Exodus26
New Living Translation
1“Make the Tabernacle from ten curtains of finely woven linen. Decorate the curtains with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and with skillfully embroidered cherubim.
2These ten curtains must all be exactly the same size—42 feet long and 6 feet wide.
3Join five of these curtains together to make one long curtain, then join the other five into a second long curtain.
4Put loops of blue yarn along the edge of the last curtain in each set.
5The fifty loops along the edge of one curtain are to match the fifty loops along the edge of the other curtain.
6Then make fifty gold clasps and fasten the long curtains together with the clasps. In this way, the Tabernacle will be made of one continuous piece.
7“Make eleven curtains of goat-hair cloth to serve as a tent covering for the Tabernacle.
8These eleven curtains must all be exactly the same size—45 feet long and 6 feet wide.
9Join five of these curtains together to make one long curtain, and join the other six into a second long curtain. Allow 3 feet of material from the second set of curtains to hang over the front of the sacred tent.
10Make fifty loops for one edge of each large curtain.
11Then make fifty bronze clasps, and fasten the loops of the long curtains with the clasps. In this way, the tent covering will be made of one continuous piece.
12The remaining 3 feet of this tent covering will be left to hang over the back of the Tabernacle.
13Allow 18 inches of remaining material to hang down over each side, so the Tabernacle is completely covered.
14Complete the tent covering with a protective layer of tanned ram skins and a layer of fine goatskin leather.
15“For the framework of the Tabernacle, construct frames of acacia wood.
16Each frame must be 15 feet high and 27 inches wide,
17with two pegs under each frame. Make all the frames identical.
18Make twenty of these frames to support the curtains on the south side of the Tabernacle.
19Also make forty silver bases—two bases under each frame, with the pegs fitting securely into the bases.
20For the north side of the Tabernacle, make another twenty frames,
21with their forty silver bases, two bases under each frame.
22Make six frames for the rear—the west side of the Tabernacle—
23along with two additional frames to reinforce the rear corners of the Tabernacle.
24These corner frames will be matched at the bottom and firmly attached at the top with a single ring, forming a single corner unit. Make both of these corner units the same way.
25So there will be eight frames at the rear of the Tabernacle, set in sixteen silver bases—two bases under each frame.
26“Make crossbars of acacia wood to link the frames, five crossbars for the north side of the Tabernacle
27and five for the south side. Also make five crossbars for the rear of the Tabernacle, which will face west.
28The middle crossbar, attached halfway up the frames, will run all the way from one end of the Tabernacle to the other.
29Overlay the frames with gold, and make gold rings to hold the crossbars. Overlay the crossbars with gold as well.
30“Set up this Tabernacle according to the pattern you were shown on the mountain.
31“For the inside of the Tabernacle, make a special curtain of finely woven linen. Decorate it with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and with skillfully embroidered cherubim.
32Hang this curtain on gold hooks attached to four posts of acacia wood. Overlay the posts with gold, and set them in four silver bases.
33Hang the inner curtain from clasps, and put the Ark of the Covenant in the room behind it. This curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.
34“Then put the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—on top of the Ark of the Covenant inside the Most Holy Place.
35Place the table outside the inner curtain on the north side of the Tabernacle, and place the lampstand across the room on the south side.
36“Make another curtain for the entrance to the sacred tent. Make it of finely woven linen and embroider it with exquisite designs, using blue, purple, and scarlet thread.
37Craft five posts from acacia wood. Overlay them with gold, and hang the curtain from them with gold hooks. Cast five bronze bases for the posts.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Exodus 26.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: 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).
vv1-6
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, Ps 34:7. (Ex 26:7-14)
vv7-14
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.
vv15-30
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, Eph 2:20, 21.
Key Words
עָשָׂה: to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
מִשְׁכָּן: a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, figuratively, the grave; also the Temple); specifically, the Tabernacle (properly, its wooden walls)
עֶשֶׂר: ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits)
יְרִיעָה: a hanging (as tremulous)
שָׁזַר: to twist (a thread of straw)
שֵׁשׁ: bleached stuff, i.e. white linen or (by analogy) marble
תְּכֵלֶת: the cerulean mussel, i.e. the color (violet) obtained therefrom or stuff dyed therewith
אַרְגָּמָן: purple (the color or the dyed stuff)
כְּרוּב: a cherub or imaginary figure
חָשַׁב: properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (generally) to fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a malicious sense); hence (from the mental effort) to think, regard, value, compute
Cross References
Exodus 26The apostle explains the spiritual significance of the veil dividing the Holy from the Most Holy Place.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The rending of the temple veil at Christ's death signifies free access to the holiest of all.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The veil is a type of Christ's flesh, through which we have a new and living way.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The tabernacle boards on silver sockets typify the church built on the foundation of the apostles.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Reinforces the command to construct the tabernacle exactly according to the pattern shown on the mount.
Supported by JFB
The historical account of the actual construction of these exact ten curtains and coverings.
Identifies the source of the materials, noting that wise-hearted women spun the goats' hair.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Confirms the subsequent construction of the protective outer covering of rams' skins dyed red.
Supported by JFB
The structural fulfillment of making the standing boards of shittim wood and their bars.
The execution of making the veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen.
Direct instruction on placing the mercy seat on top of the ark, executed here.
Highlights the heavenly pattern that Moses was strictly warned to follow when rearing the tabernacle.
Regulations concerning the high priest entering behind the veil only once a year.
New Testament description of the outer sanctuary containing the candlestick and the table.
The coupling together of the boards at the corners typifies Christian unity and brotherhood.
Consistent instructions for overlaying the wooden structural elements of the sanctuary with pure gold.