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Instructions for Making the Tabernacle

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

“Then (B)you shall make curtains of goats’ hair for a tent over the tabernacle; you shall make eleven curtains in all. The length of each curtain shall be [n]thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; the eleven curtains shall have [o]the same measurements. And you shall [p]join five curtains by themselves and the other six curtains by themselves, and you shall double over the sixth curtain [q]at the front of the tent. 10 You shall make fifty loops on the edge of the [r]curtain that is outermost in the one [s]set, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second [t]set.

11 “You shall make fifty clasps of [u]bronze, and you shall put the clasps into the loops and [v]join the tent together so that it will be one unit. 12 The [w]overlapping part that is left over in the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that is left over, shall lap over the back of the tabernacle. 13 The 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 lap over the sides of the tabernacle on one side and on the other to cover it. 14 (C)You shall make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins [x]dyed red and a covering of porpoise skins above.

15 “Then you shall make (D)the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright. 16 Ten cubits shall be the length of [y]each board, and one and a half cubits the width of each board. 17 There shall be two [z]tenons for each board, [aa]fitted to one another; thus you shall do for all the boards of the tabernacle. 18 You shall make the boards for the tabernacle: twenty boards [ab]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 [ac]rear 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 [ad]rear. 24 They shall be [ae]separated beneath, but together at their completion [af]at its top, [ag]at the first ring; thus it shall be with both of them: they shall form the two corners. 25 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]rear side to the west. 28 The middle bar in the [aj]center of the boards shall pass through from end to end. 29 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 [ak]plan which you have been shown in the mountain.

31 “You shall make (H)a veil of [al]blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen; it shall be made with cherubim, the work of a skillful designer. 32 You shall [am]hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, their hooks also being of gold, on four bases of silver. 33 You shall [an]hang up the veil under the clasps, and you shall bring in (I)the ark of the testimony there within the veil; and the veil shall separate for you (J)the holy place and the Holy of Holies. 34 (K)You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the Holy of Holies. 35 (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 make a screen for the doorway of the tent of [ao]blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, the work of a [ap]weaver. 37 (O)You shall make five pillars of acacia for the screen and overlay them with gold, their hooks also being of gold; and you shall cast five bases of [aq]bronze for them.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 26:1 Or violet
  2. Exodus 26:2 Approx. 42 ft. Or 12.6 m
  3. Exodus 26:2 A cubit was approx. 18 in. or 45 cm
  4. Exodus 26:2 Lit one measure
  5. Exodus 26:3 Or coupled
  6. Exodus 26:3 Or coupled
  7. Exodus 26:4 Or violet
  8. Exodus 26:4 Lit one curtain from the end in the coupling
  9. Exodus 26:4 Lit coupling
  10. Exodus 26:5 Lit end
  11. Exodus 26:5 Lit coupling
  12. Exodus 26:6 Or couple
  13. Exodus 26:6 Or dwelling place, so in ch
  14. Exodus 26:8 Approx. 45 ft. or 13.5 m
  15. Exodus 26:8 Lit one measure
  16. Exodus 26:9 Or couple
  17. Exodus 26:9 Lit toward the front of the face of the tent
  18. Exodus 26:10 Lit one curtain
  19. Exodus 26:10 Lit coupling
  20. Exodus 26:10 Lit coupling
  21. Exodus 26:11 Or copper
  22. Exodus 26:11 Or couple
  23. Exodus 26:12 Lit excess
  24. Exodus 26:14 Or tanned
  25. Exodus 26:16 Lit the
  26. Exodus 26:17 Lit hands
  27. Exodus 26:17 Lit bound
  28. Exodus 26:18 Lit toward the side of the Negev to the south
  29. Exodus 26:22 Lit extreme parts
  30. Exodus 26:23 Lit extreme parts
  31. Exodus 26:24 Lit twins
  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 extreme parts
  36. Exodus 26:28 Lit midst
  37. Exodus 26:30 Lit judgment
  38. Exodus 26:31 Or violet
  39. Exodus 26:32 Lit put
  40. Exodus 26:33 Lit put
  41. Exodus 26:36 Or violet
  42. Exodus 26:36 A weaver in colors; lit variegator
  43. Exodus 26:37 Or copper

The Curtains and Covers for the Dwelling

26 The curtain that forms the dwelling[a] itself you shall make with ten panels[b] of fine woven linen,[c] with blue, purple, and scarlet material. Decorate them with cherubim, which are to be the work of a skillful craftsman. The length of each panel of the curtain is to be forty-two feet, and the width of each panel six feet. All the panels are to be the same size. Five panels of the curtain are to be connected together into one panel, and the other five panels are to be connected together into one. Attach blue loops to the edge of the last panel in the first set of curtains. In the same way attach loops to the edge of the last panel of the second set. Make fifty loops for the edge of the first set of curtains, and make fifty loops for the edge of the second set of curtains. The loops are to be opposite one another. Make fifty gold clasps,[d] and connect the two sets of curtains to each other with the clasps, so that the dwelling becomes one connected piece.

You shall make panels for a curtain made from goats’ hair to serve as a tent over the dwelling. Make eleven panels. The length of each panel is to be forty-five feet, and the width of each panel six feet. The eleven panels are to be the same size. Connect five panels of the curtain into one unit, and connect six panels into another unit. Fold the sixth panel of the curtain over the front edge of the Tent.[e] 10 Attach fifty loops to the edge of the last panel of one set of curtains, and fifty loops to the edge of the last panel in the second set. 11 Make fifty bronze clasps, and put the clasps into the loops to join the two pieces of the tent[f] together, so that it forms one unit. 12 The excess part of the curtains that form the tent, which is left over, that is, the half curtain that is extra, is to hang down over the back of the Dwelling. 13 The eighteen inches left over on one side and the eighteen inches left over on the other side, all along the length of the tent coverings, are to be left hanging down over the sides of the Dwelling on either side to cover it.[g]

14 You shall also make a covering for the tent made from rams’ skins dyed red and a covering made from hides of sea cows to go above that one.

The Framework for the Dwelling

15 You shall make upright boards[h] of acacia wood to serve as a framework for the Dwelling. 16 The length of each board is to be fifteen feet, and the width of each board is to be twenty-seven inches. 17 There are to be two pegs on each board for connecting them to the next board.[i] That is the way you are to make all the boards for the Dwelling.

18 Make these boards for the Dwelling:

Make twenty boards for the south side. 19 Make forty socket bases of silver to be placed under the twenty boards—two sockets to go under the first board to hold its two pegs, and two sockets to go under the next board for its two pegs.

20 For the second side of the Dwelling, the north side, make twenty boards, 21 with forty socket bases of silver—two sockets to go under the first board, and two sockets to go under the next board.

22 For the far side of the Dwelling, the west side, make six boards. 23 Then make two boards for each of the back corners of the Dwelling. 24 For the two corners there are to be twin boards from the bottom to the top, but they are to be joined at the top by one ring[j]—both cornerpieces are to be made like this. 25 Altogether there will be eight boards with silver socket bases, sixteen socket bases—two socket bases to go under each board.

26 You shall make crossbars of acacia wood—five crossbars for the boards on one side of the Dwelling, 27 five crossbars for the boards on the other side of the Dwelling, and five crossbars for the boards on the backside of the Dwelling on the west. 28 The middle bar, placed halfway up the boards, shall pass through from one end of the boards to the other end. 29 Overlay the boards with gold. Attach gold rings to them to hold the crossbars, and overlay the crossbars with gold.

30 You shall set up the Dwelling according to the design that is being shown to you on the mountain.

The Veil and the Screen

31 You shall make a special veil of blue, purple, and scarlet material and of fine woven linen, decorated with cherubim. It shall be made as the work of a skillful craftsman. 32 Hang it on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold, which stand on four socket bases of silver. The hooks are to be made of gold. 33 Hang up the veil below the spot where the clasps join the two parts of the dwelling. Then bring the Ark of the Testimony inside the veil. The veil shall separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place for you. 34 You shall put the atonement seat on top of the Ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place. 35 You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand opposite the table on the south side of the Dwelling. You shall put the table on the north side.

36 You shall make a screen[k] for the entry to the tent from blue, purple, and scarlet material and of fine woven linen, the work of an embroiderer. 37 Make five posts of acacia wood to support the screen, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be gold, and you shall cast five bronze socket bases for them.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 26:1 The term dwelling here refers to the innermost of the four layers that covered the framework of the sanctuary. Elsewhere the Dwelling is the name for the whole structure. This translation capitalizes Dwelling when it is the name of the whole structure. It is lowercase dwelling when it is just one of the four layers covering the structure.
  2. Exodus 26:1 The translation uses curtains and panels for the hangings that made up the various layers of the tent. It uses veil for the partition that divided the tent into two rooms.
  3. Exodus 26:1 Also translated twisted linen. It may refer to twisting different materials into one thread or to weaving them together.
  4. Exodus 26:6 Or hooks
  5. Exodus 26:9 It is not clear what the text means when it states that the sixth curtain was doubled over. Perhaps half of it hung down in front of the tent like a valance.
  6. Exodus 26:11 Here tent refers to the second layer of the four coverings for the sanctuary. Elsewhere Tent refers to the whole sanctuary. Tent is capitalized when it is a name for the whole structure.
  7. Exodus 26:13 It is not clear what this means, but apparently the upper layers, which were a yard longer than the lower, inner layer, hung all the way down to the ground, whereas the inner layer stopped short of the ground.
  8. Exodus 26:15 Or frames
  9. Exodus 26:17 These pegs may be on the side of each board to connect it to the board next to it. Verse 19 describes two pegs on the bottom of each board to anchor the boards to the socket bases below the boards.
  10. Exodus 26:24 There is much disagreement about what it means that these boards are double or twin at the bottom. Some think it means they are separate; some think it means that they are joined together. The translation above suggests that two boards are joined together to form one L-shaped cornerpiece.
  11. Exodus 26:36 Or hanging