Exodus 26:1

The Tabernacle

26:1 ¹ “The tabernacle itself ²  you are to make with ³  ten curtains of fine twisted linen and blue and purple and scarlet; ⁴  you are to make them with ⁵  cherubim that are the work of an artistic designer.

Exodus 26:9

26:9 You are to join five curtains by themselves and six curtains by themselves. You are to double over ⁶  the sixth curtain at the front of the tent.

Exodus 27:9

The Courtyard

27:9 “You are to make the courtyard ⁷  of the tabernacle. For the south side ⁸  there are to be hangings ⁹  for the courtyard of fine twisted linen, one hundred fifty feet long for one side, ¹⁰ 

Exodus 27:18

27:18 The length of the courtyard is to be one hundred fifty feet ¹¹  and the width seventy-five feet, ¹²  and the height of the fine twisted linen hangings ¹³  is to be ¹⁴  seven and a half feet, with their bronze bases.

Exodus 39:29

39:29 The sash was of fine twisted linen and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, the work of an embroiderer, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

[26:1]  ¹ sn This chapter is given over to the details of the structure itself, the curtains, coverings, boards and walls and veil. The passage can be studied on one level for its function both practically and symbolically for Israel’s worship. On another level it can be studied for its typology, for the tabernacle and many of its parts speak of Christ. For this one should see the commentaries.

[26:1]  ² tn The word order in Hebrew thrusts the direct object to the front for particular emphasis. After the first couple of pieces of furniture are treated (chap. 25), attention turns to the tabernacle itself.

[26:1]  ³ tn This is for the adverbial accusative explaining how the dwelling place is to be made.

[26:1]  ⁴ sn S. R. Driver suggests that the curtains were made with threads dyed with these colors (Exodus, 280). Perhaps the colored threads were used for embroidering the cherubim in the curtains.

[26:1]  ⁵ tn The construction is difficult in this line because of the word order. “Cherubim” is an adverbial accusative explaining how they were to make the curtains. And מַעֲשֵׂה חֹשֵׁב (ma’aseh khoshev) means literally “work of a designer”; it is in apposition to “cherubim.” The Hebrew participle means “designer” or “deviser” so that one could render this “of artistic designs in weaving” (S. R. Driver, Exodus, 280-81). B. Jacob says that it refers to “artistic weavers” (Exodus, 789).

[26:9]  ⁶ sn The text seems to describe this part as being in front of the tabernacle, hanging down to form a valence at the entrance (S. R. Driver, Exodus, 284).

[27:9]  ¹¹ tn Or “enclosure” (TEV).

[27:9]  ¹² tn Heb “south side southward.”

[27:9]  ¹³ tn Or “curtains.”

[27:9]  ¹⁴ sn The entire courtyard of 150 feet by 75 feet was to be enclosed by a curtain wall held up with posts in bases. All these hangings were kept in place by a cord and tent pegs.

[27:18]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “a hundred cubits.”

[27:18]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “fifty.” The text has “and the width fifty [cubits] with fifty.” This means that it is fifty cubits wide on the western end and fifty cubits wide on the eastern end.

[27:18]  ¹⁸ tn Here “hangings” has been supplied.

[27:18]  ¹⁹ tn Here the phrase “is to be” has been supplied.