Exo 26:1, 31 | Clarke | e4.org | CHAPTER XXVI The ten curtains of the tabernacle, and of what composed , 1. Their length, 2, 3; their loops, 4, 5; their taches, 6. The curtains of goats' hair for a covering , 7; their length and breadth, 8. Coupled with loops, 9, 10, and taches, 11. The remnant of the curtains, how to be employed , 12, 13. The covering of rams' skins, 14. The boards of the tabernacle for the south side , 15; their length , 16, tenons , 17, number , 18, sockets , 19. Boards, &c., for the north side , 20, 21. Boards, &c., for the west side , 22; for the corners , 23; their rings and sockets , 24, 25. The bars of the tabernacle , 26-30. The veil, its pillars, hooks, and taches , 31-33. How to place the mercy-seat, 34. The table and the candlestick , 35. The hanging for the door of the tent , 36; and the hangings for the pillars , 37. NOTES ON CHAP. XXVI Verse 1. Thou shalt make the tabernacle ] mischan , from shachan , to dwell , means simply a dwelling place or habitation of any kind, but here it means the dwelling place of Jehovah, who, as a king in his camp, had his dwelling or pavilion among his people, his table always spread, his lamps lighted , and the priests , &c., his attendants , always in waiting. From the minute and accurate description here given, a good workman, had he the same materials, might make a perfect fac simile of the ancient Jewish tabernacle. It was a movable building, and so constructed that it might be easily taken to pieces, for the greater convenience of carriage, as they were often obliged to transport it from place to place, in their various journeyings. For the twined linen, blue, purple , and scarlet , , &c. Cherubims ] . Cunning work ] chosheb probably means a sort of diaper , in which the figures appear equally perfect on both sides; this was probably formed in the loom. Another kind of curious work is mentioned, , rokem , which we term needle-work ; this was probably similar to our embroidery, tapestry , or cloth of arras . It has been thought unlikely that these curious works were all manufactured in the wilderness: what was done in the loom, they might have brought with them from Egypt; what could be done by hand, without the use of complex machinery, the Israelitish women could readily perform with their needles, during their stay in the wilderness. But still it seems probable that they brought even their looms with them. The whole of this account shows that not only necessary but ornamental arts had been carried to a considerable pitch of perfection, both among the Israelites and Egyptians. The inner curtains of the tabernacle were ten in number, and each in length twenty-eight cubits , and four in breadth; about sixteen yards twelve inches long, and two yards twelve inches broad. The curtains were to be coupled together, five and five of a side, by fifty loops, , and as many golden clasps, , so that each might look like one curtain, and the whole make one entire covering, which was the first .

‏ Exodus 26:1

CHAPTER XXVI

The ten curtains of the tabernacle, and of what composed, 1.

Their length, 2, 3;

their loops, 4, 5;

their taches, 6.

The curtains of goats' hair for a covering, 7;

their length and breadth, 8.

Coupled with loops, 9, 10,

and taches, 11.

The remnant of the curtains, how to be employed, 12, 13.

The covering of rams' skins, 14.

The boards of the tabernacle for the south side, 15;

their length, 16,

tenons, 17,

number, 18,

sockets, 19.

Boards, &c., for the north side, 20, 21.

Boards, &c., for the west side, 22;

for the corners, 23;

their rings and sockets, 24, 25.

The bars of the tabernacle, 26-30.

The veil, its pillars, hooks, and taches, 31-33.

How to place the mercy-seat, 34.

The table and the candlestick, 35.

The hanging for the door of the tent, 36;

and the hangings for the pillars, 37.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXVI

Verse 1. Thou shalt make the tabernacle] mischan, from shachan, to dwell, means simply a dwelling place or habitation of any kind, but here it means the dwelling place of Jehovah, who, as a king in his camp, had his dwelling or pavilion among his people, his table always spread, his lamps lighted, and the priests, &c., his attendants, always in waiting. From the minute and accurate description here given, a good workman, had he the same materials, might make a perfect fac simile of the ancient Jewish tabernacle. It was a movable building, and so constructed that it might be easily taken to pieces, for the greater convenience of carriage, as they were often obliged to transport it from place to place, in their various journeyings. For the twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet, See Clarke on Ex 25:4, &c.

Cherubims] See Clarke on Ex 25:18.

Cunning work] chosheb probably means a sort of diaper, in which the figures appear equally perfect on both sides; this was probably formed in the loom. Another kind of curious work is mentioned, Ex 26:36, rokem, which we term needle-work; this was probably similar to our embroidery, tapestry, or cloth of arras. It has been thought unlikely that these curious works were all manufactured in the wilderness: what was done in the loom, they might have brought with them from Egypt; what could be done by hand, without the use of complex machinery, the Israelitish women could readily perform with their needles, during their stay in the wilderness. But still it seems probable that they brought even their looms with them. The whole of this account shows that not only necessary but ornamental arts had been carried to a considerable pitch of perfection, both among the Israelites and Egyptians.

The inner curtains of the tabernacle were ten in number, and each in length twenty-eight cubits, and four in breadth; about sixteen yards twelve inches long, and two yards twelve inches broad. The curtains were to be coupled together, five and five of a side, by fifty loops, Ex 26:5, and as many golden clasps, Ex 26:6, so that each might look like one curtain, and the whole make one entire covering, which was the first.

‏ Exodus 26:31

Verse 31. Thou shalt make a veil.] parocheth, from parach, to break or rend; the inner veil of the tabernacle or temple, (2Ch 3:14,) which broke, interrupted, or divided between the holy place and the most holy; the Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was standing. Compare Heb 9:8. The Septuagint constantly render it by καταπετασμα. Does not the Hebrew name parocheth moreover intimate the typical correspondence of this veil to the body or flesh of Christ? For this καταπετασμα or veil was his flesh, (Heb 10:20,) which, being rent, affords us a new and living way into the holiest of all, i.e., into heaven itself. Compare Heb 10:19, 20; 9:24. And accordingly when his blessed body was rent upon the cross, this veil also (τοκαταπετασματουιερου) εσχισθη, was RENT in twain from the top to the bottom; Mt 27:51.-See Parkhurst, under the word .

The veil in the tabernacle was exceedingly costly; it was made of the same materials with the inner covering, blue, purple, scarlet, fine twined linen, embroidered with cherubim, &c. It served to divide the tabernacle into two parts: one, the outermost, called the holy place; the other, or innermost, called the holy of holies, or the most holy place. In this was deposited the ark of the covenant, and the other things that were laid up by way of memorial. Into this the high priest alone was permitted to enter, and that only once in the year, on the great day of atonement. It was in this inner place that Jehovah manifested himself between the cherubim. The Jews say that this veil was four fingers' breadth in thickness, in order to prevent any person from seeing through it; but for this, as Calmet observes, there was no necessity, as there was no window or place for light in the tabernacle, and consequently the most simple veil would have been sufficient to obstruct the discovery of any thing behind it, which could only be discerned by the light that came in at the door, or by that afforded by the golden candlestick which stood on the outside of this veil.