The Table of the Shewbread

2023-02-27

Opposite the candlestick was the table of shewbread. This table was a shittim wood table covered with gold. It had removeable poles that were added to transport it. It had corresponding utensils to go with it: “And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them” (Exodus 25:29). The shewbread would always be on it. “And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me always” (Exodus 25:30).

This table was positioned outside of the veil to the holiest. “And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side” (Exodus 26:35).

The shewbread was 12 loaves placed in two rows of six on the table, with frankincense put on them. The significance of 12 is the number of tribes of Israel. Aaron and his sons the priests would eat these. Fresh bread was put out every Sabbath. “And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake. And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the LORD. And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD. Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant. And it shall be Aaron’s and his sons’; and they shall eat it in the holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the LORD made by fire by a perpetual statute” (Leviticus 24:5-9).

The shewbread is also called the bread of presence or the bread of the faces. It was always to be present in the holy place, refreshed every Sabbath day. “And other of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the shewbread, to prepare it every sabbath” (1 Chronicles 9:32).

While the bread was for Aaron and his sons, in an emergency situation, the bread was eaten by others, as long as they were set apart themselves. “So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away” (1 Samuel 21:6). “But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?” (Matthew 12:3-4).

When in transport, the sons of Kohath would cover the table with blue cloth, then place the utensils on this. Then a scarlet cloth and badger skins were placed on top of these (Numbers 4:7-9).

Most commentators I have seen say this refers to Jesus as the bread of life. “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6:51). The “candlestick,” the church, sheds light on that bread. This bread from heaven, Jesus Christ, is always with us, which is why the bread must always be present on the table. “...lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:20).