Exodus 26:1-13

The Tabernacle

1 “Make the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim woven into them by a skilled worker.

2 All the curtains are to be the same size—twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide.^[a]

3 Join five of the curtains together, and do the same with the other five.

4 Make loops of blue material along the edge of the end curtain in one set, and do the same with the end curtain in the other set.

5 Make fifty loops on one curtain and fifty loops on the end curtain of the other set, with the loops opposite each other.

6 Then make fifty gold clasps and use them to fasten the curtains together so that the tabernacle is a unit.

7 “Make curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle—eleven altogether.

8 All eleven curtains are to be the same size—thirty cubits long and four cubits wide.^[b]

9 Join five of the curtains together into one set and the other six into another set. Fold the sixth curtain double at the front of the tent.

10 Make fifty loops along the edge of the end curtain in one set and also along the edge of the end curtain in the other set.

11 Then make fifty bronze clasps and put them in the loops to fasten the tent together as a unit.

12 As for the additional length of the tent curtains, the half curtain that is left over is to hang down at the rear of the tabernacle.

13 The tent curtains will be a cubit^[c] longer on both sides; what is left will hang over the sides of the tabernacle so as to cover it.

Exodus 26:1-13 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References

• 1. Exodus 29:42; Exodus 40:2; Leviticus 8:10; Numbers 1:50; Joshua 22:19,29; 2 Samuel 7:2; 1 Kings 1:39; Acts 7:44; Hebrews 8:2,5; Hebrews 13:10; S Revelation 21:3
• 2. S Exodus 25:18
• 3. ver 8
• 4. ver 11
• 5. ver 2
• 6. ver 6

Footnotes

• [a]. That is, about 42 feet long and 6 feet wide or about 13 meters long and 1.8 meters wide
• [b]. That is, about 45 feet long and 6 feet wide or about 13.5 meters long and 1.8 meters wide
• [c]. That is, about 18 inches or about 45 centimeters