Exodus 26

1 "You are to make the tabernacle with ten sheets of finely woven linen and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn. You are to make them with k'ruvim worked in, that have been crafted by a skilled artisan.

2 Each one is to be forty-two feet long and six feet wide; all the sheets are to be the same size.

3 Five sheets are to be joined one to another, and the other five sheets are to be joined one to another.

4 Make loops of blue on the edge of the outermost sheet in the first set, and do the same on the edge of the outermost sheet in the second set.

5 Make fifty loops on the one sheet, and make fifty loops on the edge of the sheet in the second set; the loops are to be opposite one another.

6 Make fifty fasteners of gold, and couple the sheets to each other with the fasteners, so that the tabernacle forms a single unit.

7 "You are to make sheets of goat's hair to be used as a tent covering the tabernacle; make eleven sheets.

8 Each sheet is to be forty-five feet long and six feet wide -all eleven sheets are to be the same size.

9 Join five sheets together and six sheets together, and fold the sixth sheet double at the front of the tent.

10 Make fifty loops on the edge of the outermost sheet in the first set and fifty loops on the edge of the outermost sheet in the second set.

11 Make fifty fasteners of bronze, put the fasteners in the loops, and join the tent together, so that it forms a single unit.

12 As for the overhanging part that remains of the sheets forming the tent, the half-sheet remaining is to hang over the back of the tabernacle;

13 and the eighteen inches on the one side and the eighteen inches on the other side of that remaining in the length of the sheets forming the tent is to hang over the tabernacle to cover it on each side.

14 "You are to make a covering for the tent of tanned ram skins and an outer covering of fine leather.

15 "Make the upright planks for the tabernacle out of acacia-wood.

16 Each plank is to be fifteen feet long and two-and-a-quarter feet wide.

17 There are to be two projections on each plank, and the planks are to be joined one to another. That is how you are to make all the planks for the tabernacle.

18 "Make the planks for the tabernacle as follows: twenty planks for the south side, facing southward.

19 Make forty silver sockets under the twenty planks, two sockets under one plank for its two projections and two sockets under another plank for its two projections.

20 "For the second side of the tabernacle, to the north, make twenty planks

21 and their forty silver sockets, two sockets under one plank and two under another.

22 "For the rear part of the tabernacle, toward the west, make six planks.

23 For the corners of the tabernacle in the rear, make two planks;

24 these are to be double from the bottom all the way to the top but joined at a single ring. Do the same with both of them; they are to form the two corners.

25 Thus there will be eight planks with their silver sockets, sixteen sockets, two sockets under one plank and two under another.

26 "Make crossbars of acacia-wood, five for the planks of the one side of the tabernacle,

27 five crossbars for the planks of the other side of the tabernacle, and five crossbars for the planks at the side of the tabernacle at the rear toward the west.

28 The middle crossbar, halfway up the planks, is to extend from end to end.

29 Overlay the planks with gold, make gold rings for them through which the crossbars will pass, and overlay the crossbars with gold.

30 "You are to erect the tabernacle according to the design you have been shown on the mountain.

31 "You are to make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely woven linen. Make it with k'ruvim worked in, that have been crafted by a skilled artisan.

32 Hang it with gold hooks on four acacia-wood posts overlaid with gold and standing in four silver sockets.

33 Hang the curtain below the fasteners. Then bring the ark for the testimony inside the curtain; the curtain will be the divider for you between the Holy Place and the Especially Holy Place.

34 You are to put the ark-cover on the ark for the testimony in the Especially Holy Place.

35 "You are to put the table outside the curtain and the menorah opposite the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south; put the table on the north side.

36 "For the entrance to the tent, make a screen of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely woven linen; it should be in colors, the work of a weaver.

37 For the screen, make five posts of acacia-wood; overlay them with gold; and cast for them five sockets of bronze.

Exodus 26 Commentary

Chapter 26

The curtains of the tabernacle. (1-6) The curtains of goats' hair. (7-14) The boards, sockets, and bars. (15-30) The vail of the holy of holies, and for the entrance. (31-37)

Verses 1-6 God manifested his presence among the Israelites in a tabernacle or tent, because of their condition in the wilderness. God suits the tokens of his favour, and the gifts of his grace, to his people's state and wants. The curtains of the tabernacle were to be very rich. They were to be embroidered with cherubim, signifying that the angels of God pitch their tents round about the church, ( Psalms 34:7 ) .

Verses 7-14 The curtains of meaner materials, being made both longer and broader, covered the others, and were defended by coverings of skins. The whole represents the person and doctrine of Christ, and the church of true Christians, and all heavenly things, which outwardly are mean, but inwardly, and in the sight of God, are glorious and precious.

Verses 15-30 The sockets of silver each weighed about 115 pounds; they were placed in rows on the ground. In every pair of these sockets, a strong board of shittim-wood, covered with plates of gold, was fitted by mortises and tenons. Thus walls were formed for the two sides, and for the west end. The wall was further held together by bars, which passed through rings of gold. Over this the curtains were spread. Though movable, it was strong and firm. The materials were very costly. In all this it was a type of the church of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-stone, ( ephesians 2:20 ephesians 2:21 ) .

Verses 31-37 A vail, or curtain, separated the holy place from the most holy place. It was hung upon pillars. This vail was for a partition between the holy place and the most holy; which forbade any to look into the holiest of all. The apostle tells what was the meaning of this vail, ( Hebrews 9:8 ) . That the ceremonial law could not make the comers thereunto perfect, nor would the observance of it bring men to heaven; the way into the holiest of all was not made manifest, while the first tabernacle was standing. Life and immortality lay hidden till they were brought to light by the gospel; which was signified by the rending of this vail at the death of Christ, ( Matthew 27:51 ) . We have now boldness to enter into the holiest, in all acts of worship, by the blood of Jesus; yet such as obliges us to holy reverence. Another vail was for the outer door of the tabernacle. This vail was all the defence the tabernacle had. God takes care of his church on earth. A curtain shall be, if God please to make it so, as strong a defence to his house, as gates of brass and bars of iron. With this typical description of Christ and his church before us, what is our judgment of these matters? Do we see any glory in the person of Christ? any excellence in his character? any thing precious in his salvation? or any wisdom in the doctrine of the cross? Will our religion bear examination? and are we more careful to approve our hearts to God than our characters toward men?

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 26

In this chapter a description is given of the tabernacle itself, and first of its inward curtains, of their number, matter, length, and breadth, and the manner of coupling them together, Ex 26:1-6, and then of the outward curtains of it, their number, matter, length, and breadth, and coupling, and how disposed of, Ex 26:7-13, and next of the two coverings of the tabernacle, of rams' skins and badgers' skins, Ex 22:14, the boards for the tabernacle are also described, with their tenons and sockets, Ex 26:15-25 and the bars and rings for it, by which it was kept firm together, Ex 26:26-30, an account is given of the vail between the holy and the most holy place, Ex 26:31-35, and of the hanging for the door of the tabernacle, Ex 26:36,37.