Exodus 26
Big idea: The tent itself, described from the inside out in four layers and a frame. Ten linen curtains embroidered with cherubim, coupled in two sets of five and joined with fifty gold clasps so that the tabernacle is one. Over that, eleven curtains of goats' hair with bronze clasps; over that, rams' skins dyed red; over that, sea cow hides. Then the standing frame: boards of acacia overlaid with gold, each set in two silver sockets, twenty on the south, twenty on the north, and eight at the west, held together by five gold-overlaid bars, the middle one running the whole length. And inside, a veil of blue, purple and scarlet with cherubim, hung on four gold-overlaid pillars — dividing the holy place from the most holy, with the ark behind it and the table and lampstand in front.
Chapter 26 builds the tent and divides its inside with a veil. Chapter 27 steps outside it — to the bronze altar where sacrifice happens, and the courtyard that fences the whole thing off.
26:1–14 — Ten curtains, and three coverings
The tabernacle is to be made with ten curtains of fine twined linen, blue, purple and scarlet, with cherubim worked into them; each twenty-eight cubits by four, all one measure. Five are coupled to one another and the other five likewise, with fifty blue loops on the edges facing each other and fifty gold clasps joining them, so that the tabernacle is one. Over that go eleven curtains of goats' hair as a tent, thirty cubits long, with fifty loops and fifty bronze clasps, the extra half-curtain hanging over the back and a cubit overhanging on each side. Then a covering of rams' skins dyed red, and above that a covering of sea cow hides.
1 “Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim. You shall make them with the work of a skillful workman. 2 The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits: all the curtains shall have one measure. 3 Five curtains shall be coupled together to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another. 4 You shall make loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain from the edge in the coupling, and you shall do likewise on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second coupling. 5 You shall make fifty loops in the one curtain, and you shall make fifty loops in the edge of the curtain that is in the second coupling. The loops shall be opposite one another. 6 You shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains to one another with the clasps. The tabernacle shall be a unit. 7 “You shall make curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the tabernacle. You shall make eleven curtains. 8 The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits: the eleven curtains shall have one measure. 9 You shall couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shall double over the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tent. 10 You shall make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outermost in the coupling, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain which is outermost in the second coupling. 11 You shall make fifty clasps of bronze, and put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one. 12 The overhanging part that remains of the curtains of the tent—the half curtain that remains—shall hang over the back of the tabernacle. 13 The cubit on the one side and the cubit on the other side, of that which remains in the length of the curtains of the tent, shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it. 14 You shall make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.
26:15–30 — Boards, sockets, and bars
Boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright, ten cubits long and a cubit and a half wide, each with two tenons joined to one another. Twenty boards for the south side with forty silver sockets — two under each board — and twenty for the north with forty more. Six boards for the west end and two for the corners, doubled from beneath to the top and joined by a ring, making eight boards and sixteen silver sockets. Bars of acacia wood: five for each side and five for the west, with the middle bar passing through from end to end in the middle of the boards. Overlay the boards with gold, make their rings of gold to hold the bars, and overlay the bars with gold. And set up the tabernacle according to the way it was shown to you on the mountain.
15 “You shall make the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright. 16 Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and one and a half cubits the width of each board. 17 There shall be two tenons in each board, joined to one another: thus you shall make for all the boards of the tabernacle. 18 You shall make twenty boards for the tabernacle, for the south side southward. 19 You shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two sockets under another board for its two tenons. 20 For the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, twenty boards, 21 and their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board. 22 For the far side of the tabernacle westward you shall make six boards. 23 You shall make two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the far side. 24 They shall be double beneath, and in the same way they shall be whole to its top to one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners. 25 There shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board. 26 “You shall make bars of acacia wood: five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle, 27 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 far side westward. 28 The middle bar in the middle of the boards shall pass through from end to end. 29 You shall overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars. You shall overlay the bars with gold. 30 You shall set up the tabernacle according to the way that it was shown to you on the mountain.
26:31–37 — The veil, and what it divides
A veil of blue, purple and scarlet and fine twined linen, with cherubim, the work of a skilful workman, hung on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with gold hooks on four silver sockets. Hang the veil under the clasps and bring the ark of the covenant in there, behind the veil — and the veil shall divide the holy place from the most holy. Put the mercy seat on the ark in the most holy place, set the table outside the veil on the north side, and the lampstand opposite it on the south. And make a screen for the door of the tent, of blue, purple and scarlet and fine twined linen, the work of an embroiderer, on five pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with five bronze sockets.
31 “You shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. It shall be the work of a skillful workman. 32 You shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold; their hooks shall be of gold, on four sockets of silver. 33 You shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and shall bring the ark of the covenant in there within the veil. The veil shall separate the holy place from the most holy for you. 34 You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant in the most holy place. 35 You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lamp stand opposite the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south. You shall put the table on the north side. 36 “You shall make a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer. 37 You shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold. You shall cast five sockets of bronze for them.
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).