Add parallel Print Page Options

The Courtyard

“You are to make the courtyard[a] of the tabernacle. For the south side[b] there are to be hangings[c] for the courtyard of fine twisted linen, 150 feet long for one side,[d] 10 with[e] twenty posts and their twenty bronze bases, with the hooks of the posts and their bands of silver. 11 Likewise[f] for its length on the north side, there are to be[g] hangings for 150 feet, with twenty posts and their twenty bronze bases, with silver hooks and bands[h] on the posts. 12 The width of the court on the west side is to be 75 feet with hangings, with their ten posts and their ten bases. 13 The width of the court on the east side, toward the sunrise, is to be 75 feet. 14 The hangings on one side[i] of the gate are to be[j] 22½ feet long, with their three posts and their three bases. 15 On the second side[k] there are to be[l] hangings 22½ feet long, with their three posts and their three bases. 16 For the gate of the courtyard there is to be a curtain of 30 feet, of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twisted linen, the work of an embroiderer, with four posts and their four bases. 17 All the posts around the courtyard are to have silver bands;[m] their hooks are to be[n] silver, and their bases bronze. 18 The length of the courtyard is to be 150 feet[o] and the width 75 feet,[p] and the height of the fine twisted linen hangings[q] is to be[r] 7½ feet, with their bronze bases. 19 All[s] the utensils of the tabernacle used[t] in all its service, all its tent pegs, and all the tent pegs of the courtyard are to be made of bronze.[u]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 27:9 tn Or “enclosure” (TEV).
  2. Exodus 27:9 tn Heb “south side southward.”
  3. Exodus 27:9 tn Or “curtains.”
  4. Exodus 27:9 sn The entire courtyard of 150 feet by 75 feet was to be enclosed by a curtain wall held up with posts in bases. All these hangings were kept in place by a cord and tent pegs.
  5. Exodus 27:10 tn Heb “and.”
  6. Exodus 27:11 tn Heb “and thus.”
  7. Exodus 27:11 tn Here the phrase “there will be” has been supplied.
  8. Exodus 27:11 sn These bands have been thought by some to refer to connecting rods joining the tops of the posts. But it is more likely that they are bands or bind rings surrounding the posts at the base of the capitals (see 38:17).
  9. Exodus 27:14 tn The word literally means “shoulder.” The next words, “of the gate,” have been supplied here and in v. 15. The east end would contain the courtyard’s entry with a wall of curtains on each side of the entry (see v. 16).
  10. Exodus 27:14 tn Here “will be” has been supplied.
  11. Exodus 27:15 tn Heb “shoulder.”
  12. Exodus 27:15 tn Here the phrase “there will be” has been supplied.
  13. Exodus 27:17 tn The text uses the passive participle here: they are to “be filleted with silver” or “bound round” with silver.
  14. Exodus 27:17 tn Here the phrase “are to be” has been supplied.
  15. Exodus 27:18 tn Heb “100 cubits.”
  16. Exodus 27:18 tn Heb “fifty.” The text has “and the width 50 [cubits] with 50.” This means that it is 50 cubits wide on the western end and 50 cubits wide on the eastern end.
  17. Exodus 27:18 tn Here “hangings” has been supplied.
  18. Exodus 27:18 tn Here the phrase “is to be” has been supplied.
  19. Exodus 27:19 tn Heb “to all”; for use of the preposition ל (lamed) to show inclusion (“all belonging to”) see GKC 458 §143.e.
  20. Exodus 27:19 tn Here “used” has been supplied.
  21. Exodus 27:19 sn The tabernacle is an important aspect of OT theology. The writer’s pattern so far has been: ark, table, lamp, and then their container (the tabernacle); then the altar and its container (the courtyard). The courtyard is the place of worship where the people could gather—they entered God’s courts. Though the courtyard may not seem of much interest to current readers, it did interest the Israelites. Here the sacrifices were made, the choirs sang, the believers offered their praises, they had their sins forgiven, they came to pray, they appeared on the holy days, and they heard from God. It was sacred because God met them there; they left the “world” (figuratively speaking) and came into the very presence of God.

Plans for the Courtyard

“Then make the courtyard for the Tabernacle, enclosed with curtains made of finely woven linen. On the south side, make the curtains 150 feet long.[a] 10 They will be held up by twenty posts set securely in twenty bronze bases. Hang the curtains with silver hooks and rings. 11 Make the curtains the same on the north side—150 feet of curtains held up by twenty posts set securely in bronze bases. Hang the curtains with silver hooks and rings. 12 The curtains on the west end of the courtyard will be 75 feet long,[b] supported by ten posts set into ten bases. 13 The east end of the courtyard, the front, will also be 75 feet long. 14 The courtyard entrance will be on the east end, flanked by two curtains. The curtain on the right side will be 22 1⁄2 feet long,[c] supported by three posts set into three bases. 15 The curtain on the left side will also be 22 1⁄2 feet long, supported by three posts set into three bases.

16 “For the entrance to the courtyard, make a curtain that is 30 feet long.[d] Make it from finely woven linen, and decorate it with beautiful embroidery in blue, purple, and scarlet thread. Support it with four posts, each securely set in its own base. 17 All the posts around the courtyard must have silver rings and hooks and bronze bases. 18 So the entire courtyard will be 150 feet long and 75 feet wide, with curtain walls 7 1⁄2 feet high,[e] made from finely woven linen. The bases for the posts will be made of bronze.

19 “All the articles used in the rituals of the Tabernacle, including all the tent pegs used to support the Tabernacle and the courtyard curtains, must be made of bronze.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 27:9 Hebrew 100 cubits [46 meters]; also in 27:11.
  2. 27:12 Hebrew 50 cubits [23 meters]; also in 27:13.
  3. 27:14 Hebrew 15 cubits [6.9 meters]; also in 27:15.
  4. 27:16 Hebrew 20 cubits [9.2 meters].
  5. 27:18 Hebrew 100 cubits [46 meters] long and 50 by 50 [23 meters] wide and 5 cubits [2.3 meters] high.