Moses is commanded by God to construct a portable Sanctuary in accordance with detailed instructions about its size, its materials, and the various ancillary ritual objects with which it is to be furnished. For these purposes the people were asked to make a free-will offering (Terumah) of metals, fabrics, skins, wood, precious stones, oil and spices.

The outer court of the Sanctuary was a rectangular structure without a roof that was surrounded by curtains. It contained an altar for burnt offerings and a washstand for the priests. All Israelites could enter this area.

The Tabernacle was divided into two sections, separated by a veil. Only priests were permitted to enter this area. It contained an altar for incense, the seven-branched Menorah and a table for the showbread.

The inner chamber of the Tabernacle, the Holy of Holies, contained the Ark of the Covenant; the high priest was accorded access, but only on Yom Kippur.

Our sidra provides specific instructions about the design of each of these structures and their furnishings.