That the tent here called the Tabernacle of the Congregation[5] is not the elaborate and costly structure specially built as the Lord directed, is evident from the fact that the greater and more enduring Tabernacle had not been constructed at the time referred to in the scripture last cited. Unlike the later Tabernacle, which was set up in the center of the camp with the tribes massed about it in specified order, this Provisional Tabernacle was pitched outside the camp--afar off--perhaps as an indication of the Lord's withdrawal following Israel's idolatrous turning away from Him. That the Provisional Tabernacle was, however, a holy sanctuary is attested by the personal communion therein between Jehovah and His servant Moses. THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION From amidst the clouds, and to the accompaniments of thunders and lightnings on Sinai, the Lord gave unto {21} Moses the law and the testimony. Not alone did Moses there talk with the Lord in person, but by Divine command, Aaron and his sons Nadab and Abihu, together with seventy of the elders of Israel, went up upon the mountain and did see God, even the God of Israel. Over Sinai the glory of the Lord abode for many days: "And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount; and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights."[6] When he descended Moses bore with him the commission to call upon the children of Israel for contributions and offerings of their substance and all their precious things, such as would be suitable for the construction of a sanctuary for service in the wilderness. "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, "Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering. "And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass, "And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, "And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood, "Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, "Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. "And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. "According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of {22} the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it."[7] The response of the people was so liberal and prompt that a surplus of material was soon amassed. "And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the Lord commanded to make. "And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.