Exodus 26

Exodus 26:1

6. The Tabernacle Itself (Chap. 26)26:1-6 Chapter 26 describes the tabernacle itself. It measured approximately forty-five feet long, fifteen feet wide, and fifteen feet high (assuming a cubit of about 18 inches). The two sides and one end consisted of upright boards, set in sockets and joined together. The other end (the entrance) had pillars. The first covering, here called the tabernacle, was made of fine woven linen, with artistic designs of cherubim embroidered in blue, purple, and scarlet. It consisted of two sets of five curtains . . . coupled together. These two sets were joined by clasps of gold that were apparently attached to fifty . . . loops of blue. The total covering measured forty-two by sixty feet. It formed the ceiling and covered the sides to within eighteen inches from the ground. 26:7-13 The next covering, called the tent, was made of goats’ hair. A set of five curtains was joined to a set of six curtains by bronze clasps that were connected to fifty loops. The total covering, measuring forty-five by sixty-six feet, overlapped all sides of the tabernacle except the front. There a section was folded back. 26:14 The third covering was made of rams’ skins, and the fourth was made of badger skins (also translated seal, porpoise, or dolphin skins). No measurements are given; these coverings were probably the same size as the goats’ hair covering. 26:15-30 The upright . . . boards that formed three sides of the tabernacle are described in verses 15-25. Each board was fifteen by two-and-one-quarter feet. It was made of acacia wood covered with gold and had two tenons at the bottom to fit into sockets. There were twenty boards on each side and six boards on the rear. Two special boards were made for the back corners. The boards were kept in place by wooden bars, covered with gold, that passed through gold rings on the boards. The middle bar was one continuous piece. Two shorter bars of varying lengths may have been joined together to form one bar at the top, and two others joined to form one bar at the bottom. Some think that the boards were trellised frames. 26:31-37 The tabernacle itself was divided into two roomsfirst the holy place, measuring thirty feet by fifteen feet, and then the Most Holy place (the holy of holies), measuring fifteen feet by fifteen feet. These two rooms were separated by a veil made of fine woven linen and embroidered with cherubim. The veil was hung on four pillars. The ark and the mercy seat were to be put in the Most Holy place, whereas the table of showbread and the golden lampstand were to be put in the holy place. The altar of incense (chap. 30) was the only other furniture in the holy place; it was placed in front of the veil. The lampstand was on the south side of the holy place and the table on the north side. The door of the tabernacle was a woven screen, similar to the veil, but hung on five pillars of acacia wood covered with gold, and standing on bronze bases.