Exodus 26:1

CHAPTER XXVI

The ten curtains of the tabernacle, and of what composed, 1.

Their length, 2, 3;

their loops, 4, 5;

their taches, 6.

The curtains of goats' hair for a covering, 7;

their length and breadth, 8.

Coupled with loops, 9, 10,

and taches, 11.

The remnant of the curtains, how to be employed, 12, 13.

The covering of rams' skins, 14.

The boards of the tabernacle for the south side, 15;

their length, 16,

tenons, 17,

number, 18,

sockets, 19.

Boards, c., for the north side, 20, 21.

Boards, c., for the west side, 22

for the corners, 23

their rings and sockets, 24, 25.

The bars of the tabernacle, 26-30.

The veil, its pillars, hooks, and taches, 31-33.

How to place the mercy-seat, 34.

The table and the candlestick, 35.

The hanging for the door of the tent, 36;

and the hangings for the pillars, 37.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXVI

Verse Exodus 26:1. Thou shalt make the tabernacle] משכן mischan, from שכן shachan, to dwell, means simply a dwelling place or habitation of any kind, but here it means the dwelling place of Jehovah, who, as a king in his camp, had his dwelling or pavilion among his people, his table always spread, his lamps lighted, and the priests, c., his attendants, always in waiting. From the minute and accurate description here given, a good workman, had he the same materials, might make a perfect fac simile of the ancient Jewish tabernacle. It was a movable building, and so constructed that it might be easily taken to pieces, for the greater convenience of carriage, as they were often obliged to transport it from place to place, in their various journeyings. For the twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet, Exodus 25:4, c.

Cherubims] Exodus 25:18.

Cunning work] חשב chosheb probably means a sort of diaper, in which the figures appear equally perfect on both sides this was probably formed in the loom. Another kind of curious work is mentioned, Exodus 26:36, רקם rokem, which we term needle-work this was probably similar to our embroidery, tapestry, or cloth of arras. It has been thought unlikely that these curious works were all manufactured in the wilderness: what was done in the loom, they might have brought with them from Egypt; what could be done by hand, without the use of complex machinery, the Israelitish women could readily perform with their needles, during their stay in the wilderness. But still it seems probable that they brought even their looms with them. The whole of this account shows that not only necessary but ornamental arts had been carried to a considerable pitch of perfection, both among the Israelites and Egyptians.

The inner curtains of the tabernacle were ten in number, and each in length twenty-eight cubits, and four in breadth; about sixteen yards twelve inches long, and two yards twelve inches broad. The curtains were to be coupled together, five and five of a side, by fifty loops, Exodus 26:5, and as many golden clasps, Exodus 26:6, so that each might look like one curtain, and the whole make one entire covering, which was the first.