The Second Book of Moses: Exodus

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- Chapter 26 -

(Exodus 36:8–13)

“Truly, thus shall you make the tabernacle: You shall make ten curtains of fine twisted linen, and hyacinth as well as purple, and twice-dyed scarlet, with diverse embroidery.

The length of one curtain shall have twenty-eight cubits. The width shall be four cubits. The entire set of curtains shall be of one measure.

Five curtains shall be joined to one another, and the other five shall be similarly coupled together.

You shall make loops of hyacinth on the sides at the edges of the curtains, so that they will be able to be joined to one another.

A curtain shall have fifty loops on each of two sides, inserted in such a manner that loop may come against loop, and one can be fitted to the other.

You shall also make fifty rings of gold, with which the veils of the curtains are to be joined, so that it shall be one tabernacle.

The Eleven Curtains of Goat Hair

(Exodus 36:14–19)

You shall also make eleven haircloth canopies to cover the roof of the tabernacle.

The length of one canopy shall hold thirty cubits, and the width, four. The measure of all the canopies shall be equal.

Five of these you shall join by themselves, and six of these you shall couple to one another, in such a manner as to double the sixth canopy at the front of the roof.(a)

You shall also make fifty loops along the edge of one canopy, so that it may be able to be joined with the other, and fifty loops along the edge of the other canopy, so that it may be coupled with the other.

You shall also make fifty brass buckles, with which the loops may be joined, so that there may be one covering out of all.(b)

Then what will be left over of the canopies which are prepared for the roof, that is, one canopy which is in excess, from half of it you shall cover the back of the tabernacle.

And one cubit will hang down on one side, and another on the other side, which is more than the length of the curtains, protecting both sides of the tabernacle.(c)

You shall also make another covering for the roof from the skins of rams, dyed-red, and above that again, another covering of violet-colored skins.(d)

The Frames and Bases

(Exodus 36:20–34)

You shall also make the standing panels of the tabernacle from setim wood.

Of these, each shall have ten cubits in length, and in width, one and one half.

At the sides of the panels, there shall be made two dovetails, by which one panel may be connected to another panel; and in this way all the panels shall be prepared.

Of these, twenty shall be at the meridian, which lies toward the south.

For these, you shall cast forty bases of silver, so that two bases will lie under each panel at its two corners.

Likewise, at the second side of the tabernacle, which lies to the north, there shall be twenty panels,

having forty bases of silver; two bases shall support each panel.

Truly, toward the western part of the tabernacle, you shall make six panels,

and again another two, which will be raised at the corners, behind the back of the tabernacle.(e)

And these shall be joined together from bottom to top, and one joint shall retain them all. Likewise, two of the panels, which will be set at the corners, shall be served by similar joints.

And together these will be eight panels, and their bases of silver, sixteen, counting two bases for each panel.(f)

You shall also make five bars of setim wood, to connect the panels on one side of the tabernacle,

and five others on the other side, and the same number toward the western part.

These shall be set along the middle of the panels, from one end all the way to the other end.(g)

Likewise, the panels themselves you shall overlay with gold, and you shall establish rings of gold in them, by which the bars of the panels may be connected. These you shall cover with layers of gold.

And you shall raise the tabernacle according to the example which was shown to you on the mountain.

The Veil

(Exodus 36:35–36)

You shall also make a veil of hyacinth, and purple, and twice-dyed scarlet, and fine twisted linen, wrought with a diversity of continuous and beautiful embroidery.

And you shall suspend it before four columns of setim wood, which themselves certainly shall be overlaid with gold, and have heads of gold, but bases of silver.

Then the veil shall be inserted through the rings. Beyond the veil, you shall place the ark of the testimony, where both the Sanctuary and the Sanctuary of Sanctuaries shall be divided.(h)

And you shall place the propitiatory over the ark of the testimony, in the Holy of Holies.

And the table shall be outside the veil. And opposite the table shall be the lampstand, in the meridian of the tabernacle. For the table shall stand at the north side.

The Curtain for the Entrance

(Exodus 36:37–38)

You shall also make a tent at the entrance of the tabernacle from hyacinth, and purple, and twice-dyed scarlet, and fine twisted linen, wrought with embroidery.(i)

And you shall overlay with gold five columns of setim wood, over which the tent shall be drawn. The heads of these shall be of gold, and the bases of brass.”

Footnotes

(a)26:9 The joints of the joined eleven canopies were staggered (off-set) from the joints of the ten canopies. Thus the seams would not leak rain. Each seam of the ten curtains was covered by the middle of a canopy of the eleven. The canopy hung down further in both the front and the back as a result of the additional length, but it was folded over only in the front.(Conte)

(b)26:11 The buckles are different method of attaching the loops than the rings. Using different methods of attachment, and different materials, one over another, provides greater strength and reliability in building anything.(Conte)

(c)26:13 Here we learn that the ‘doubled’ canopy is not literally doubled in half, but folded so that one cubit of additional length is given to the overhang. This must have been folded toward the inside, rather than the outside, so that the fold would not collect rain.(Conte)

(d)26:14 It is unclear from which animal these violet-colored skins came.(Conte)

(e)26:23 The raised corners made the Tabernacle asymmetrical, so that the back corners were the highest part of the tent.(Conte)

(f)26:25 The west side had 8 panels, but the east only had 6, because the east end had the two panel (three royal cubit) opening for the width of the entrance. This entrance width of just under 5 feet, 2 inches, was needed to allow two men to enter side by side, carrying the ark and the tables for the Sanctuary.(Conte)

(g)26:28 Or, ‘through the middle of the panels.’(Conte)

(h)26:33 The sanctuary, etc:That part of the tabernacle, which was without the veil, into which the priests daily entered, is here called the sanctuary, or holy place; that part which was within the veil, into which no one but the high priest ever went, and he but once a year, is called the holy of holies, (literally, the sanctuary of the sanctuaries,) as being the most holy of all holy places.(Challoner)

(i)26:36 This tent was outside of the Tabernacle, forming a covered entryway, which protected the Tabernacle from wind and rain and dust.(Conte)

(Exodus 36:8–13)

“Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim. You shall make them with the work of a skillful workman.

The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits,(a) and the width of each curtain four cubits: all the curtains shall have one measure.

Five curtains shall be coupled together to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another.

You shall make loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain from the edge in the coupling, and you shall do likewise on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second coupling.

You shall make fifty loops in the one curtain, and you shall make fifty loops in the edge of the curtain that is in the second coupling. The loops shall be opposite one another.

You shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains to one another with the clasps. The tabernacle shall be a unit.

The Eleven Curtains of Goat Hair

(Exodus 36:14–19)

“You shall make curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the tabernacle. You shall make eleven curtains.

The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits: the eleven curtains shall have one measure.

You shall couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shall double over the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tent.

You shall make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outermost in the coupling, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain which is outermost in the second coupling.

You shall make fifty clasps of bronze, and put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one.

The overhanging part that remains of the curtains of the tent—the half curtain that remains—shall hang over the back of the tabernacle.

The cubit on the one side and the cubit on the other side, of that which remains in the length of the curtains of the tent, shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it.

You shall make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.

The Frames and Bases

(Exodus 36:20–34)

“You shall make the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright.

Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and one and a half cubits the width of each board.

There shall be two tenons in each board, joined to one another: thus you shall make for all the boards of the tabernacle.

You shall make twenty boards for the tabernacle, for the south side southward.

You shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two sockets under another board for its two tenons.

For the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, twenty boards,

and their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.

For the far side of the tabernacle westward you shall make six boards.

You shall make two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the far side.

They shall be double beneath, and in the same way they shall be whole to its top to one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners.

There shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.

“You shall make bars of acacia wood: five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,

and five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the far side westward.

The middle bar in the middle of the boards shall pass through from end to end.

You shall overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars. You shall overlay the bars with gold.

You shall set up the tabernacle according to the way that it was shown to you on the mountain.

The Veil

(Exodus 36:35–36)

“You shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. It shall be the work of a skillful workman.

You shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold; their hooks shall be of gold, on four sockets of silver.

You shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and shall bring the ark of the covenant in there within the veil. The veil shall separate the holy place from the most holy for you.

You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant in the most holy place.

You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lamp stand opposite the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south. You shall put the table on the north side.

The Curtain for the Entrance

(Exodus 36:37–38)

“You shall make a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer.

You shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold. You shall cast five sockets of bronze for them.

Footnotes

(a)26:2 A cubit is the length from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow on a man’s arm, or about 18 inches or 46 centimeters.