Exodus 26

1 "Make the interior of the sacred Tent, the Tent of my presence, out of ten pieces of fine linen woven with blue, purple, and red wool. Embroider them with figures of winged creatures.

2 Make each piece the same size, 14 yards long and 2 yards wide.

3 Sew five of them together in one set, and do the same with the other five.

4 Make loops of blue cloth on the edge of the outside piece in each set.

5 Put fifty loops on the first piece of the first set and fifty loops matching them on the last piece of the second set.

6 Make fifty gold hooks with which to join the two sets into one piece.

7 "Make a cover for the Tent out of eleven pieces of cloth made of goats' hair.

8 Make them all the same size, 15 yards long and 2 yards wide.

9 Sew five of them together in one set, and the other six in another set. Fold the sixth piece double over the front of the Tent.

10 Put fifty loops on the edge of the last piece of one set, and fifty loops on the edge of the other set.

11 Make fifty bronze hooks and put them in the loops to join the two sets so as to form one cover.

12 Hang the extra half piece over the back of the Tent.

13 The extra half yard on each side of the length is to hang over the sides of the Tent to cover it.

14 "Make two more coverings, one of rams' skin dyed red and the other of fine leather, to serve as the outer cover.

15 "Make upright frames for the Tent out of acacia wood.

16 Each frame is to be 15 feet long and 27 inches wide,

17 with two matching projections, so that the frames can be joined together. All the frames are to have these projections.

18 Make twenty frames for the south side

19 and forty silver bases to go under them, two bases under each frame to hold its two projections.

20 Make twenty frames for the north side of the Tent

21 and forty silver bases, two under each frame.

22 For the back of the Tent on the west, make six frames,

23 and two frames for the corners.

24 These corner frames are to be joined at the bottom and connected all the way to the top. The two frames that form the two corners are to be made in this way.

25 So there will be eight frames with their sixteen silver bases, two under each frame.

26 "Make fifteen crossbars of acacia wood, five for the frames on one side of the Tent,

27 five for the frames on the other side, and five for the frames on the west end, at the back.

28 The middle crossbar, set halfway up the frames, is to extend from one end of the Tent to the other.

29 Cover the frames with gold and fit them with gold rings to hold the crossbars, which are also to be covered with gold.

30 Set up the Tent according to the plan that I showed you on the mountain.

31 "Make a curtain of fine linen woven with blue, purple, and red wool. Embroider it with figures of winged creatures.

32 Hang it on four posts of acacia wood covered with gold, fitted with hooks, and set in four silver bases.

33 Place the curtain under the row of hooks in the roof of the Tent, and put behind the curtain the Covenant Box containing the two stone tablets. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. ¹

34 Put the lid on the Covenant Box.

35 Outside the Most Holy Place put the table against the north side of the Tent and the lampstand against the south side.

36 "For the entrance of the Tent make a curtain of fine linen woven with blue, purple, and red wool and decorated with embroidery.

37 For this curtain make five posts of acacia wood covered with gold and fitted with gold hooks; make five bronze bases for these posts.

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?

Cross References

• 1. 26.33Hebrews 6.19; 9.3-5.

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.