Discovery BoxExodus 26:31-33
Context26:31 “You are to make a special curtain 1 of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twisted linen; it is to be made 2 with cherubim, the work of an artistic designer. 26:32 You are to hang it 3 with gold hooks 4 on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold, set in 5 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. 6 The curtain will make a division for you between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. 7
Exodus 36:35-36
Context36:35 He made the special curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twisted linen; he made 8 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, 9 and he cast for them four silver bases.
[26:31] 1 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).
[26:31] 2 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.
[26:32] 4 tn This clause simply says “and their hooks gold,” but is taken as a circumstantial clause telling how the veil will be hung.
[26:32] 5 tn Heb “on four silver bases.”
[26:33] 6 tn The traditional expression is “within the veil,” literally “into the house (or area) of the (special) curtain.”
[26:33] 7 tn Or “the Holy of Holies.”
[36:35] 8 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.
