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.

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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 Tent

26 “You are to make the tent with ten curtains of fine woven[a] linen and with blue, purple, and scarlet material. You are to make them with cherubim skillfully worked into them. The length of each curtain is to be 28 cubits,[b] the width of each curtain four cubits,[c] and all the curtains are to have the same measurements.[d]

“Five of the curtains are to be joined together, and the other five curtains are to be joined together. You are to make loops of blue material along the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set, and likewise you are to make loops along the edge of the outermost curtain in the second set. You are to make 50 loops in the one curtain, and you are to make 50 loops along the edge of the curtain that is in the second set, with the loops opposite each other. Then you are to make 50 gold clasps, and join the curtains to each other with the clasps so that the tent will be one piece.

“You are to make curtains of goat hair for a tent over the tent. You are to make eleven curtains. The length of each curtain is to be 30 cubits,[e] and the width of each curtain two cubits;[f] the measurements of each of the eleven curtains is to be the same.[g] You are to join five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and you are to double over the sixth curtain at the front of the tent. 10 You are to make 50 loops along the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set, and 50 loops along the edge of the curtain of the other set. 11 You are to make 50 bronze clasps, put the clasps into the loops, and join the tent together so that it will be one piece. 12 As for the excess that remains of the curtains of the tent—the half curtain that remains—is to hang over the back of the tent. 13 The half cubit[h] that remain on either end of the length of the curtains of the tent is to hang over each side of the tent to cover it.

14 “You are to make a cover for the tent of ram skins dyed red[i] and a covering of dolphin[j] skins above that.

15 “You are to make upright boards of acacia wood for the tent. 16 Each board is to be ten cubits[k] long and one and a half cubits[l] wide. 17 Each board is to have two pegs joined to one another, and you are to do this for all the boards of the tent. 18 You are to make the boards for the tent: 20 boards for the south side.[m] 19 And you are to make 40 silver sockets[n] under the 20 boards: two sockets under the one board for its two pegs and two sockets under the next[o] board for its two pegs.

20 “For the second side of the tent to the north you are to make[p] 20 boards 21 and 40 silver sockets for them, two sockets under one board and two sockets under the next board. 22 On the west you are to make six boards for the rear of the tent, 23 and you are to make two boards for the rear corners of the tent. 24 They are to be interlocked together[q] at the bottom and connected[r] on top by one ring. Do this for the two of them, and they are to be the two corners. 25 There is to be eight boards with their sixteen silver sockets, two sockets under one board and two sockets under the next board.

26 “You are to make bars of acacia wood, five for the boards on one side of the tent, 27 five bars for the boards on the second side of the tent, and five bars for the boards on the back side of the tent to the west. 28 The center bar in the middle of the boards is to pass through from end to end. 29 You are to overlay the boards with gold, and you are to make gold rings for them as holders for the bars, and you are to overlay the bars with gold. 30 You are to erect the tent according to the plan for it that was shown you on the mountain.

31 “You are to make a curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet material, and fine woven linen. You are to make it with cherubim skillfully worked into it. 32 You are to hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, which have hooks of gold, and are set on four sockets of silver. 33 You are to hang the curtain from[s] the clasps and bring the Ark of the Testimony there inside the curtain. The curtain is to separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

34 “You are to put the Mercy Seat on the Ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place. 35 You are to put the table outside the curtain. You are to put the table on the north side with the lamp stand opposite the table on the south side of the tent. 36 For the doorway of the tent you are to make a screen of blue, purple, and scarlet material, and with fine woven linen, the work of an embroiderer. 37 You are to make five pillars of acacia for the screens and overlay them with gold. Their hooks are to be of gold, and you are to cast five bronze sockets for them.”

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 26:1 Or twisted; and so through chapter 31
  2. Exodus 26:2 I.e. about 42 feet
  3. Exodus 26:2 I.e. about six feet
  4. Exodus 26:2 Lit. and the measure of one shall be for every curtain
  5. Exodus 26:8 I.e. about 45 feet
  6. Exodus 26:8 I.e. about six feet
  7. Exodus 26:8 Lit. and the measure of one shall be for the eleven curtains
  8. Exodus 26:13 I.e. about nine inches
  9. Exodus 26:14 Or tanned
  10. Exodus 26:14 Or dugong, a marine animal resembling a walrus or manatee
  11. Exodus 26:16 I.e. about 15 feet
  12. Exodus 26:16 I.e. about 27 inches
  13. Exodus 26:18 Lit. toward the Negev (south), toward Teman (a city to the south)
  14. Exodus 26:19 Or bases; and so through chapter 27
  15. Exodus 26:19 Lit. the one; and so through chapter 27
  16. Exodus 26:20 The Heb. lacks you are to make
  17. Exodus 26:24 Lit. twins; perhaps designed with interlocking pieces
  18. Exodus 26:24 Lit. complete; perhaps the tops were joined together by a metal ring
  19. Exodus 26:33 Or under