Exodus 26

King James Version

Full text for Exodus Chapter 26

1¶ Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle [with] ten curtains [of] fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: [with] cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.

2The length of one curtain [shall be] eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure.

3The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and [other] five curtains [shall be] coupled one to another.

4And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of [another] curtain, in the coupling of the second.

5Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that [is] in the coupling of the second; that the loops may take hold one of another.

6And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.

7¶ And thou shalt make curtains [of] goats' [hair] to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.

8The length of one curtain [shall be] thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains [shall be all] of one measure.

9And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tabernacle.

10And thou shalt make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain [that is] outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops in the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second.

11And thou shalt make fifty taches of brass, and put the taches into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one.

12And the remnant that remaineth of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the backside of the tabernacle.

13And a cubit on the one side, and a cubit on the other side of that which remaineth in the length of the curtains of the tent, it shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it.

14And thou shalt make a covering for the tent [of] rams' skins dyed red, and a covering above [of] badgers' skins.

15¶ And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle [of] shittim wood standing up.

16Ten cubits [shall be] the length of a board, and a cubit and a half [shall be] the breadth of one board.

17Two tenons [shall there be] in one board, set in order one against another: thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle.

18And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards on the south side southward.

19And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.

20And for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side [there shall be] twenty boards:

21And their forty sockets [of] silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.

22And for the sides of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards.

23And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.

24And they shall be coupled together beneath, and they shall be coupled together above the head of it unto one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners.

25And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets [of] silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.

26And thou shalt make bars [of] shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,

27And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the two sides westward.

28And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end.

29And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings [of] gold [for] places for the bars: and thou shalt overlay the bars with gold.

30And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount.

31¶ And thou shalt make a vail [of] blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:

32And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim [wood] overlaid with gold: their hooks [shall be of] gold, upon the four sockets of silver.

33And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy [place] and the most holy.

34And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy [place].

35And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.

36And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, [of] blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.

37And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars [of] shittim [wood], and overlay them with gold, [and] their hooks [shall be of] gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Exodus 26 details the precise divine instructions for constructing the Tabernacle, beginning with its inner and outer curtain coverings. It describes the specific materials, dimensions, and assembly of the fine linen and goats' hair curtains, along with their gold and brass fastenings. The chapter further outlines the wooden board framework, silver sockets, and gold-overlaid bars, concluding with the design of the inner vail separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, and the outer door hanging.

Medium Summary

This chapter provides God's detailed blueprint for the Tabernacle's construction, starting with ten inner curtains of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet, adorned with cherubims. These curtains, each 28 cubits long, were to be coupled into two sets of five with blue loops and gold taches, forming a unified covering. Over this, eleven curtains of goats' hair were specified as an outer covering, joined by brass taches, with additional coverings of rams' skins dyed red and badgers' skins. The structural framework consisted of shittim wood boards, 10 cubits long, standing upright in silver sockets, reinforced by gold-overlaid shittim wood bars. A significant feature was the vail of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen, intricately woven with cherubims, which was to divide the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Testimony would reside. Finally, instructions were given for the placement of the table and candlestick in the Holy Place, and for the hanging at the entrance of the tent.

Long Summary

Exodus chapter 26 meticulously outlines the divine specifications for the construction of the Tabernacle, beginning with its innermost layer of ten curtains. These curtains were to be crafted from fine twined linen, dyed blue, purple, and scarlet, and skillfully embroidered with cherubims. Each curtain measured twenty-eight cubits in length and four cubits in breadth, and they were to be coupled into two sets of five using fifty blue loops and fifty gold taches, forming a single, unified structure. Overlaying these, a second set of eleven curtains made of goats' hair was prescribed, each thirty cubits long and four cubits wide, joined by brass taches, with a portion designed to hang over the back and sides of the Tabernacle for complete coverage. Further protection was to be provided by an outer covering of rams' skins dyed red, topped by a final layer of badgers' skins. The chapter then details the Tabernacle's rigid framework, consisting of shittim wood boards, each ten cubits long and one and a half cubits wide, designed to stand upright. Twenty boards were specified for the south side, twenty for the north side, and six for the west side, with two additional boards for the corners, all resting in forty silver sockets per long side and sixteen for the west. These boards were to be reinforced by shittim wood bars, five for each side, with a central bar extending the full length, and all boards and bars were to be overlaid with pure gold, fitted with gold rings. A crucial element was the vail, made of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, also adorned with cherubims, which was to hang on four gold-overlaid shittim wood pillars set in silver sockets. This vail served to separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, within which the Ark of the Testimony and the mercy seat were to be placed. Outside the vail, in the Holy Place, the table was to be set on the north side and the candlestick on the south. The chapter concludes with instructions for the hanging at the entrance of the tent, made of similar materials and supported by five gold-overlaid shittim wood pillars with brass sockets. All these components were to be constructed precisely according to the pattern revealed on Mount Sinai.

Core Concepts

  • Tabernacle CurtainsThe primary coverings of the Tabernacle, consisting of an inner layer of fine linen with cherubims (blue, purple, scarlet) and an outer layer of goats' hair, joined by loops and taches. These layers provided both beauty and protection for the sacred space.
  • Structural FrameworkThe upright boards of shittim wood, overlaid with gold, which formed the rigid walls of the Tabernacle. These boards were secured by silver sockets at their base and reinforced by gold-overlaid bars running through gold rings.
  • The VailA richly embroidered curtain of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen, featuring cherubims, which served as a crucial divider. It separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, signifying the sacred boundary of God's immediate presence.
  • Holy Place and Most Holy PlaceThe two distinct areas within the Tabernacle, separated by the vail. The Most Holy Place housed the Ark of the Testimony, while the Holy Place contained the table of shewbread and the candlestick, representing different levels of access to God's presence.
  • Divine PatternThe recurring emphasis that all components of the Tabernacle, from the curtains to the framework and internal divisions, were to be constructed precisely according to the specific design and fashion shown to Moses on Mount Sinai. This underscores the divine origin and purpose of the sanctuary.
  • Materials and CraftsmanshipThe detailed specification of materials like fine twined linen, goats' hair, shittim wood, gold, silver, and brass, alongside the mention of "cunning work" and "needlework," highlights the high quality and skilled artistry required for the Tabernacle's construction.
  • Portability and AssemblyThe design elements, such as the coupling of curtains with taches, the tenons on boards, and the system of bars and sockets, indicate that the Tabernacle was designed for easy assembly, disassembly, and transport during Israel's wilderness journeys.