BSN: THE TABERNACLE

God gave Moses instructions to build the tabernacle – also called the tabernacle of the tent of meeting – in the wilderness not long after the Israelites had exited Egypt. (“The tabernacle” is short for “The tabernacle of the congregation” (King James Version)
Exodus 25–31 and 35–40 provide the initial information about the tabernacle and its furnishings. See the BSN notes for those chapters for some specifics.
The tabernacle’s central piece of furniture was the ark of the covenant.
The tabernacle was designed and constructed for mobility. The Israelites used it for worship in the wilderness. Once they entered Canaan and settled, they would be able to build a permanent home – which would be called the temple – for the Lord. This did not happen, however, until the time of King David and his conquering of the city of Jerusalem.