1
“You shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen, and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; with cherubim skillfully worked into them, you shall make them all.
2
The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains shall have the same measurements.
3
Five curtains shall be joined to one another, and the other five curtains shall also be joined to one another.
4
You shall make loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set, and likewise you shall do on the edge of the outermost curtain in the second set.
5
You shall make fifty loops on the one curtain and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain in the second set, so that the loops are opposite one another.
6
You shall also make fifty gold clasps, and join the curtains of the tabernacle one to another with the clasps, so that it may be one.
7
You shall also make curtains of goats’ hair for a tent over the tabernacle; you shall make eleven curtains.
8
The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; the eleven curtains shall have the same measurements.
9
You shall join five of the curtains together by themselves, and six of the curtains by themselves, and you shall fold the sixth curtain double at the front of the tent.
10
You shall make fifty loops on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain in the second set.
11
You shall make fifty bronze clasps, and put the clasps into the loops, and join the tent together, so that it may be one.
12
As for the overhanging part that remains of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remains shall hang over the back of the tabernacle.
13
A cubit on one side, and a cubit on the other side, of what remains in 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
You shall also make for the tent a covering of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow skins above that.
15
You shall make upright frames for the tabernacle of acacia wood.
16
The length of each frame shall be ten cubits, and the width of each frame one and a half cubits.
17
Each frame shall have two tenons, joined one to another; thus you shall do for all the frames of the tabernacle.”
18
You shall make boards for the Holy Tent, twenty boards for the south side.
19
And you shall make forty silver bases under the twenty boards, two bases under one board for its two tenons, and likewise two bases under each board for its two tenons.
20
For the second side of the Holy Tent, on the north side, you shall make twenty boards
21
with their forty silver bases: two bases under one board, and likewise two bases under each board.
22
For the rear side of the Holy Tent, on the west side, you shall make six boards.
23
And you shall make two boards for the corners of the Holy Tent at the rear.
24
These two boards shall be double at the lower end, and likewise they shall be double at the upper end, near the first ring; so shall it be with both of them; they shall form the two corners.
25
So there shall be eight boards with their silver bases: sixteen bases; two bases under one board, and likewise two bases under each board.
26
You shall also make bars of acacia wood: five for the boards on one side of the Holy Tent,
27
five bars for the boards on the second side of the Holy Tent, and five bars for the boards on the side of the Holy Tent that is the rear side, on the west.
28
And the middle bar, in the midst of the boards, shall run 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 set up the Holy Tent according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.
31
You shall make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine twisted linen; it shall be made with cherubim, the work of a skilled weaver.
32
You shall hang it on four pillars of acacia wood, overlaid with gold, with gold hooks, standing on four silver bases.
33
You shall hang the veil under the clasps of the tent, and you shall bring the ark of the testimony there, behind the veil, so that the veil shall be a separation for you between the holy place and the most holy place.
34
You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.
35
You shall place the table outside the veil, and the lampstand opposite the table on the south side of the Holy Tent, and you shall place the table on the north side.
36
Also you shall make a curtain for the entrance of the tent, of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine twisted linen, the work of an embroiderer.
37
And you shall make five pillars of acacia wood for the curtain, and overlay them with gold; their hooks shall be of gold, and you shall cast five bases of bronze for them.”
🏕️🎪📐 Summary of Exodus 26 – The Detailed Design of the Holy Tent
Exodus 26 contains detailed instructions from God to Moses concerning the structure of the Holy Tent (Tabernacle). This includes the curtains, coverings, framework boards, and the placing of the Most Holy Place and the Holy Place.
1. Inner Curtains (verses 1–6)
- Made of fine linen, blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, embroidered with figures of cherubim.
- There were ten curtains, each 28 cubits long (~12.6 meters) and 4 cubits wide (~1.8 meters).
- The curtains were joined into two large sections, then fastened together with gold clasps, forming one whole.
2. Outer Coverings of the Tent (verses 7–14)
- Second layer: curtains of black goat hair, eleven panels in all.
- Third and fourth layers: ram skins dyed red and dolphin skins (likely weather-resistant material).
- Purpose: to protect the inner structure and show the separation between holiness and the outside world.
3. Wooden Board Framework (verses 15–30)
- The boards were made of acacia wood, standing upright with silver bases beneath them.
- Each side of the Tent was arranged with a set number of boards: 20 on the south and north sides, 6+2 on the west side.
- All were joined with bars and gold rings, forming a strong frame.
4. The Veil of Separation (Holy Place and Most Holy Place) (verses 31–37)
- A special curtain separated the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place (the place of the Ark of the Covenant).
- The curtain was decorated with cherubim and hung on gold pillars with silver bases.
📖 Main Teaching
- The Lord cares deeply about the details of worship and His holy place.
- Every part of the Tabernacle has spiritual meaning, not merely architecture.
- Care and separation are part of the way God preserves His holiness.
- Access to God’s presence is limited and ordered in holiness, teaching us that holiness cannot be approached casually.
- Holiness is not only in the contents, but also in the structure and its carrying out.
✨ Spiritual Meaning
- The curtains with cherubim symbolize that God’s presence is guarded by heavenly beings, and can be approached only in the way appointed.
- The Most Holy Place is a symbol of God’s presence, and only the High Priest could enter once a year—this points to Christ as the true High Priest (Hebrews 9:11–12).
- The curtain torn when Jesus died (Mark 15:38) shows that the way into God’s presence is now open to all through Christ.
- The detailed design reflects that God is a God who is orderly, beautiful, and purposeful.
