Curtains of Linen

26 (A)Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twisted linen and [a]violet, purple, and scarlet material; you shall make them with cherubim, the work of a skilled embroiderer. The length of each curtain shall be [b]twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains shall have [c]the same measurements. Five curtains shall be [d]joined to one another, and the other five curtains shall be [e]joined to one another. You shall make loops of violet on the edge of the [f]outermost curtain in the first set, and likewise you shall make them on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second [g]set. You shall make fifty loops in the one curtain, and you shall make fifty loops on the [h]edge of the curtain that is in the second [i]set; the loops shall be opposite each other. You shall also make fifty clasps of gold, and [j]join the curtains to one another with the clasps so that the [k]tabernacle will be a unit.

Curtains of Goats’ Hair

“Then (B)you shall make curtains of goats’ hair as a tent over the tabernacle; you shall make eleven curtains in all. The length of each curtain shall be [l]thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; the eleven curtains shall have [m]the same measurements. You shall [n]join five curtains by themselves and the other six curtains by themselves, and you shall double over the sixth curtain [o]at the front of the tent. 10 You shall make fifty loops on the edge of the [p]curtain that is outermost in the first [q]set, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second [r]set.

11 “You shall also make fifty clasps of [s]bronze, and you shall put the clasps into the loops and [t]join the tent together so that it will be [u]a unit. 12 The [v]overhanging part that is left over in the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that is left over, shall hang over the back of the tabernacle. 13 The [w]cubit on one side and the cubit on the other, of what is left over in the length of the curtains of the tent, shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on one side and on the other, to cover it. 14 And (C)you shall make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins [x]dyed red and a covering of [y]fine leather above.

Boards and Bases

15 “Then you shall make (D)the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright. 16 [z]Ten cubits shall be the length of [aa]each board and one and a half cubits the width of each board. 17 There shall be two tenons for each board, [ab]fitted to one another; that is what you shall do for all the boards of the tabernacle. 18 You shall make the boards for the tabernacle: twenty boards [ac]for the south side. 19 You shall make forty (E)bases of silver under the twenty boards, two bases under one board for its two tenons and two bases under another board for its two tenons; 20 and for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, twenty boards, 21 and their forty bases of silver; two bases under one board and two bases under another board. 22 For the [ad]back of the tabernacle, to the west, you shall make six boards. 23 You shall make two boards for the corners of the tabernacle at the [ae]back. 24 They shall be double beneath, and together they shall be complete [af]to its top [ag]to the first ring; this is how it shall be with both of them: they shall form the two corners. 25 And there shall be eight boards with their bases of silver, sixteen bases; two bases under one board and two bases under another board.

26 “Then you shall make (F)bars of acacia wood, five for the boards of one side of the tabernacle, 27 and five bars for the boards of the [ah]other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle for the [ai]back side to the west. 28 The middle bar in the [aj]center of the boards shall pass through from end to end. 29 And you shall overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold as holders for the bars; and you shall overlay the bars with gold. 30 Then you shall erect the tabernacle (G)according to its plan which you have been shown on the mountain.

The Veil and Curtain

31 “You shall also make (H)a veil of violet, purple, and scarlet material, and fine twisted linen; it shall be made with cherubim, the work of a skilled embroiderer. 32 Then you shall [ak]hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, their hooks also of gold, on four bases of silver. 33 You shall [al]hang up the veil under the clasps, and bring in (I)the ark of the testimony there within the veil; and the veil shall [am]serve as a partition for you (J)between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. 34 (K)You shall put the [an]atoning cover on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place. 35 And (L)you shall set the table outside the veil, and the (M)lampstand opposite the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south; and you shall put the table on the north side.

36 (N)You shall also make a curtain for the doorway of the tent of violet, purple, and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, the work of a [ao]weaver. 37 And (O)you shall make five pillars of acacia for the curtain and overlay them with gold, their hooks also of gold; and you shall cast five bases of [ap]bronze for them.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 26:1 Or bluish; LXX hyacinth in color, and so throughout the ch
  2. Exodus 26:2 About 42 ft. long and 6 ft. wide or 13 m and 1.8 m
  3. Exodus 26:2 Lit one measure
  4. Exodus 26:3 Or coupled
  5. Exodus 26:3 Or coupled
  6. Exodus 26:4 Lit one curtain from the end in the coupling
  7. Exodus 26:4 Lit coupling
  8. Exodus 26:5 Lit end
  9. Exodus 26:5 Lit coupling
  10. Exodus 26:6 Or couple
  11. Exodus 26:6 Or dwelling place, and so throughout the ch
  12. Exodus 26:8 About 45 ft. long and 6 ft. wide or 13.5 m and 1.8 m
  13. Exodus 26:8 Lit one measure
  14. Exodus 26:9 Or couple
  15. Exodus 26:9 Lit toward the front of the face of the tent
  16. Exodus 26:10 Lit one curtain
  17. Exodus 26:10 Lit coupling
  18. Exodus 26:10 Lit coupling
  19. Exodus 26:11 Or copper
  20. Exodus 26:11 Or couple
  21. Exodus 26:11 Lit one
  22. Exodus 26:12 Lit excess
  23. Exodus 26:13 About 18 in. or about 45 cm
  24. Exodus 26:14 Or tanned
  25. Exodus 26:14 Meaning of the Heb uncertain
  26. Exodus 26:16 About 15 ft. long and 2.2 ft. wide or 4.6 m and 68 cm
  27. Exodus 26:16 Lit the
  28. Exodus 26:17 Lit bound
  29. Exodus 26:18 Lit toward the side of the Negev to the south
  30. Exodus 26:22 Lit far parts
  31. Exodus 26:23 Lit far parts
  32. Exodus 26:24 Or at its head
  33. Exodus 26:24 Or with reference to
  34. Exodus 26:27 Lit second
  35. Exodus 26:27 Lit far parts
  36. Exodus 26:28 Lit midst
  37. Exodus 26:32 Lit put
  38. Exodus 26:33 Lit put
  39. Exodus 26:33 Lit separate for you between
  40. Exodus 26:34 Also called mercy seat; i.e., where blood was sprinkled on the Day of Atonement
  41. Exodus 26:36 Lit variegator; i.e., a weaver in colors
  42. Exodus 26:37 Or copper

The Tabernacle

26 “You(A) are to construct the tabernacle itself with 10 curtains. You must make them of finely spun linen, and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with a design of cherubim worked into them. The length of each curtain should be 42 feet,[a] and the width of each curtain six feet;[b] 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[c] in the first set, and do the same on the edge of the outermost curtain in the second set. Make 50 loops on the one curtain and make 50 loops on the edge of the curtain in the second set, so that the loops line up together. Also make 50 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 11 of these curtains. The length of each curtain should be 45 feet[d] and the width of each curtain six feet.[e] All 11 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 50 loops on the edge of the one curtain, the outermost in the first set, and make 50 loops on the edge of the corresponding curtain of the second set. 11 Make 50 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 is left over from the tent curtains, the leftover half curtain is to hang down over the back of the tabernacle. 13 The half yard[f] on one side and the half yard[g] on the other of what is left over along the length of the tent curtains should be hanging down 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 manatee skins[h] on top of that.

15 “You are to make upright planks[i] of acacia wood(C) for the tabernacle. 16 The length of each plank is to be 15 feet,[j] and the width of each plank 27 inches.[k] 17 Each plank must be connected together with two tenons. Do the same for all the planks of the tabernacle. 18 Make the planks for the tabernacle as follows: 20 planks for the south side, 19 and make 40 silver bases under the 20 planks, two bases under the first plank for its two tenons, and two bases under the next plank for its two tenons; 20 20 planks for the second side of the tabernacle, the north side, 21 along with their 40 silver bases, two bases under the first plank and two bases under each plank; 22 and make six planks for the west side of the tabernacle. 23 Make two additional planks for the two back corners of the tabernacle. 24 They are to be paired at the bottom, and joined together[l] 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 planks with their silver bases: 16 bases; two bases under the first plank and two bases under each plank.

26 “You are to make five crossbars of acacia wood for the planks on one side of the tabernacle, 27 five crossbars for the planks on the other side of the tabernacle, and five crossbars for the planks of the back side of the tabernacle on the west. 28 The central crossbar is to run through the middle of the planks from one end to the other. 29 Then overlay the planks 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 veil 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 posts of acacia wood that have gold hooks and that stand on four silver bases. 33 Hang the veil under the clasps[m] and bring the ark of the testimony there behind the veil, so the veil 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 veil 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 with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. 37 Make five posts 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. Exodus 26:2 Lit 28 cubits
  2. Exodus 26:2 Lit four cubits
  3. Exodus 26:4 Lit the one curtain on the end
  4. Exodus 26:8 Lit 30 cubits
  5. Exodus 26:8 Lit four cubits
  6. Exodus 26:13 Lit The cubit
  7. Exodus 26:13 Lit the cubit
  8. Exodus 26:14 Or of dolphin skins, or of fine leather; Hb obscure
  9. Exodus 26:15 Or frames, or beams
  10. Exodus 26:16 Lit 10 cubits
  11. Exodus 26:16 Lit a cubit and a half
  12. Exodus 26:24 Lit and together they are to be complete
  13. Exodus 26:33 The clasps that join the 10 curtains of the tabernacle; Ex 26:6