Wednesday Bible Study: Have you noticed anything missing?

Before I get to today ' s story (which is a doozy) I need to point something out. What was the single most important obsession of the Torah from the second part of Exodus through Deuteronomy? Right: it was the Tabernacle, the ark of the covenant, the altar, and the associated sacrifices and pilgrimages. Chapter after chapter detailed the rites, the required offerings, the duties and privileges of the priesthood. The Tabernacle was where Yahweh appeared to speak to the people, the pilgrimage festivals defined the rhythm of the year, the Tabernacle was where the people gathered to hear God ' s word and prepare for war. When the Israelites crossed the Jordan in Joshua, the details of the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant were central to the tale. The soldiers carried the Ark around the cities they conquered. It isn ' t entirely clear but it appears that after the conquest the Ark wound up in Gilgal, presumably along with the altar and the rest of the Tabernacle. It was because this was too far away that Manasseh set up a secondary altar in Gilead. Then poof! That ' s the last we heard of it.As the various Judges come and go, none of them is said to have presented himself (or Deborah ' s self) to the priests, or to have gone to the Tabernacle to sacrifice. There is no mention of the pilgrimages. When people do sacrifice, they do it wherever they are -- which is supposed to be an abomination, only the priests can sacrifice at the altar in the Tabernacle. But the Tabernacle,...
Source: Stayin' Alive - Category: American Health Source Type: blogs