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Exodus Chapter
Twenty-six
New King James Version
(NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO
EXODUS 26
In this chapter a
description is given of the tabernacle itself
and first of its inward
curtains
of their number
matter
length
and breadth
and the manner of
coupling them together
Exodus 26:1
and
then of the outward curtains of it
their number
matter
length
and breadth
and coupling
and how disposed of
Exodus 26:7
and
next of the two coverings of the tabernacle
of rams' skins and badgers' skins
Exodus 22:14
the
boards for the tabernacle are also described
with their tenons and sockets
Exodus 26:15 and
the bars and rings for it
by which it was kept firm together
Exodus 26:26
an
account is given of the vail between the holy and the most holy place
Exodus 26:31
and
of the hanging for the door of the tabernacle
Exodus 26:36.
Exodus 26:1 “Moreover
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.
YLT 1`And thou dost make the tabernacle: ten
curtains of twined linen
and blue
and purple
and scarlet; [with] cherubs
work of a designer
thou dost make them;
Moreover
thou
shalt make the tabernacle
.... Which he was ordered to make before
the pattern of which was shown him in the mount: this was an habitation for God
to dwell in
as the word properly signifies
and into which the furniture
before described was to be put; this tabernacle was a type both of the human
nature of Christ
which is the true tabernacle which God pitched
and not man
the greater and more perfect one
Hebrews 8:2 in
which the fulness of the Godhead dwells bodily
where the glory of God is seen
in whom he grants his gracious presence to his people
and accepts of them and
their sacrifices of prayer and praise; and also of the church of God
Psalm 43:3. Here
Jehovah dwells
grants his presence to his people
and comes and blesses them;
here he is worshipped
and spiritual sacrifices are offered up to him with
acceptance: the tabernacle of Moses was made
with ten curtains of fine twined linen
and blue
and purple
and
scarlet; the ground of these curtains was fine linen
twined or doubled:
and the Jewish writers
as Maimonides
Ben Gersom
and others
say it was six
times doubled
the word "Shesh"
here used
signifying six; and this
was interwoven with threads of yarn dyed blue
purple
and scarlet; according
to Jarchi
the threads of which this tapestry was made were twenty four times
doubled: he observes
"there were four sorts in every thread
one thread of
fine linen
and three of wool
and every thread was doubled six times; lo
the
four sorts
when they were twined together
there were twenty four double to a
thread;'which if so
must make a stuff of a very great consistence and
stiffness. This
as applied to the human nature of Christ
the fine linen may
denote the purity of it; the various colours the different graces of the
Spirit
with which it is adorned; or else the wounds
bruises
bloodshed
sufferings and death he endured in it: as applied to the church
may signify
the clothing of the saints with the righteousness of Christ
that fine linen
clean and white
and their being washed in his precious blood
and beautified
with the graces of his Spirit:
with cherubim
of cunning work shall thou make them; that is
with figures
like those of the cherubim on the mercy seat
so disposed by the curious art
and contrivance of the weaver
as to appear on both sides of this tapestry; for
this was not wrought by a needle
which only shows the figure on one side
but
by weaving
as Jarchi observes; and who says
that there was one figure on one
side
and another on another; as
for instance
a lion on one side
and an
eagle on the other; or
which is more likely
the same figure was seen on both
sides
as Maimonides affirms
who saysF5Hilchot Cele Hamikdash
c.
8. sect. 15.
the work called Chosheb (which is what is here spoken of) is
that whose figures appear on both sides
before and behind: this in the
mystical sense may point either to the ministration of angels to Christ in his
human nature
and to his people the heirs of salvation; or else to the service
of Gospel ministers
done for the honour and glory of Christ
and the good of
his church and people: JosephusF6Antiqu. l. 3. c. 7. sect. 7. thinks
these curtains had a mystical meaning in them
and represent the nature of the
elements
and so PhiloF7De Vita Mosis
l. 3. p. 667. .
Exodus 26:2 2 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 the same
measurements.
YLT 2the length of the one curtain [is] eight and
twenty by the cubit
and the breadth of the one curtain four by the cubit
one
measure [is] to all the curtains;
The length of
one curtain shall be twenty eight cubits
.... Or fourteen yards:
and the breadth
of one curtain four cubits; or two yards; according to the common
notion of a cubit being half a yard; but if
as Dr. Cumberland says
the Jewish
and Egyptian cubit was three inches longer
this will make a considerable
difference in the length and breadth of those curtains
especially in the
former:
and everyone of
the curtains shall have one measure; be of equal length and
breadth.
Exodus 26:3 3 Five
curtains shall be coupled to one another
and the other five curtains shall
be coupled to one another.
YLT 3five of the curtains are joining one unto
another
and five curtains are joining one to another.
The five
curtains shall be coupled together one to another
.... Five of
the ten curtains were to be sewed together
and make as it were one curtain:
and other five
curtains shall be coupled one to another: the other five were to
be joined together in like manner
and so made two large pieces of tapestry of
fourteen yards long and ten broad
according to the common account of a cubit
but were much longer and broader.
Exodus 26:4 4 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.
YLT 4`And thou hast made loops of blue upon the
edge of the one curtain
at the end in the joining; and so thou makest in the
edge of the outermost curtain
in the joining of the second.
And thou shall
make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain
.... The first
large curtain
consisting of five sewed together
at the edge of that:
from the
selvedge in the coupling; where it was to be coupled with the other great curtain;
"loops" or "eyelet holes"F8ללאת
"ocellos"
Vatablus.
were to be made: these were not wove with the
curtains
for they were not to be upon all of them
only at the two outermost
of the largest ones
and therefore were made afterwards
probably with the
needle:
and likewise
shall thou make in the uppermost edge of another curtain
in the
coupling of the second; loops also were to be made on the outermost edge of another
curtain belonging to the second great curtain
where it was to be coupled with
the first.
Exodus 26:5 5 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.
YLT 5fifty loops thou dost make in the one
curtain
and fifty loops thou dost make in the edge of the curtain which [is]
in the joining of the second
causing the loops to take hold one unto another;
Fifty loops
shalt thou make in the one curtain
.... In the first great
curtain
or in the outermost of the five that were sewed together:
and fifty loops
shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the
second; as many also were to be made in the outermost of the second
great curtain where it was to be coupled with the first:
that the loops
may take hold one of another; or rather that they might answer to one
another in both curtains; for the loops could not take hold of one another
only were made to meet together by the taches
hooks
or clasps put into them
next mentioned.
Exodus 26:6 6 And
you shall make fifty clasps of gold
and couple the curtains together with the
clasps
so that it may be one tabernacle.
YLT 6and thou hast made fifty hooks of gold
and
hast joined the curtains one to another by the hooks
and the tabernacle hath
been one.
And thou shalt
make fifty taches of gold
.... Which some render "buttons"F9
others "hooks"F11 they seem to be "clasps"; the
use of them follows:
and couple the
curtains together with the taches; the two great curtains
were made out of the ten
which had in them fiftycf13 (i) קרסי
"fibulas"
Tigurine version
VatablusF11
"Uncinos"
Pagninus
Montanus
Drusius; so the Targums of Onkelos and
Jonathan.
Exodus 26:7 7 “You
shall also make curtains of goats’ hair
to be a tent over the
tabernacle. You shall make eleven curtains.
YLT 7`And thou hast made curtains of goats'
[hair]
for a tent over the tabernacle; thou dost make eleven curtains:
And thou shalt
make curtains of goats' hair
.... Jarchi calls it the flower or down of
goats
the softer and finer part of their hair
which was spun by women
as
appears from Exodus 35:26
and
was made up into a stuff somewhat like our camelot; these curtains were coarser
than the former
and were made to be put over them
to preserve them from the
weather
as it follows:
to be a
covering upon the tabernacle: which
by the curtains of linen coupled
together
became one tabernacle
as in the preceding verse: and these curtains
were to be a tent or covering over them: they were somewhat like
being made of
the same matter
with the coverings with which the ancient Arabs covered their
tents
which were made of goats' hair
as were the tents of Kedar alluded to in
Song of Solomon 1:5
these curtains of goats' hair denote the outward appearance of Christ in human
nature
who
attended with all human infirmities
excepting sin
was in the
form of a servant
in great meanness and poverty
covered with reproach
and
had in the greatest contempt
and especially at the time of his sufferings and
death; though all rich and glorious within
full of grace
and of all the
blessings of grace
of righteousness and life
of light
joy
peace
and
comfort for his people; and may also denote the mean appearance of the church
and people of God outwardly; being
generally speaking
a poor and an afflicted
people
subject to the scorn
reproach
and persecutions of men
but all
glorious within
enriched with the grace of God and righteousness of Christ;
and so
in one respect
like these curtains of goats' hair
and
in another respect
like the curtains of fine linen:
eleven curtains
shalt thou make; one more than the other; the reason of which was
that there
might be one at the entrance of the tabernacle
there being no linen curtain
there
see Exodus 26:9.
Exodus 26:8 8 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.
YLT 8the length of the one curtain [is] thirty by
the cubit
and the breadth of the one curtain four by the cubit; one measure
[is] to the eleven curtains;
The length of
one curtain shall be thirty cubits
and the breadth of one curtain four cubits
.... The
breadth of them is the same with the linen curtains
but the length of them two
cubits more; the reason of which was
that they might hang down lower on either
side
and the better preserve them from any injury:
and the eleven
curtains shall be all of one measure; as to length and
breadth.
Exodus 26:9 9 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.
YLT 9and thou hast joined the five curtains apart
and the six curtains apart
and hast doubled the six curtains over-against the
front of the tent.
And thou shall
couple five curtains by themselves
.... And make one large
curtain of them
as was ordered with respect to the linen curtains:
and six
curtains by themselves; as there were eleven of them
such a division was made of five
into one large curtain
and six into another; and as that which had six in it
would reach further than the other
provision is made for the disposal and use
of that as follows:
and shall
double the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tabernacle; at the
entrance of it
in the east end of it; the sixth curtain reaching to that
and
hanging down
was turned up
and so doubled
opposite the door or entrance; and
was
as Jarchi says
like a modest bride that covers her face with a vail
which before this had no covering; for thus it was
as Dr. LightfootF13Works
vol. 1. p. 718. describes it
the holy place was ten yards long
and the five
curtains sewed together were just so broad
and so they covered only the top
and the sides
but hung not down at the end
which was eastward--but the six
(goat hair curtains) that lay east reached to the end
covered the pillars
whereon that vail hung
and they hung half a curtain's breadth or a yard over
the entrance.
Exodus 26:10 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.
YLT 10`And thou hast made fifty loops on the edge
of the one curtain
the outermost in the joining
and fifty loops on the edge
of the curtain which is joining the second;
And thou shalt
make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain
that is outmost in the
coupling
.... Just in like manner
and in the same place where they were
ordered to be put on the linen curtains
only these are not said to be of blue
but perhaps were wrought with goats hair: and fifty loops in the edge of the
curtain which coupleth the second; these loops were set on each of the curtains
where the two large pieces were to be coupled together.
Exodus 26:11 11 And you shall make fifty
bronze clasps
put the clasps into the loops
and couple the tent together
that it may be one.
YLT 11and thou hast made fifty hooks of brass
and
hast brought in the hooks into the loops
and hast joined the tent
and it hath
been one.
And thou shalt
make fifty taches of brass
.... As these curtains were coarser
and
also the loops
so the taches
hooks
or clasps
were made of meaner metal
but
answered the purpose of joining and coupling together full as well: and put the
taches into the loops; one end of the hook or clasp into the loop on one of the
curtains
and the other end of the hook or clasp into the loop on the other
curtain answering to it: and couple the tent together
that it may be one; that
the tent or covering over the tabernacle might be one
as the tabernacle by the
like means was
Exodus 26:6.
Exodus 26:12 12 The
remnant that remains of the curtains of the tent
the half curtain that
remains
shall hang over the back of the tabernacle.
YLT 12`And the superfluity in the curtains of the
tent -- the half of the curtain which is superfluous -- hath spread over the
hinder part of the tabernacle;
And the remnant
that remaineth of the curtains of the tent
.... Of the goat hair
curtains
which were one more than the linen curtains:
the half
curtain that remaineth; for the other half extended to the east end of it
at the
entrance of the tabernacle
and hung down and was doubled there
and the other
that remained is here disposed of:
shall hang over
the backside of the tabernacle; the west end of it
where was the holy of
holies; or rather
as Dr. LightfootF14Works
vol. 1. p. 719.
describes it
thus
it was when those curtains (of goats' hair) were laid upon
the other over the tabernacle; they were not laid as these brazen loops (clasps
it should be) did light just upon the golden ones over the vail
but three
quarters of a yard more westward
so that the five curtains that went west did
reach to the ground and half a curtain to spare
Exodus 26:12 the
other six that lay east reached to the end
covered the pillars whereon that
vail hung
and they hung half a curtain's breadth or a yard over the entrance.
Exodus 26:13 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.
YLT 13and the cubit on this side
and the cubit on
that
in the superfluity in the length of the curtains of the tent
is spread
out over the sides of the tabernacle
on this and on that
to cover it;
And a cubit on
the one side
and a cubit on the other side o that which remaineth in the
length of the curtains of the tent
.... The curtains of the
tent
or the goat hair curtains
were two cubits longer than the other
and
these are the two cubits
one on one side and the other on the other
which
remained
and by which they were longer than the linen curtains:
it shall hang
over the sides of the tabernacle; the north and south
sides: on this side:
and on that
side
to cover it; and as the above learned doctor observesF15Works
vol. 1. p. 719.
their length of fifteen yards reached half a yard lower on
either side than the other curtains did
and yet they came not to the ground by
a quarter of a yard; so that the silver foundations (of which afterwards) were
always plain to be seen everywhere but at the west end.
Exodus 26:14 14 “You
shall also make a covering of ram skins dyed red for the tent
and a covering
of badger skins above that.
YLT 14and thou hast made a covering for the tent
of rams' skins made red
and a covering of badgers' skins above.
And thou shalt
make a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red
.... This was
a covering that was put over the curtains of goats' skin; but whether it went
all over them
or only upon the roof of the tabernacle they covered
to keep
out the rains from soaking through
is not certain
nor very evident; Jarchi
thinks the roof was only covered with this covering of rams' skins; but others
think it more reasonable that the whole was covered with them to preserve from
dust and rain:
and a covering
above of badgers' skins; of these skins See Gill on Exodus 25:5
this
was a fourth covering of the tabernacle; the first was of linen curtains
the
second of goats' hair
the third of rams' skins
and the fourth of badgers'
skins
which seems to have been thicker and courser
since shoes were made of
them
Ezekiel 16:10
R.
Judah
as quoted by Jarchi
thinks the two last were but one covering
half of
it consisting of rams' skins and half of it of badgers' skins; but the text is
express that the latter was a covering above and over the former: these several
coverings of the tabernacle show the care that God takes of his church and
people
and how sufficiently they are provided for
that they may be in safety
from all their enemies
being clothed with Christ's righteousness
and under
the purple covering of his blood
and surrounded by his almighty power
see Isaiah 4:5.
Exodus 26:15 15 “And
for the tabernacle you shall make the boards of acacia wood
standing upright.
YLT 15`And thou hast made the boards for the
tabernacle
of shittim wood
standing up;
And thou shalt
make the boards for the tabernacle
.... Which were the
pillars and supports
and properly the walls of it
which gave it its firmness
and security
or otherwise the curtains would have been blown about by every
wind: they were to be made
of shittim wood
standing up; just as they grew
as a Jewish writer observesF16Bartenora
in Misn. Succa
c. 3. sect. 14. ; these planks or boards were not to be laid
along the lengthways of them
but to be set upright; and may denote such who
are pillars in the house of God
and are to be upright both in heart and
conversation
both ministers and private members; and indeed the church itself
is the pillar and ground of truth
Galatians 2:9.
Exodus 26:16 16 Ten
cubits shall be the length of a board
and a cubit and a half shall
be the width of each board.
YLT 16ten cubits [is] the length of the board
and
a cubit and a half the breadth of the one board;
Ten cubits shall
be the length of a board
.... Or five yards
according to the common cubit:
and a cubit and
a half shall be the breadth of one board; or three quarters of a
yard; and from hence we may learn what were the height and the length of the
tabernacle; according to the common computation of a cubit
it was but five
yards high and fifteen long
since there were but twenty boards on each side
Exodus 26:18
but
if three inches are added to each cubit
it will make its measures considerably
larger: JosephusF17Antiqu. l. 3. c. 6. sect. 3. says the boards were
four fingers thick: according to Bishop Cumberland the boards of the
tabernacle
containing fifteen Jewish square cubits
were very near fifty
English square feet in their length and breadth.
Exodus 26:17 17 Two
tenons shall be in each board for binding one to another. Thus you shall
make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
YLT 17two handles [are] to the one board
joined
one unto another; so thou dost make for all the boards of the tabernacle;
Two tenons
shall there be on one board
.... Every board was to be so cut and shaped
at the lower end of it
as to have
as it were
"two hands"F18שתי ידות "duae manus"
Montanus.
as in the original
to enter into
lay hold on
and fasten in
mortises:
set in order
one against another; at a proper distance from each other
as the rounds of a ladder:
thus shalt thou
make for all the boards of the tabernacle; everyone was to have two
tenons.
Exodus 26:18 18 And
you shall make the boards for the tabernacle
twenty boards for the south side.
YLT 18and thou hast made the boards of the
tabernacle: twenty boards for the south side southward;
And thou shalt
make the boards for the tabernacle
.... As in the manner
before described
so in number as follows:
twenty boards
on the south side southward; which being a cubit and a half broad
made
the length of the tabernacle fifteen yards according to the common account; but
if these were cubits of twenty one inches
then its length was much greater.
Exodus 26:19 19 You
shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards: two sockets under
each of the boards for its two tenons.
YLT 19and forty sockets of silver thou dost make
under the twenty boards
two sockets under the one board for its two handles
and two sockets under the other board for its two handles.
And thou shall
make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards
.... Or basesF19אדני "bases"
V. L. Pagninus
Montanus
Tigurine
version
Piscator
Drusius.
and which were properly the foundation of the
tabernacle
on which it was settled and established; these sockets were the
mortises for the two tenons of each board or plank to be placed in
and were as
broad as the plank
and
joining each other
made one entire basis for the
whole structure; each socket contained a talent of silver
and was made of the
silver given at the numbering of the people
Exodus 38:25
and a
talent of silver
according to Bishop Cumberland
amounted to three hundred and
fifty three pounds
eleven shillings and some odd pence of our money: by which
may be judged the whole value of this silver foundation
which
with the four
sockets of the vail
consisted of one hundred of them
which answer to the one
hundred talents of silver collected at the above offering:
two sockets
under one board for his two tenons
and two sockets under another board for his
two tenons; and so in all the twenty boards
which took up the whole forty
on the south side.
Exodus 26:20 20 And
for the second side of the tabernacle
the north side
there shall be
twenty boards
YLT 20`And for the second side of the tabernacle
for the north side
[are] twenty boards
And for the
second side of the tabernacle the north side
.... The direction of the
tabernacle was east and west; at the east end was the entrance into the holy
place
and at the west end the holy of holies; and the two sides were north and
south; and as on the south side
so on the north
there shall be twenty boards: just the same number as the laws of
building required.
Exodus 26:21 21 and their forty sockets of
silver: two sockets under each of the boards.
YLT 21and their forty sockets of silver
two
sockets under the one board
and two sockets under another board.
And their forty
sockets of silver
.... answerable to the twenty boards
for their two tenons to be
placed in as in mortises: two sockets under one board
and two sockets under
another board; and so under all the boards on the north side as on the south.
Exodus 26:22 22 For
the far side of the tabernacle
westward
you shall make six boards.
YLT 22And for the sides of the tabernacle westward
thou dost make six boards.
And for the
sides of the tabernacle
.... Or the ends of it
the east and west
and the account begins
with the west:
westward thou
shalt make six boards; so that the breadth of the tabernacle was but nine cubits
or
four yards and a half
according to a common cubit; but two boards more placed
at the two corners of the sides
next observed
added to the breadth of it.
Exodus 26:23 23 And
you shall also make two boards for the two back corners of the tabernacle.
YLT 23And two boards thou dost make for the corners
of the tabernacle in the two sides.
And two boards
shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides. For the
northwest and southwest corners
in the north and south sides; concerning which
Dr. Lightfoot thus writesF20Ut supra. (Works
vol 1. p. 719.) : and
the west end had six planks entire
besides a plank at either corner
joining
end and sides together; these corner planks were of the same breadth that all
the others were
and
thus set
the middle of the breadth of the one plank was
laid close to the end of the south side
or to that plank that was furthest
west; so that a quarter of a yard of the breadth of the corner plank was
inward
to make up the tabernacle breadth
a quarter was taken up with the
thickness of the side plank to which it joined
and a quarter lay outward: thus
at the southwest
just so was it at the northwest corner: then count; the two
corner planks were inward a quarter of a yard apiece
and the six planks that
stood between them of three quarters apiece
behold five yards
just the
breadth of the house between wall and wall: these corners knit end and side
together
and were the strength of the building; as
adds he
"Christ is of
his church
making Jews and Gentiles one spiritual temple.'
Exodus 26:24 24 They
shall be 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.
YLT 24And they are pairs beneath
and together they
are pairs above its head unto the one ring; so is it for them both
they are
for the two corners.
And they shall
be coupled together beneath
.... At the bottom of the boards or planks:
and they shall
be coupled together above the head of it unto one ring at the top of
the boards there was a ring
to which they were coupled and fastened
and so at
the bottom of them
though not expressed: some understand this of all the
planks
both at the two sides and at the west end; but it seems rather to
respect only the corner planks
since it follows:
thus shall it
be for them both
they shall be for the two corners; which were
coupled and joined alike at each corner as if they were twins
as the word used
signifies; or the meaning is
that these were double boards
and so like twins
which were so closely put together that they seemed but one board; which was
done that the corners might be thicker and stronger
and so for the greater
firmness of the building.
Exodus 26:25 25 So
there shall be eight boards with their sockets of silver—sixteen sockets—two
sockets under each of the boards.
YLT 25And they have been eight boards
and their
sockets of silver [are] sixteen sockets
two sockets under the one board
and
two sockets under another board.
And they shall
be eight boards
.... Six at the west end and one at each corner
northwest and
southwest:
and their
sockets of silver
sixteen sockets the same as those for the
boards on both sides north and south: they were of the same metal
silver; and
they were two under one board
to receive its two tenons as follows:
two sockets
under one board
and two sockets under another board; and so under
all eight
and which sockets joining with those of the two sides
and in all
made ninety six
were the basis and foundation of the tabernacle
and was a
figure of Christ
the only foundation of his church and people; and the several
tenons of the boards joined into those sockets of silver may denote the union
of the members of Christ and ministers of his word to him
and their dependence
on him.
Exodus 26:26 26 “And
you shall make bars of acacia wood: five for the boards on one side of the
tabernacle
YLT 26`And thou hast made bars of shittim wood:
five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle
And thou shalt
make bars of shittim wood
Which being put into rings or staples of
gold
kept the boards tight
close
and firm together:
five for the
boards of the one side of the tabernacle: for instance
the south
side; four of these were placed
two at the upper end of the boards
and two at
the lower end
and the fifth in the middle
particularly taken notice of
Exodus 26:28
how
long these bars were it is not said
but it is reasonable to conclude that they
reached the length of the tabernacle
which was thirty cubits; and as it was
not easy to get bars of such a length
the notion of JosephusF21Ut
supra. (Antiqu. l. 3. c. 6. sect. 3.) perhaps
may be right
that each two
consisted of divers parts which joined one another
the head of one entering
into the hollow of the other and as he supposes they were five cubits long
a
row of them must have six parts
which went along the sides
north and south
and the west end two
which was but ten cubits.
Exodus 26:27 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.
YLT 27and five bars for the boards of the second side
of the tabernacle
and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle
at the two sides
westward;
And five bars
for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle
.... Suppose
the north
these bars were disposed of in the same manner as those on the south
side:
and five bars
for the boards of that side of the tabernacle; or the end of it
the
west end
as follows:
for the two
sides westward; that is
the two corners at the west end
the southwest and the
northwest corners; and these five bars reached from the one to the other
two
at the upper part of the boards
and two at the lower part
and one in the
middle.
Exodus 26:28 28 The
middle bar shall pass through the midst of the boards from end to end.
YLT 28and one hath caused the middle bar in the
midst of the boards to reach from end unto end;
And the middle
bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end. From east to
west
as Jarchi interprets it; but this can only be said of the middle bar on
the north and south sides of the tabernacle
for the middle bar at the west end
was north to south: about this bar there is some difficulty
as that it is said
to be "from end to end"
as if that only was; whereas it is
reasonable to suppose that the rest were so likewise; it may be
they might
come somewhat short of reaching the end
whereas this did entirely; or rather
the truer reason is
because the rest of the bars consisted of various parts;
whereas this was a long bar of one entire piece
reaching from one end of the
tabernacle to the other: likewise it is said to be "in the midst of the
boards"; and the Jewish writers are generally of opinion
that it did not
run along in rings as the other bars did
but the boards and planks being
bored
this went through the thickness of the wood throughout; and in this they
are followed by Arias Moatanus
Vatablus
Dr. Lightfoot
and others: but to
this it may be objected
that the boards must be very thick indeed
even
incredibly so
to admit of such a bore as to let in a bar of this kind
and is
not so consistent with its being a portable house; and besides
when it was at
any time taken down
in order to be removed
such a bar must give a great deal
of trouble
and be in danger of being broke to pieces; besides
if it was thus
covered in the boards
as it must be
what need was there that it should be
overlaid with gold
as in the next verse? it is more probable
therefore
that
it went not through the midst of the thickness of the wood
but in the middle
of the length of the planks
and so expresses its different situation from the
rest of the bars
which were at or towards the top and bottom of the planks
and this in the middle of them. It is not said of these bars
whether they were
within or on the outside of the tabernacle; it is most likely they were on the
outside
as JosephusF23Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 3. c. 6. sect. 3.) says
they were; since they would not have made a good appearance within side
where
they would have been always seen by the priests within
whereas being without
they were covered with the curtains.
Exodus 26:29 29 You
shall overlay the boards with gold
make their rings of gold as holders
for the bars
and overlay the bars with gold.
YLT 29and the boards thou dost overlay [with] gold
and their rings thou dost make of gold places for bars
and hast overlaid their
bars with gold;
And thou shalt
overlay the boards with gold
.... Not merely gild them
but cover them
with thin plates of gold; and which
because it would take up a great quantity
of gold
and make the boards very heavy
unless the plates were very thin
when
they were taken down and carried from place to place
some have thought they
were only glided:
and make their
rings of gold
for places for the bars; these were made of solid
gold
and were as staples to let the bars into: and
according to Jarchi
there
were two rings to every board:
and thou shalt
overlay the bars with gold: cover them with plates of gold; and these
bars and staples of gold show how compact and firm the church of God is
through his almighty power
as well as how glorious and splendid it is by his
grace.
Exodus 26:30 30 And
you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which you were shown
on the mountain.
YLT 30and thou hast raised up the tabernacle
according to its fashion which thou hast been shewn in the mount.
And thou shall
rear up the tabernacle
.... When thus finished
and all the furniture belonging to it
completed:
according to
the fashion thereof
which was showed thee in the mount; this is the
third time that this is observed to Moses in the account of the tabernacle;
which shows how punctually God would have the pattern observed he had given
him
and that all things might be particularly and exactly done according to
it
see Hebrews 8:5.
Exodus 26:31 31 “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.
YLT 31`And thou hast made a vail of blue
and
purple
and scarlet
and twined linen
work of a designer; he maketh it [with]
cherubs;
And thou shalt
make a vail
.... The use of this
as follows
was to divide the holy place
from the most holy place in the tabernacle; it has its name from hardness
it
being very stiff and strong
for it was made of thread six times doubled
and
was four fingers thick
as the Jewish writers say: this vail may represent the
sin of man
which separates between God and man
was removed by the death of
Christ when the vail was rent
and so the way to heaven opened; or the
obscurity of the legal dispensation
the Gospel being veiled under the shadows
of the law
and the way into the holiest of all then not so manifest
and
particularly the ceremonial law
which separated between Jew and Gentile
and
is now abolished by the death of Christ; or rather it was typical of the human
nature of Christ
his flesh
called in allusion to it the vail of his flesh
Hebrews 10:20. This
vail was made of
blue
and
purple
and scarlet
of fine twined linen of cunning work; it seems to
have been made of the same materials
and in the same curious manner of
workmanship with the curtains of the tabernacle
Exodus 26:1
and
was itself no other than a curtain
and so it is interpreted by some Jewish
writersF24Vid. R. Sol. Urbin. Ohel Moed
fol. 37. 2. . It being made
of "fine linen" denotes the purity of Christ
of his nature
life
and righteousness; of "twined linen"
his strength
courage and
steadiness; "of blue
purple
and scarlet"
the several graces of the
Spirit
with which his human nature was adorned
his flaming zeal for his
Father's glory and the good of his people
his bloody wounds
sufferings
and
death
the preciousness of his blood
the dignity of his person
and his
glorious exaltation
purple and scarlet being the colours wore by kings:
with cherubim
shall it be made; signifying either the ministration of angels to him in his
incarnate state
or the mission of Gospel ministers by him
see Psalm 139:15.
Exodus 26:32 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.
YLT 32and thou hast put it on four pillars of
shittim wood
overlaid [with] gold
their pegs [are] of gold
on four sockets
of silver.
And thou shalt
hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood
overlaid with gold
.... For it
was ten cubits long
and as many broad; and being of such a stiffness and
thickness as it was
required so many pillars to support it: these pillars may
signify the deity of Christ
which is the support of his human nature
and in
which it has its personal subsistence
and gives all its actions and sufferings
virtue and efficacy; and being of "shittim wood"
which is
incorruptible
may denote his eternity
and being covered with gold
his glory:
their hooks
shall be of gold; which were upon the tops of the pillars on which the vail was
hung: and the pillars were
upon the four
sockets of silver; which were properly the pedestals or feet of the pillars; and
these sockets
into which the pillars were let and placed
and the hooks the
vail hung by
may hint to the union of the two natures in Christ
who is God
and man in one person
God manifest in the flesh; see Song of Solomon 5:15.
Exodus 26:33 33 And
you shall hang the veil from the clasps. Then you shall bring the ark of the
Testimony in there
behind the veil. The veil shall be a divider for you
between the holy place and the Most Holy.
YLT 33`And thou hast put the vail under the hooks
and hast brought in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony; and the
vail hath made a separation for you between the holy and the holy of holies.
And thou shall
hang up the vail under the taches
.... Or clasps
which
coupled the two grand curtains
or pieces of tapestry
each consisting of five
curtains
of which the tabernacle was made
Exodus 26:6
and by
this it seems that the place where they met
and were clasped
was where the
vail was hung between the holy and the most holy place: for
as Dr. LightfootF25Works
vol
1. p. 718. observes
according to the division of the house was the
division of the curtains
the vail that parted the holy from the most holy was
hung just under the golden clasps that knit the five curtains together; so that
five curtains lay over the holy place
and the other five over the most holy;
but with this difference
the holy place was ten yards long
and the five
curtains sewed together were just so broad
and so they covered only the top and
sides
but hung not down at the end which was eastward; but the most holy was
but five yards long
and the five curtains over that did not only cover the
top
but also hung down at the west end to the silver bases; and of what he
says of the goat hair curtains
and their brazen clasps or taches
and where
they met
and what they covered; see Gill on Exodus 26:12
that thou
mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony; the ark in
which the testimony or law of God
testifying his will
was put; of which see Exodus 25:10
&c. this was to be set in the most holy place
as being holy
spiritual
just
and good; and as being fulfilled by Christ
signified by the ark in which
it was
through whose righteousness alone there is admission into the holy of
holies
by which this law is fulfilled
magnified
and made honourable:
and the vail
shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy; which was so
thick
that there was no seeing through it; and none might enter by it into the
holiest of all but the high priest
and he only on the day of atonement; and
into the holy place might none come but the priests
to do the service of the
sanctuary. The holy place was typical of the church on earth
where all the
saints
who are priests to God
worship
and the most holy of heaven
the
perfect state of bliss and happiness.
Exodus 26:34 34 You
shall put the mercy seat upon the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy.
YLT 34`And thou hast put the mercy-seat on the ark
of the testimony
in the holy of holies.
And thou shalt
put the mercy seat upon ark of the testimony
.... With the cherubim of
glory overshadowing it; all which were a representation of the way of man's
salvation flowing from the mercy and grace of God
through the propitiation by
Christ
and his perfect righteousness
by which the law is fulfilled; and all
this is published in the Gospel by the ministers of it
signified by the
cherubim: and these are all the things that were "in the most holy
place"; and they were placed at the west end of it.
Exodus 26:35 35 You
shall set the table outside the veil
and 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.
YLT 35`And thou hast set the table at the outside
of the vail
and the candlestick over-against the table on the side of the
tabernacle southward
and the table thou dost put on the north side.
And thou shalt
set the table without the vail
.... The table of shewbread
of which see Exodus 25:23
this
was not to be within the vail
but without it
in the holy place: and the
candlestick opposite the table
of which see Exodus 25:31
&c. signifying
that in the church of God
in the present state of things
which the holy place was an emblem of
there are both food and light: the
candlestick was placed
on the side of
the tabernacle
toward the south; according to Jarchi
two
cubits and a half from the side of it:
and thou shalt
put the table on the north side; of the tabernacle
directly opposite the
candlestick
two cubits and a half from the south side
as the same writer
says;
Exodus 26:36 36 “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.
YLT 36`And thou hast made a covering for the
opening of the tent
blue
and purple
and scarlet
and twined linen
work of
an embroiderer;
And thou shalt
make an hanging for the door of the tent
.... At the east end of
the tabernacle
which lay open and exposed
and for which as yet there was no
provision; the west end of it
where stood the holy of holies
was enclosed with
six boards
and two corner ones
Exodus 26:22 and
the linen curtains hung down there to the silver bases
and so did the curtains
of goats' hair
even to the ground
and half a curtain to spare
see Exodus 26:12 but
for the east end
or entrance into the tabernacle
there was nothing till now
ordered
only the sixth curtain of the goats' hair curtains was there turned up
double
Exodus 26:9
but
now here an "hanging" is ordered
or rather a "covering"F26מסך "operimentum"
Montanus;
"tegumentum"
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator; "velum"
Tigurine version
Drusius.
as the word signifies; Jarchi calls it a vail; and
this was instead of a door to the tabernacle
and divided the holy place
into
which only the priests might enter
from the place where the people stood and
worshipped: and this also was made
of blue
and
purple
and scarlet
and fine twined linen; as was the vail between
the holy and the holy of holies; only with this difference
this was
wrought with
needle work
and that was of "cunning work": the difference between
these two
"Rokem" and "Chosheb"
was
as Ben Melech from
the Misnah relates
that "Rokem" is the work of a needle
and
therefore but one face or figure is seen
that is
it is only seen on one side;
but "Chosheb" is the work of a weaver
and therefore two faces or
figures are seen
that is
they are seen on both sides; and with this account
Maimonides agrees; see Gill on Exodus 26:1
besides this hanging
JosephusF1Antiqu. l. 3. c. 6. sect. 4. tells
us there was another of linen
of the same size with this
and which covered
it
and preserved it from the weather
and which on festival days was turned
back
that the people might have a prospect of the other; just as there were
curtains of goats' hair to preserve the linen ones.
Exodus 26:37 37 And
you shall make for the screen 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.
YLT 37and thou hast made for the covering five
pillars of shittim [wood]
and hast overlaid them [with] gold
their pegs [are]
of gold
and thou hast cast for them five sockets of brass.
And thou shalt
make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood
.... One at
each corner of the entrance into the tabernacle
and the other three at a proper
distance from each other
so as to make four ways for the priests to enter in
at; as there might very well be
since there was a breadth of ten cubits
or
five yards or more:
and overlay
them with gold; with plates of gold
for a gild would soon wear off by continual
use in passing and repassing. This is to be understood not of the whole
pillars
but of the chapiters
heads
tops
or knobs of them
and of their
fillets or girdles; in some parts of them the wood appearing
as is plain from Exodus 36:38
and their hooks
shall be of gold; on which the hanging
covering
or vail was hung:
and thou shalt
cast five sockets of brass for them; for the pillars to stand
upon them
and were of a meaner metal than those on which the pillars for the
vail before mentioned; that being the entrance into the holy of holies
where
the divine Majesty dwelt
this into the holy place where the priests did their
service.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》