26:31 “You are to make a special curtain 4 of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twisted linen; it is to be made 5 with cherubim, the work of an artistic designer. 26:32 You are to hang it 6 with gold hooks 7 on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold, set in 8 four silver bases. 26:33 You are to hang this curtain under the clasps and bring the ark of the testimony in there behind the curtain. 9 The curtain will make a division for you between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. 10
36:35 He made the special curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twisted linen; he made 11 it with cherubim, the work of an artistic designer. 36:36 He made for it four posts of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold, with gold hooks, 12 and he cast for them four silver bases.
36:37 He made a hanging for the entrance of the tent of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twisted linen, the work of an embroiderer, 36:38 and its five posts and their hooks. He overlaid their tops 13 and their bands with gold, but their five bases were bronze. 14
3:14 God said to Moses, “I am that I am.” 18 And he said, “You must say this 19 to the Israelites, ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
25:7 On this mountain he will swallow up
the shroud that is over all the peoples, 20
the woven covering that is over all the nations; 21
1 sn The curtain refers to the veil or drape in the temple that separated the holy place from the holy of holies.
2 tn Grk “that he inaugurated for us as a fresh and living way,” referring to the entrance mentioned in v. 19.
3 sn Through his flesh. In a bold shift the writer changes from a spatial phrase (Christ opened the way through the curtain into the inner sanctuary) to an instrumental phrase (he did this through [by means of] his flesh in his sacrifice of himself), associating the two in an allusion to the splitting of the curtain in the temple from top to bottom (Matt 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45). Just as the curtain was split, so Christ’s body was broken for us, to give us access into God’s presence.
4 tn Although translated “curtain” (traditionally “veil,” so ASV, NAB, NASB) this is a different word from the one used earlier of the tent curtains, so “special curtain” is used. The word פָרֹכֶת (farokhet) seems to be connected with a verb that means “to shut off” and was used with a shrine. This curtain would form a barrier in the approach to God (see S. R. Driver, Exodus, 289).
5 tn The verb is the third masculine singular form, but no subject is expressed. It could be translated “one will make” or as a passive. The verb means “to make,” but probably has the sense of embroidering both here and in v. 1.
6 tn Heb “put it.”
7 tn This clause simply says “and their hooks gold,” but is taken as a circumstantial clause telling how the veil will be hung.
8 tn Heb “on four silver bases.”
9 tn The traditional expression is “within the veil,” literally “into the house (or area) of the (special) curtain.”
10 tn Or “the Holy of Holies.”
11 tn The verb is simply “he made” but as in Exod 26:31 it probably means that the cherubim were worked into the curtain with the yarn, and so embroidered on the curtain.
12 tn Heb “and their hooks gold.”
13 tn The word is “their heads”; technically it would be “their capitals” (so ASV, NAB, NRSV). The bands were bands of metal surrounding these capitals just beneath them. These are not mentioned in Exod 26:37, and it sounds like the posts are to be covered with gold. But the gradation of metals is what is intended: the posts at the entrance to the Most Holy Place are all of gold; the posts at the entrance to the tent are overlaid with gold at the top; and the posts at the entrance to the courtyard are overlaid with silver at the top (S. R. Driver, Exodus, 387, citing Dillmann without reference).
14 sn For a good summary of the differences between the instruction section and the completion section, and the reasons for the changes and the omissions, see B. Jacob, Exodus, 1022-23.
15 tn Heb “set up,” if it includes more than the curtain.
16 tn Or “shielding” (NIV); Heb “the veil of the covering” (cf. KJV).
17 tn Heb “you will raise,” an imperfect of instruction.
18 tn The verb form used here is אֶהְיֶה (’ehyeh), the Qal imperfect, first person common singular, of the verb הָיָה (haya, “to be”). It forms an excellent paronomasia with the name. So when God used the verb to express his name, he used this form saying, “
19 tn Or “Thus you shall say” (also in the following verse). The word “must” in the translation conveys the instructional and imperatival force of the statement.
20 tn The Hebrew text reads, “the face of the shroud, the shroud over all the nations.” Some emend the second הַלּוֹט (hallot) to a passive participle הַלּוּט (hallut, “that is wrapped”).
21 sn The point of the imagery is unclear. Perhaps the shroud/covering referred to was associated with death in some way (see v. 8).
22 tn Grk “And behold.”
23 tn The referent of this term, καταπέτασμα (katapetasma), is not entirely clear. It could refer to the curtain separating the holy of holies from the holy place (Josephus, J. W. 5.5.5 [5.219]), or it could refer to one at the entrance of the temple court (Josephus, J. W. 5.5.4 [5.212]). Many argue that the inner curtain is meant because another term, κάλυμμα (kalumma), is also used for the outer curtain. Others see a reference to the outer curtain as more likely because of the public nature of this sign. Either way, the symbolism means that access to God has been opened up. It also pictures a judgment that includes the sacrifices.
24 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.