Exodus 26

The inner and outer curtains of the tabernacle (vs. 1-14)—Here we have, in detail, how the tabernacle was to be constructed. Ten inner curtains were to be made with “fine woven linen” (v. 1), and they were to be of uniform length and width: “every one of the curtains shall have the same measurements” (v. 2). Verses 3 through 6 tell how they were to be attached; I will only mention that, once again, the materials were to be of the highest quality. There were to be 11 outer curtains, a second covering, and their construction is described in verses 7-14. They were to be made of goats’ hair (v. 7), and they, too, “shall all have the same measurements” (v. 8). Their attachment (vs. 9-13) was similar to the inner curtains. There was a third covering “of ram skins dyed red for the tent, and a covering of badger skins above that” (v. 14).

The structure of the tabernacle (vs. 15-30)—The building itself was to be built of acacia wood. The length of the boards, how they were to be attached and coupled together, and so forth are all given in detail. It is not terribly interesting, unless one is an architect, I suppose. But that doesn’t make this material unimportant. All things were to be done “according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain” (v. 30). When God gives details, He expects to be obeyed. The tabernacle was very important to the children of Israel, of course, and thus they will follow these instructions to the letter, as is recounted later in the book.

The veil (vs. 31-35)—We have here explained the fashioning of the veil, which was to be situated between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. It was to be “woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen. It shall be woven with an artistic design of cherubim” (v. 31). The hooks upon which it hung were to be of gold, with four sockets of silver (v. 32). Again, the most precious materials were to be used. Some crucial information is then given: “you shall bring the ark of the Testimony in there, behind the veil. The veil shall be a divider for you between the holy place and the Most Holy. You shall put the mercy seat upon the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy. You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand across from the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south; and you shall put the table on the north side” (vs. 33-35). To briefly sum that up, the ark of the covenant was to be in the “Most Holy Place,” with the lampstand and table for the showbread in the Holy Place (the altar of incense would also be there). The veil would divide the two locations. The various ceremonies regarding these items will be described later in the Law.

The screen for the door (vs. 36-37)--The last two verses of the chapter speak of a screen (or “hanging,” KJV) for the door of the tabernacle. Given our conception of a “screen,” the word “hanging” might be better, because it to was to be “woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver” (v. 36). To hold up the screen, “five pillars of acacia wood,” overlaid with gold, with hooks of gold and sockets of bronze were to be fashioned. Again, only the best, which is what God deserves.