The sacred tent was enclosed in an open space called the court, which was surrounded by hangings, or screens, of fine linen, suspended from pillars of brass. The entrance to this enclosure was at the eastern end. It was closed by curtains of costly material and beautiful workmanship, though inferior to those of the sanctuary. The hangings of the court being only about half as high as the walls of the tabernacle, the building could be plainly seen by the people without. In the court, and nearest the entrance, stood the brazen altar of burnt offering. Upon this altar were consumed all the sacrifices made by fire unto the Lord, and its horns were sprinkled with the atoning blood. Between the altar and the door of the tabernacle was the laver, which was also of brass, made from the mirrors that had been the freewill offering of the women of Israel. At the laver the priests were to wash their hands and their feet whenever 348 they went into the sacred apartments, or approached the altar to offer a burnt offering unto the Lord.

Det hellige telt lå på en indhegnet åben plads, der kaldtes forgården. Den var omgivet af draperier af fint linned, der hang på piller af kobber. Indgangen til denne indhegning var i den østlige ende. Den var lukket med smukt forarbejdede tæpper af kostbart materiale, omend ikke fuldt så prægtige som tæpperne i helligdommen. Forgårdens draperier var kun halvt så høje som tabernaklets vægge, og derfor kunne bygningen tydeligt ses af folket udenfor. I forgården, nærmest indgangen, stod brændofferalteret, der var af kobber. På dette alter blev alle ildofrene til Herren brændt, og forsoningsblodet blev strøget på dets horn. Mellem alteret og indgangen til tabernaklet stod vandkummen, der også var af kobber. Den var fremstillet af de spejle, som israelitternes kvinder frivilligt havde givet. I vandkummen skulle præsterne vaske deres hænder og fødder, når de gik ind i de hellige rum eller hen til alteret for at bringe et brændoffer til Herren.