sustenance offered through Christ, the Bread of Life, who fulfills and transcends the Old Testament symbols.Exodus 25:24
And you shall overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

What is the Sanctuary?
... The table of shewbread and the ... The ark that enshrines the tables of the law is covered
with the mercy seat, before which Christ pleads His blood in the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the great controversy/chapter 23 what is the.htm

The New Covenant.
... cites the words of the Psalmist, "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered," to prove ... The shewbread, laid on the table in rows of ...
/.../chapter viii the new covenant.htm

In the House of his Heavenly, and in the Home of his Earthly ...
... The Holy Place had the Golden Candlestick (south), the Table of Shewbread (north),
and ... or Foundation Stone, which, according to tradition, covered the mouth ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter x in the house.htm

The Ark of his Covenant
... I have told you, was a golden lid, which fitted it, and covered it exactly ... in the
old tabernacle, whether it was a candlestick, or a table, or the shewbread. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 41 1895/the ark of his covenant.htm

The Blood of the Testament
... how full of faults; how covered over with sins! ... was a tabernacle made; the first,
wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 58 1912/the blood of the testament.htm

Ancestors of the Blessed virgin
... which were the altar of incense, the table of the ... think, those with which Adam and
Eve covered themselves in ... In the case of the shewbread the incense alone was ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/i ancestors of the blessed.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... that river, had attacked the cities scattered over the undulating table-land. ... escorting
caravans, were possessed of a considerable quantity of gold, which they ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

The Desire of the Righteous Granted;
... that as no man is just before God that is not covered with the ... the shadows of things
in the heavens; the candlestick, the table of shewbread, the holiest of ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the desire of the righteous.htm

What was the bread of the Presence (Exodus 25:30)? | GotQuestions.org

Shewbread: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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