Exodus 26

 

The Tabernacle

1 “The tabernacle itself you are to make with ten curtains of fine twisted linen and blue and purple and scarlet; you are to make them with cherubim that are the work of an artistic designer. 

 

The tabernacle was to be made of ten curtains of twisted blue, purple, and scarlet linen. They were to be made at the same time as that of the cherubim. They were to be made by a professional artist.

 

2 The length of each curtain is to be forty-two feet, and the width of each curtain is to be six feet – the same size for each of the curtains. 

 

The ten curtains were all to be made of the same size.

 

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

 

The curtains were to be joined. These two sets of curtains were the sides of the tabernacle.

 

4 You are to make loops of blue material along the edge of the end curtain in one set, and in the same way you are to make loops in the outer edge of the end curtain in the second set. 5 You are to make fifty loops on the one curtain, and you are to make fifty loops on the end curtain which is on the second set, so that the loops are opposite one to another. 6 You are to make fifty gold clasps and join the curtains together with the clasps, so that the tabernacle is a unit.

 

The curtains were to be joined together by loops and gold clasps.

 

7 “You are to make curtains of goats’ hair for a tent over the tabernacle; you are to make eleven curtains. 8 The length of each curtain is to be forty-five feet, and the width of each curtain is to be six feet – the same size for the eleven curtains. 9 You are to join five curtains by themselves and six curtains by themselves. You are to double over the sixth curtain at the front of the tent. 10 You are to make fifty loops along the edge of the end curtain in one set and fifty loops along the edge of the curtain that joins the second set. 11 You are to make fifty bronze clasps and put the clasps into the loops and join the tent together so that it is a unit. 12 Now the part that remains of the curtains of the tent – the half curtain that remains will hang over at the back of the tabernacle. 13 The foot and a half on the one side and the foot and a half on the other side of what remains in the length of the curtains of the tent will hang over the sides of the tabernacle, on one side and the other side, to cover it. 

 

The curtains of goats’ hair would cover the inner curtain.

 

14 “You are to make a covering for the tent out of ram skins dyed red and over that a covering of fine leather.

 

The fine leather was that of the Mediterranean sea cow. It was the third covering and final covering of the Tabernacle, The sea cow leather would protect the other two interior curtains from the elements. 

 

15 “You are to make the frames for the tabernacle out of acacia wood as uprights.16 Each frame is to be fifteen feet long, and each frame is to be two feet three inches wide, 17 with two projections per frame parallel one to another. You are to make all the frames of the tabernacle in this way. 18 So you are to make the frames for the tabernacle: twenty frames for the south side, 19 and you are to make forty silver bases to go under the twenty frames – two bases under the first frame for its two projections, and likewise two bases under the next frame for its two projections; 20 and for the second side of the tabernacle, the north side, twenty frames, 21 and their forty silver bases, two bases under the first frame, and two bases under the next frame. 22 And for the back of the tabernacle on the west you will make six frames. 23 You are to make two frames for the corners of the tabernacle on the back. 24 At the two corners they must be doubled at the lower end and finished together at the top in one ring. So it will be for both. 25 So there are to be eight frames and their silver bases, sixteen bases, two bases under the first frame, and two bases under the next frame.

 

The frames of the tabernacle were to be made of acacia wooden boards which were covered with gold. 

 

26  “You are to make bars of acacia wood, five for the frames on one side of the tabernacle, 27 and five bars for the frames on the second side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the frames on the back of the tabernacle on the west. 28 The middle bar in the center of the frames will reach from end to end. 29 You are to overlay the frames with gold and make their rings of gold to provide places for the bars, and you are to overlay the bars with gold. 30 You are to set up the tabernacle according to the plan that you were shown on the mountain.

 

Fifteen wooden acacia bars covered with gold were to be made to hold the golden frames in place.

 

31 “You are to make a special curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twisted linen; it is to be made with cherubim, the work of an artistic designer. 32 You are to hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold, set in four silver bases. 33 You are to hang this curtain under the clasps and bring the ark of the testimony in there behind the curtain. The curtain will make a division for you between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. 34 You are to put the atonement lid on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place. 35 You are to put the table outside the curtain and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle, opposite the table, and you are to place the table on the north side.

 

The curtain was a veil which separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. The curtain was to be made of twisted yarn. The three twisted yarns were to be blue, purple, and scarlet. They were to be hung on golden hooks. The Ark of the Covenant was placed in the Holy of Holies. The other furniture was placed in the Holy Place. The Holy of Holies and the Holy Place were separated by the curtain.

 

36 “You are to make a hanging for the entrance of the tent of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twined linen, the work of an embroiderer. 37 You are to make for the hanging five posts of acacia wood and overlay them with gold, and their hooks will be gold, and you are to cast five bronze bases for them.

 

The screen door was the only entrance into the Holy Place. It was made of twisted linen. The three linens were blue, purple, and scarlet. The wooden frames of the screen door were covered with gold. The hooks were made of gold. The bronze bases supported the wooden framework.