The Tabernacle

26 “You(A) are to construct the tabernacle itself with ten curtains. You must make them of finely spun linen, and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with a design of cherubim worked into them. Each curtain should be forty-two feet[a] long and six feet[b] wide; all the curtains are to have the same measurements. Five of the curtains should be joined together, and the other five curtains joined together. Make loops of blue yarn on the edge of the last curtain in the first set, and do the same on the edge of the outermost curtain in the second set. Make fifty loops on the one curtain and make fifty loops on the edge of the curtain in the second set, so that the loops line up together. Also make fifty gold clasps and join the curtains together with the clasps, so that the tabernacle may be a single unit.

“You are to make curtains of goat hair for a tent over the tabernacle; make eleven of these curtains. Each curtain should be forty-five feet[c] long and six feet wide. All eleven curtains are to have the same measurements. Join five of the curtains by themselves, and the other six curtains by themselves. Then fold the sixth curtain double at the front of the tent. 10 Make fifty loops on the edge of one curtain, the outermost in the first set, and make fifty loops on the edge of the corresponding curtain of the second set. 11 Make fifty bronze clasps; put the clasps through the loops and join the tent together so that it is a single unit. 12 As for the flap that remains from the tent curtains, the leftover half curtain is to hang over the back of the tabernacle. 13 What remains along the length of the tent curtains—a half yard[d] on one side and a half yard on the other side—should hang over the sides of the tabernacle on either side to cover it. 14 Make a covering for the tent from ram skins dyed red(B) and a covering of fine leather[e] on top of that.

15 “You are to make upright supports[f] of acacia wood(C) for the tabernacle. 16 Each support is to be fifteen feet[g] long and twenty-seven[h] inches wide. 17 Each support will have two tenons for joining. Do the same for all the supports of the tabernacle. 18 Make the supports for the tabernacle as follows: twenty supports for the south side, 19 and make forty silver bases under the twenty supports, two bases under the first support for its two tenons, and two bases under the next support for its two tenons; 20 twenty supports for the second side of the tabernacle, the north side, 21 along with their forty silver bases, two bases under the first support and two bases under each support; 22 and make six supports for the west side of the tabernacle. 23 Make two additional supports for the two back corners of the tabernacle. 24 They are to be paired at the bottom, and joined together[i] at the top in a single ring. So it should be for both of them; they will serve as the two corners. 25 There are to be eight supports with their silver bases: sixteen bases; two bases under the first support and two bases under each support.

26 “You are to make five crossbars of acacia wood for the supports on one side of the tabernacle, 27 five crossbars for the supports on the other side of the tabernacle, and five crossbars for the supports on the back side of the tabernacle on the west. 28 The central crossbar is to run through the middle of the supports from one end to the other. 29 Then overlay the supports with gold, and make their rings of gold as the holders for the crossbars. Also overlay the crossbars with gold. 30 You are to set up the tabernacle according to the plan for it that you have been shown on the mountain.(D)

31 “You are to make a curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen with a design of cherubim worked into it.(E) 32 Hang it on four gold-plated pillars of acacia wood that have gold hooks and that stand on four silver bases. 33 Hang the curtain under the clasps[j] and bring the ark of the testimony there behind the curtain, so the curtain will make a separation for you between the holy place(F) and the most holy place. 34 Put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.(G) 35 Place the table outside the curtain and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle, opposite the table; put the table on the north side.(H)

36 “For the entrance to the tent you are to make a screen embroidered[k] with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. 37 Make five pillars of acacia wood for the screen and overlay them with gold; their hooks are to be gold, and you are to cast five bronze bases for them.

Footnotes

  1. 26:2 Lit 28 cubits
  2. 26:2 Lit four cubits, also in v. 8
  3. 26:8 Lit 30 cubits
  4. 26:13 Lit the cubit
  5. 26:14 Hb obscure
  6. 26:15 Or frames, or beams
  7. 26:16 Lit 10 cubits
  8. 26:16 Lit a cubit and a half
  9. 26:24 Lit and together they are to be complete
  10. 26:33 The clasps that join the ten curtains of the tabernacle; Ex 26:6
  11. 26:36 Or woven

The Tabernacle

26 “Moreover, (A)you shall make the (B)tabernacle with ten curtains of (C)fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns; you shall make them with cherubim (D)skillfully worked into them. The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits,[a] and the breadth of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains shall be the same size. Five curtains shall be coupled to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another. And you shall make loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set. Likewise you shall make loops on the edge of the outermost curtain in the second set. Fifty loops you shall make on the one curtain, and fifty loops you shall make on the edge of the curtain that is in the second set; the loops shall be opposite one another. And you shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains one to the other with the clasps, so that the tabernacle may be a single whole.

“You shall also make (E)curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle; eleven curtains shall you make. The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits. The eleven curtains shall be the same size. You shall couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and the sixth curtain you shall double over at the front of the tent. 10 You shall make fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in one set, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second set.

11 “You shall make fifty clasps of bronze, and put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together that it may be a single whole. 12 And the part that remains of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remains, shall hang over the back of the tabernacle. 13 And the extra that remains in the length of the curtains, the cubit on the one side, and the cubit on the other side, shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle, on this side and that side, to cover it. 14 (F)And you shall make for the tent a covering of tanned (G)rams' skins[b] and a covering of goatskins on top.

15 “You shall make upright frames for the tabernacle of acacia wood. 16 Ten cubits shall be the length of a frame, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each frame. 17 There shall be two tenons in each frame, for fitting together. So shall you do for all the frames of the tabernacle. 18 You shall make the frames for the tabernacle: twenty frames for the south side; 19 and forty bases of silver you shall make under the twenty frames, two bases under one frame for its two tenons, and two bases under the next frame for its two tenons; 20 and for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side twenty frames, 21 and their forty bases of silver, two bases under one frame, and two bases under the next frame. 22 And for the rear of the tabernacle westward you shall make six frames. 23 And you shall make two frames for corners of the tabernacle in the rear; 24 they shall be separate beneath, but joined at the top, at the first ring. Thus shall it be with both of them; they shall form the two corners. 25 And there shall be eight frames, with their bases of silver, sixteen bases; two bases under one frame, and two bases under another frame.

26 “You shall make bars of acacia wood, five for the frames of the one side of the tabernacle, 27 and five bars for the frames of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the frames of the side of the tabernacle at the rear westward. 28 The middle bar, halfway up the frames, shall run from end to end. 29 You shall overlay the frames with gold and shall make their rings of gold for (H)holders for the bars, and you shall overlay the bars with gold. 30 Then you shall erect the tabernacle (I)according to the plan for it that you were shown on the mountain.

31 (J)“And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and (K)fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim (L)skillfully worked into it. 32 And you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with hooks of gold, on four bases of silver. 33 And you shall hang (M)the veil from the clasps, and bring (N)the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy. 34 (O)You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place. 35 And (P)you shall set the table outside the veil, and the (Q)lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle opposite the table, and you shall put the table on the north side.

36 “You shall make a (R)screen for the entrance of the tent, of (S)blue and purple and scarlet yarns and (T)fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework. 37 And you shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold, and you shall cast five bases of bronze for them.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 26:2 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
  2. Exodus 26:14 Or of rams' skins dyed red