The tabernacle was so constructed that it could be taken apart and borne with the Israelites in all their journeyings. It was therefore small, being not more than fifty-five feet in length, and eighteen in breadth and height. Yet it was a magnificent structure. The wood employed for the building and its furniture was that of the acacia tree, which was less subject to decay than any other to be obtained at Sinai. The walls consisted of upright boards, set in silver sockets, and held firm by pillars and connecting bars; and all were overlaid with gold, giving to the building the appearance of solid gold. The roof was formed of four sets of curtains, the innermost of "fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubim of cunning work;" the other three respectively were of goats' hair, rams' skins dyed red, and sealskins, so arranged as to afford complete protection.

Tabernaklet blev bygget således, at det kunne skilles ad og bæres med på alle israelitternes rejser. Det var derfor ikke ret stort, ikke mere end 17 m langt og 5 1/2 m højt og bredt. Og dog var det en storslået bygning. Til boligen og dens tilbehør blev der anvendt akacietræ, der var mere holdbart end nogen anden træsort, der kunne fås ved Sinaj. Væggene bestod af opretstående brædder, forsynet med fodstykker af sølv og forbundet ved hjælp af tværstænger. Alt var overtrukket med guld, så bygningen så ud, som om den var af massivt guld. Taget var dannet af fire lag tæpper, det inderste af tvundet byssus, violet og rødt purpurgarn og karmoisinrødt garn med keruber på i kunstvævning". De andre tre var af henholdsvis gedehår, rødfarvede vædderskind og tahasjskind og var ordnet sådan, at de beskyttede boligen fuldstændig.