Exodus 38:9-20

The Courtyard

9 Then he constructed the courtyard. The south side of the courtyard was a hundred cubits long ^[a] and had curtains of finely spun linen, ¹

10 with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases, and with silver hooks and bands on the posts.

11 The north side was also a hundred cubits long, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases. The hooks and bands of the posts were silver.

12 The west side was fifty cubits long ^[b] and had curtains, with ten posts and ten bases. The hooks and bands of the posts were silver.

13 And the east side, toward the sunrise, was also fifty cubits long.

14 The curtains on one side of the entrance were fifteen cubits long, ^[c] with three posts and three bases.

15 And the curtains on the other side were also fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases as well.

16 All the curtains around the courtyard were made of finely spun linen.

17 The bases for the posts were bronze, the hooks and bands were silver, and the plating for the tops of the posts was silver. So all the posts of the courtyard were banded with silver.

18 The curtain for the entrance to the courtyard was embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It was twenty cubits long ^[d] and, like the curtains of the courtyard, five cubits high, ^[e]

19 with four posts and four bronze bases. Their hooks were silver, as well as the bands and the plating of their tops.

20 All the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the surrounding courtyard were bronze.

Exodus 38:9-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 38

This chapter is a continuation of the account of the making of the things belonging to the tabernacle, particularly the altar of burnt offering, Ex 38:1-7 the laver of brass, and the things it was made of, Ex 38:8 the court and its hangings, pillars, sockets, hooks and pins, Ex 38:9-20 then follows an account of the quantities of gold, silver, and brass, expended in the making of the several things appertaining to the sanctuary, Ex 38:21-31.

Bezaleel made it, or it was made by his direction, he having the care and oversight of it, wherefore the making of it is ascribed to him, 2Ch 1:5 the account of this, its horns, vessels, rings, and staves, is carried on to Ex 38:2-7 of which \\see Gill on "Ex 27:1"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:2"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:3"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:4"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:5"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:6"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:7"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:8"\\. 10593-941108-1338-Ex38.2

Cross References

• 1. (Exodus 27:9–19)

Footnotes

• [a] 100 cubits is approximately 150 feet or 45.7 meters.
• [b] 50 cubits is approximately 75 feet or 22.9 meters.
• [c] 15 cubits is approximately 22.5 feet or 6.9 meters.
• [d] 20 cubits is approximately 30 feet or 9.1 meters.
• [e] 5 cubits is approximately 7.5 feet or 2.3 meters.