Exodus 27:17-19

27:17 All the posts around the courtyard are to have silver bands; ¹  their hooks are to be ²  silver, and their bases bronze. 27:18 The length of the courtyard is to be one hundred fifty feet ³  and the width seventy-five feet, ⁴  and the height of the fine twisted linen hangings ⁵  is to be ⁶  seven and a half feet, with their bronze bases. 27:19 All ⁷  the utensils of the tabernacle used ⁸  in all its service, all its tent pegs, and all the tent pegs of the courtyard are to be made of bronze. ⁹ 

[27:17]  ¹ tn The text uses the passive participle here: they are to “be filleted with silver” or “bound round” with silver.

[27:17]  ² tn Here the phrase “are to be” has been supplied.

[27:18]  ³ tn Heb “a hundred cubits.”

[27:18]  ⁴ 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]  ⁵ tn Here “hangings” has been supplied.

[27:18]  ⁶ tn Here the phrase “is to be” has been supplied.

[27:19]  ⁵ tn Heb “to all”; for use of the preposition lamed (ל) to show inclusion (all belonging to) see GKC 458 §143.e.

[27:19]  ⁶ tn Here “used” has been supplied.

[27:19]  ⁷ sn The tabernacle is an important aspect of OT theology. The writer’s pattern so far has been: ark, table, lamp, and then their container (the tabernacle); then the altar and its container (the courtyard). The courtyard is the place of worship where the people could gather – they entered God’s courts. Though the courtyard may not seem of much interest to current readers, it did interest the Israelites. Here the sacrifices were made, the choirs sang, the believers offered their praises, they had their sins forgiven, they came to pray, they appeared on the holy days, and they heard from God. It was sacred because God met them there; they left the “world” (figuratively speaking) and came into the very presence of God.