Chapter Text
The Tabernacle
Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet : with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.
2The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure.
3The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.
4And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second.
5Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second; that the loops may take hold one of another.
6And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.
7And thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.
8The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure.
9And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tabernacle.
10And thou shalt make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops in the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second.
11And thou shalt make fifty taches of brass, and put the taches into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one.
12And the remnant that remaineth of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the backside of the tabernacle.
13And a cubit on the one side, and a cubit on the other side of that which remaineth in the length of the curtains of the tent, it shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it.
14And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers' skins.
The Boards and Bars
15And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up.
16Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board.
17Two tenons shall there be in one board, set in order one against another: thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
18And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards on the south side southward.
19And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.
20And for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side there shall be twenty boards:
21And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
22And for the sides of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards.
23And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.
24And they shall be coupled together beneath, and they shall be coupled together above the head of it unto one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners.
25And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
26And thou shalt make bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
27And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the two sides westward.
28And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end.
29And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars: and thou shalt overlay the bars with gold.
30And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount.
The Veil and Screen
31And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet , and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:
32And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.
33And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.
34And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.
35And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.
36And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet , and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.
37And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.
Summary
God gives instructions for the Tabernacle's coverings and structure. Ten curtains of fine linen in blue, purple, and scarlet with embroidered cherubim form the inner covering, coupled with golden clasps. Eleven curtains of goats' hair form the second covering with bronze clasps. Additional coverings of rams' skins dyed red and badger skins complete the layers. The structural framework consists of upright boards of acacia wood overlaid with gold, set in silver sockets, connected by gold-overlaid bars. Specific dimensions are prescribed for the north, south, and west sides.
Meaning
The layered coverings reveal progressive depths of beauty: the outermost of badger skins was plain, while the innermost linen displayed exquisite artistry. This pictures Christ, who had 'no form nor comeliness' to casual observers but reveals transcendent glory to those who draw near.
The boards standing in silver sockets picture individual believers, redeemed and set in place, joined into one dwelling for God. Silver, cast from atonement money, means the Tabernacle literally stands upon the foundation of redemption. The gold-overlaid bars uniting the boards speak of spiritual unity.
Background
The blue, purple, and scarlet colors recur throughout the Tabernacle. Blue typically represents heaven, purple royalty, and scarlet sacrifice. Together they depict a heavenly King who comes to shed His blood.
The silver sockets were cast from the atonement money collected from every Israelite male, literally founding the Tabernacle upon the price of redemption.
Chapter Outline
- vv. 1-6The Inner Curtains of Fine Linen
- vv. 7-13The Outer Covering of Goats' Hair
- vv. 14Coverings of Rams' and Badgers' Skins
- vv. 15-25The Boards and Silver Sockets
- vv. 26-30The Bars and the Divine Pattern
- vv. 31-35The Vail and the Most Holy Place
- vv. 36-37The Hanging for the Door
Key Verses
“And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount.”— 26:30
This verse underscores that the tabernacle was not a human invention but a divinely revealed pattern. God's dwelling place among His people must conform exactly to His design, a principle with lasting theological significance.
“And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.”— 26:33
The vail establishes the separation between God's immediate presence and the priestly ministry. The New Testament identifies this vail as torn at Christ's crucifixion (Matthew 27:51), making this verse central to understanding access to God.
“And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.”— 26:34
The mercy seat positioned in the Most Holy Place represents God's throne of grace. This arrangement foreshadows the New Testament teaching that believers approach God's throne to obtain mercy (Hebrews 4:16).
People & Places
Places
- The Tabernacle — The portable dwelling place of God among Israel, whose construction is detailed here with precise measurements and materials.
- The Most Holy Place — The innermost chamber of the tabernacle, separated by the vail, where the ark of the testimony and mercy seat were kept.
- The Holy Place — The outer chamber of the tabernacle containing the table of shewbread and the candlestick, accessible to priests for daily ministry.
- The Mount — Mount Sinai, where God showed Moses the pattern for the tabernacle's construction.
Prophecy & Fulfillment
The vail separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy (v. 33) is a profound type of Christ's flesh. Hebrews 10:20 identifies the vail as representing Christ's body, and when Jesus died, the temple vail was torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51), signifying that access to God's presence was opened to all believers. The entire tabernacle structure foreshadows the incarnation — God dwelling among His people — fulfilled in John 1:14, where the Word 'tabernacled' among us.
Devotional
God cares deeply about details. Every curtain measurement, every gold tache, every silver socket in this chapter reveals a God who is intentional about how He dwells among His people. Nothing is arbitrary in His design.
This speaks to our own lives. If God gave such careful attention to the structure of His earthly dwelling, how much more does He care about the details of our hearts — where He now chooses to reside? We are invited not to casual worship but to reverent, deliberate fellowship with a holy God who nonetheless desires to be near us.
Literary Style
This chapter is prescriptive architectural instruction, a subgenre of legal/cultic literature. God speaks in second-person imperative throughout, giving Moses exact specifications. The repetitive structure — materials, measurements, assembly method — creates a liturgical cadence that emphasizes precision and sacred order.