Bible Study for Atheists: Exodus Chapters 27 - 28

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09/04/23 • 30 min

Bible Study for Atheists - Exodus

Husband and Wife cover Exodus chapter 27:

The Alter of Burnt Offering / The Court of the Tabernacle / The Tending of the Lamp

and

Chapter 28:

The Garments for the Priests.

Poor Aaron has to carry around like a zillion pet rocks on his fancy getup. Wife is gonna hit up Etsy for a robe like the one Arron gets to wear! Then she's gonna tinkle like his bells.

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Exodus 27: This chapter describes the construction of the tabernacle, a portable sanctuary that the Israelites were to use during their travels in the wilderness. The tabernacle was to be made of wood and covered with skins, and it was to have three parts: the holy place, the holy of holies, and the courtyard.
Exodus 28: This chapter describes the clothing that the priests were to wear when they ministered in the tabernacle. The high priest was to wear a special breastplate that had twelve gemstones on it, each representing one of the tribes of Israel.

From an atheist perspective, these chapters are simply a record of the beliefs and practices of the ancient Israelites. There is no evidence to suggest that the tabernacle or the priestly clothing actually existed, and there is no reason to believe that they were anything more than symbolic objects.

As an atheist we might also point out that the instructions for building the tabernacle and making the priestly clothing are very specific, which suggests that they were not the product of divine inspiration. Rather, they seem to be the result of human ingenuity and creativity.

Ultimately, as an atheist we would argue that there is no reason to believe that the events described in Exodus chapters 27 and 28 actually happened. They are simply stories that were passed down from generation to generation, and they should be interpreted as such.

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Husband and Wife cover Exodus chapter 27:

The Alter of Burnt Offering / The Court of the Tabernacle / The Tending of the Lamp

and

Chapter 28:

The Garments for the Priests.

Poor Aaron has to carry around like a zillion pet rocks on his fancy getup. Wife is gonna hit up Etsy for a robe like the one Arron gets to wear! Then she's gonna tinkle like his bells.

Join us on DISCORD: https://discord.gg/8RwwMrb5zK

Skip the ads by joining Acast+ https://plus.acast.com/s/6331d364470c7900137bb57d

Thank you for stopping by Sacrilegious Discourse - Bible Study for Atheists!

Check out these links for more information about our podcast and merchandise:

Our Homepage: https://sacrilegiousdiscourse.com/

Help support us by subscribing on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sacrilegiousdiscourse

Exodus 27: This chapter describes the construction of the tabernacle, a portable sanctuary that the Israelites were to use during their travels in the wilderness. The tabernacle was to be made of wood and covered with skins, and it was to have three parts: the holy place, the holy of holies, and the courtyard.
Exodus 28: This chapter describes the clothing that the priests were to wear when they ministered in the tabernacle. The high priest was to wear a special breastplate that had twelve gemstones on it, each representing one of the tribes of Israel.

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Previous Episode

Bible Study for Atheists: Exodus Chapters 25 - 26

Husband and Wife cover Exodus chapter 25: Israel to Bring an Offering / The Arc of the Testimony / The Table for the Showbread / The Golden Candlestick; and chapter 26: The Tabernacle. Basically it's really bad Ikea instructions for building a giant fancy-pants jewelry box made all of gold which isn't gawdy IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER. Also a sewing project if you can get to a Joann's in ancient times.

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Exodus 25: God gives Moses detailed instructions on how to build a tabernacle, a portable sanctuary that the Israelites would use to worship him. The tabernacle was to be made of the finest materials, including gold, silver, and precious stones. It was to have three main parts: the outer court, the inner sanctuary, and the holy of holies.
Exodus 26: The instructions for building the tabernacle continue. The outer court was to be enclosed by a curtain made of linen. The inner sanctuary was to be separated from the outer court by a veil made of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. The holy of holies was to be the innermost part of the tabernacle. It was to be covered by a curtain made of gold.

From an atheist perspective, these chapters are simply a record of the Israelites' beliefs about how they should worship God. There is no evidence to suggest that God actually gave these instructions to Moses. The descriptions of the tabernacle are also highly unrealistic. The materials and craftsmanship described would have been very expensive and time-consuming to obtain. It is unlikely that the Israelites would have been able to build such a complex structure in the desert.

The chapters also raise some ethical questions. For example, why would God require the Israelites to use such expensive materials to build a tabernacle? Why would he require them to make such a complex and elaborate structure? It seems that God is more interested in the Israelites' obedience than he is in their worship.

Overall, Exodus chapters 25 and 26 are a fascinating glimpse into the Israelites' beliefs about worship. However, from an atheist perspective, they are simply a record of those beliefs, not a divine revelation.

In addition to the above, here are some other things to consider from an atheist perspective:

The instructions for building the tabernacle are very specific. This suggests that they were written down after the fact, rather than being revealed to Moses by God.
The tabernacle is described as being a copy of a heavenly sanctuary. This is a common theme in religious texts, but there is no evidence to support it.
The tabernacle is said to have been a place where God would meet with the Israelites. However, there is no evidence that this actually happened.

Ultimately, the meaning of Exodus chapters 25 and 26 is up to the individual reader to decide. However, from an atheist perspective, they are simply a record of the Israelites' beliefs about worship.

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Next Episode

Bible Study for Atheists: Exodus Chapters 29 - 30

Husband and Wife cover Exodus chapter 29 - 30:

The Consecration of Aaron and His Sons / The Daily Offerings

The Alter of Incense / The Atonement Money / The Laver / The Anointing Oil and the Incense.

Are there any living descendants of Aaron still puttering around today? Are they aware they'll die if they don't wash their hands? What are the varying degrees of holiness? How much is a shekel? What exactly is the "usual" method for all these recipes?

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Exodus 29

This chapter describes the elaborate rituals that the Israelites were commanded to perform in order to consecrate their priests and make them holy. The rituals involved sacrificing animals, anointing the priests with oil, and dressing them in special garments.

From an atheist perspective, these rituals are meaningless. There is no evidence that they have any power to make the priests holy or to connect them with God. The rituals are simply a way for the Israelites to express their devotion to their religion.

Exodus 30

This chapter describes the construction of the altar of incense and the laver for washing. The altar of incense was to be used for burning incense, which was believed to be a pleasing scent to God. The laver was to be used for washing the priests' hands and feet before they performed the rituals.

From an atheist perspective, these objects are also meaningless. There is no evidence that incense is pleasing to God or that washing the priests' hands and feet has any religious significance. These objects are simply a way for the Israelites to express their devotion to their religion.

In addition to the rituals and objects described in these chapters, Exodus also contains many other passages that describe the Israelites' religious practices. These passages are all based on the belief that there is a God who intervenes in human affairs and who requires the Israelites to follow a set of rules and regulations.

Atheists do not believe in God, so they do not believe that these rituals and objects have any religious significance. They believe that the Israelites developed these practices as a way to express their devotion to their religion and to create a sense of community.

The rituals and objects described in Exodus chapters 29 and 30 are just a few examples of the many religious practices that are described in the Bible. Atheists do not believe in the religious significance of these practices, but they can still appreciate their cultural and historical value.

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