The Holy Place of the Temple at Arad
This room was the priests' court, which contained several key elements of the worship of Yahweh.Unseen just inside the opening is a stone bench, and across from the bench are the two incense altars at the entrance to the Holy of Holies. The bench may correspond to the table of showbread, or at least illustrate its location. We do not know why there are two altars here when there was only one in the tabernacle and the temple at Jerusalem. No golden lampstand was found in the excavations.
The term showbread could also mean "the bread of the Presence," because it was placed as an offering in the presence of God. This offering symbolized a thanksgiving gift to God, as well as a request for God's provision of food. The priests, on behalf of the people, ate the bread as a symbol of their relationship with God.
