Naturally, the idea of God dwelling inside a tent needs to be handled carefully. It does not necessarily mean that his presence was restricted to this location. As already noted, the identification of the ark of the covenant as a footstool points to a heavenly throne, indicating that God’s being was not contained within the tabernacle alone. However, Nahum Sarna is mistaken when he writes: the sanctuary is not meant to be understood literally as God’s abode, as are other such institutions in the