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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 Tabernacle(A)

26 “Moreover (B)you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine woven linen and blue, purple, and scarlet thread; with artistic designs of cherubim you shall weave them. The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits. And every one of the curtains shall have [a]the same measurements. 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 yarn on the edge of the curtain on the selvedge of one set, and likewise you shall do on the outer edge of the other curtain of the second set. Fifty loops you shall make in the one curtain, and fifty loops you shall make on the edge of the curtain that is on the end of the second set, that the loops may be clasped to one another. And you shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains together with the clasps, so that it may be one tabernacle.

(C)“You shall also make curtains of goats’ hair, to be a tent over the tabernacle. You shall make eleven curtains. The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; and the eleven curtains shall all have the same measurements. And you shall couple five curtains by themselves and six curtains by themselves, and you shall double over the sixth curtain at the forefront 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 of the second set. 11 And you shall make fifty bronze clasps, put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one. 12 The remnant that remains of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remains, shall hang over the back of the tabernacle. 13 And a cubit on one side and a cubit on the other side, of what remains of 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 (D)“You shall also make a covering of ram skins dyed red for the tent, and a covering of badger skins above that.

15 “And for the tabernacle you shall (E)make the boards of acacia wood, standing upright. 16 Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the width of each board. 17 Two [b]tenons shall be in each board for binding one to another. Thus you shall make for all the boards of the tabernacle. 18 And you shall make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side. 19 You shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards: two sockets under each of the boards for its two tenons. 20 And for the second side of the tabernacle, the north side, there shall be twenty boards 21 and their forty sockets of silver: two sockets under each of the boards. 22 For the far side of the tabernacle, westward, you shall make six boards. 23 And you shall also make two boards for the two back corners of the tabernacle. 24 They shall be [c]coupled together at the bottom and they shall be coupled together at the top by one ring. Thus it shall be for both of them. They shall be for the two corners. 25 So there shall be eight boards with their sockets of silver—sixteen sockets—two sockets under each of the boards.

26 “And you shall make bars of acacia wood: five for the boards on one side of the tabernacle, 27 five bars for the boards on 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 (F)middle bar shall pass through the midst of the boards from end to end. 29 You shall overlay the boards with gold, make their rings of gold as holders for the bars, and overlay the bars with gold. 30 And you shall raise up the tabernacle (G)according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain.

31 (H)“You shall make a veil woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen. It shall be woven with an artistic design of cherubim. 32 You shall hang it upon the four pillars of acacia wood overlaid with gold. Their hooks shall be gold, upon four sockets of silver. 33 And you shall hang the veil from the clasps. Then you shall bring (I)the ark of the Testimony in there, behind the veil. The veil shall be a divider for you between (J)the holy place and the Most Holy. 34 (K)You shall put the mercy seat upon the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy. 35 (L)You shall set the table outside the veil, and (M)the lampstand across from 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 door of the tabernacle, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver. 37 And you shall make for the screen (O)five pillars of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold; their hooks shall be gold, and you shall cast five sockets of bronze for them.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 26:2 Lit. one measure
  2. Exodus 26:17 Projections for joining, lit. hands
  3. Exodus 26:24 Lit. doubled