CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Exodus 26
Chapter 26 of 40
Chapter Overview
What happens in Exodus 26
God gives detailed instructions for the curtains, coverings, and wooden frames that make up the Tabernacle structure. A special inner curtain separates the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.
Scripture
Exodus 26
The Inner Curtains
Study note
The Tabernacle had multiple layers of covering. The innermost curtains were made of finely twisted linen in blue, purple, and scarlet, with images of cherubim woven into them. These ten curtains were joined together in two sets of five and held together with gold clasps. Over these were curtains of goat hair, then a covering of ram skins dyed red, and finally a covering of fine leather.
1 "For the Tabernacle itself, make ten curtains from finely twisted linen, using blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. Have a skilled craftsman weave images of cherubim into them." Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.
2 "Every curtain must be exactly the same dimensions: forty-two feet long and six feet wide." The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure.
3 "Sew five curtains together into one set, and sew the other five into a second set." The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.
4 "Attach loops made of blue yarn along the outer edge of the last curtain in each panel." And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second.
5 "Put fifty loops on the edge curtain of one panel. Put fifty matching loops on the edge curtain of the other panel. Line them up so they face each other." Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second; that the loops may take hold one of another.
6 "Make fifty gold clasps. Use these clasps to hook the two panels together, making the Tabernacle one unified structure." And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.
7 "Make an outer tent covering from goat hair curtains to drape over the Tabernacle. Make eleven of these curtains." And thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.
8 "Each goat hair curtain must measure forty-five feet long and six feet wide. All eleven must be identical in size." The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure.
9 "Join five of these curtains into one panel and six into another. Fold the sixth curtain double at the front entrance of the tent." And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tabernacle.
10 "Sew fifty loops along the outer edge of the end curtain in each panel." And thou shalt make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops in the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second.
11 "Make fifty bronze clasps. Insert them into the loops to fasten the tent covering into one unified piece." And thou shalt make fifty taches of brass, and put the taches into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one.
12 "The extra fabric from these longer tent curtains should drape down and hang over the back of the Tabernacle." And the remnant that remaineth of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the backside of the tabernacle.
13 "The tent curtains are eighteen inches longer on each side than the inner curtains. The extra length will hang down to cover both sides of the Tabernacle." And a cubit on the one side, and a cubit on the other side of that which remaineth in the length of the curtains of the tent, it shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it.
14 "Over all of this, put a layer of ram skins dyed red, and on top of that, a final layer of fine leather." And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers' skins.
The Wooden Frames
Study note
The Tabernacle's walls were made of upright frames of acacia wood, each about fifteen feet tall and two and a quarter feet wide. Each frame had two wooden pegs at the bottom that fit into silver bases. There were twenty frames on the south side, twenty on the north, and six on the west end plus two corner frames. Crossbars of acacia wood covered in gold held the frames together.
15 "Build upright wooden frames from acacia wood for the Tabernacle's walls." And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up.
16 "Each frame should be fifteen feet tall and two and a quarter feet wide." Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board.
17 "Cut two matching pegs at the bottom of each frame that fit into sockets. Follow this same design for every frame." Two tenons shall there be in one board, set in order one against another: thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
18 "For the south wall of the Tabernacle, set up twenty frames." And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards on the south side southward.
19 "Underneath those twenty frames, place forty silver base sockets — two sockets per frame, one socket for each peg." And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.
20 "Set up another twenty frames for the north wall," And for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side there shall be twenty boards:
21 "with forty silver base sockets — again, two under each frame." And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
22 "For the back wall on the west end, set up six frames." And for the sides of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards.
23 "Add two more frames for the two back corners." And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.
24 "These corner frames must be fitted together from bottom to top, united by a single ring at the top. Both corner frames must follow this design." And they shall be coupled together beneath, and they shall be coupled together above the head of it unto one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners.
25 "That gives you eight frames for the back wall, resting on sixteen silver base sockets — two sockets beneath each frame." And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
26 "Craft crossbars from acacia wood — five crossbars for the frames on one side of the Tabernacle," And thou shalt make bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
27 "five for the frames on the opposite side, and five for the back wall on the west end." And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the two sides westward.
28 "The middle crossbar must extend the full length of the wall, running halfway up the frames from one end to the other." And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end.
29 "Overlay the frames with gold. Fashion gold rings to hold the crossbars, and overlay the crossbars with gold as well." And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars: and thou shalt overlay the bars with gold.
30 "Build the Tabernacle following the exact plan I showed you on the mountain." And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount.
The Inner Curtain and Entrance
Study note
A curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen with cherubim woven into it was to hang on gold hooks. This curtain divided the Tabernacle into two rooms: the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place (also called the Holy of Holies). The Ark of the Covenant would be placed behind this curtain in the Most Holy Place. A separate curtain served as the entrance to the tent.
31 "Create an inner curtain from blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen. Have a skilled craftsman weave images of cherubim into it." And thou shalt make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:
32 "Hang this curtain on four acacia wood posts overlaid with gold. The posts should rest on four silver base sockets and have gold hooks." And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.
33 "Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the Ark of the Testimony behind it. This curtain will serve as the divider between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place." And thou shalt hang up the veil under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the veil the ark of the testimony: and the veil shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.
34 "Set the mercy seat on top of the Ark of the Testimony inside the Most Holy Place." And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.
35 "On the outer side of the curtain, put the table on the north wall. Put the lampstand across from it on the south wall." And thou shalt set the table without the veil, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.
36 "Make a screen for the tent's entrance. Use blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. Use finely twisted linen. Sew in beautiful designs." And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.
37 "Make five acacia wood posts overlaid with gold for this entrance screen. Cast five bronze base sockets for the posts." And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.
Key Themes
Themes in Exodus 26
The beauty and detail of God's dwelling placeSeparation between the holy and most holyThe curtain as a barrier between God and humanityGod's attention to both structure and beauty
Prophetic Connections
How this chapter points to Christ
Exodus 31-33 Matthew 27:51
When Jesus died, the temple curtain (descended from this Tabernacle curtain) was torn from top to bottom, signaling that the barrier between God and humanity was removed forever.
Exodus 31-33 Hebrews 10:19-20
The writer of Hebrews explains that Jesus' body was the curtain, and through His death we now have direct access to God.
Apply This Today
Living Exodus 26
The inner curtain of the Tabernacle separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where God's presence dwelt. Only the high priest could pass through it, and only once a year. This curtain represented the barrier between a holy God and sinful people. Understanding this barrier makes what happened at the cross even more stunning.
Go Deeper
Study Exodus in Covenant Path
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