Exodus 26

The Tabernacle Curtains

¹“Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim. You shall make them with the work of a skillful workman.

²The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits: all the curtains shall have one measure.

³Five curtains shall be coupled together to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another.

⁴You shall make loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain from the edge in the coupling, and you shall do likewise on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second coupling.

⁵You shall make fifty loops in the one curtain, and you shall make fifty loops in the edge of the curtain that is in the second coupling. The loops shall be opposite one another.

⁶You shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains to one another with the clasps. The tabernacle shall be a unit.

⁷“You shall make curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the tabernacle. You shall make eleven curtains.

⁸The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits: the eleven curtains shall have one measure.

⁹You shall couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shall double over the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tent.

¹⁰You shall make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outermost in the coupling, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain which is outermost in the second coupling.

¹¹You shall make fifty clasps of bronze, and put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one.

¹²The overhanging part that remains of the curtains of the tent—the half curtain that remains—shall hang over the back of the tabernacle.

¹³The cubit on the one side and the cubit on the other side, of that which 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.

¹⁴You shall make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.

The Tabernacle Framework

¹⁵“You shall make the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright.

¹⁶Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and one and a half cubits the width of each board.

¹⁷There shall be two tenons in each board, joined to one another: thus you shall make for all the boards of the tabernacle.

¹⁸You shall make twenty boards for the tabernacle, for the south side southward.

¹⁹You shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two sockets under another board for its two tenons.

²⁰For the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, twenty boards,

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

²²For the far side of the tabernacle westward you shall make six boards.

²³You shall make two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the far side.

²⁴They shall be double beneath, and in the same way they shall be whole to its top to one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners.

²⁵There shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.

²⁶“You shall make bars of acacia 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 far side westward.

²⁸The middle bar in the middle of the boards shall pass through from end to end.

²⁹You shall overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars. You shall overlay the bars with gold.

³⁰You shall set up the tabernacle according to the way that it was shown to you on the mountain.

The Veil and Screen

³¹“You shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. It shall be the work of a skillful workman.

³²You shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold; their hooks shall be of gold, on four sockets of silver.

³³You shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and shall bring the ark of the covenant in there within the veil. The veil shall separate the holy place from the most holy for you.

³⁴You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant in the most holy place.

³⁵You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lamp stand opposite the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south. You shall put the table on the north side.

³⁶“You shall make a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer.

³⁷You shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold. You shall cast five sockets of bronze for them.

Previous Exodus 25

Next Exodus 27

Exodus 26 provides detailed instructions for constructing the tabernacle's interior structure, including the elaborate curtain system, wooden framework, and sacred partitions. God specifies precise measurements and materials for the fine linen curtains with cherubim, the goat hair tent covering, and the acacia wood boards with silver bases that form the tabernacle's walls. The chapter concludes with instructions for the veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, and the screen for the tabernacle entrance, establishing the sacred boundaries within Israel's portable sanctuary.

Context

Following the instructions for the ark and furnishings in chapter 25, this chapter details the tabernacle structure itself, preparing for the priestly garments and consecration rituals in chapters 28-29.

Key Themes

Outline

1-6
Inner Curtains of Fine Linen Ten ornate curtains with cherubim, joined by gold clasps to form the tabernacle's inner covering.
7-14
Outer Tent Coverings Eleven goat hair curtains with bronze clasps, plus protective coverings of ram and sea cow skins.
15-30
Wooden Framework and Bases Acacia wood boards with silver sockets forming the tabernacle's walls on three sides.
31-35
The Veil Ornate curtain separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, hung on gold-overlaid pillars.
36-37
The Entrance Screen Embroidered screen for the tabernacle door, supported by five acacia wood pillars with bronze bases.

The Tabernacle Curtains

26:1–26:14

law instruction solemn

Instructions for making the tabernacle curtains from fine linen with cherubim designs and goat hair coverings. The detailed measurements and coupling methods ensure the tabernacle forms a unified sacred space.

structural

The cherubim woven into the tabernacle's inner curtains create the only biblical instance where these divine guardians appear as decorative art rather than living beings or golden sculptures.

The Tabernacle Framework

26:15–26:30

law instruction solemn

Detailed instructions for constructing the wooden framework of the tabernacle, including specifications for boards, sockets, and bars made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. These precise measurements and materials establish the sacred structure where God will dwell among His people.

structural

The Hebrew word "qeresh" (board/plank) appears 26 times in this passage alone—more than its total occurrences in the rest of the Old Testament combined.

The Veil and Screen

26:31–26:37

law instruction solemn

Instructions for creating the veil that separates the holy place from the most holy place, and the screen for the tabernacle entrance. The veil with cherubim creates a sacred boundary protecting the ark of the covenant in the most holy place.

structural

The veil's cherubim motif uniquely mirrors Eden's cherubim guardians (Genesis 3:24), transforming the tabernacle's innermost sanctuary into a restored paradise where God's presence dwells protected.

Insight Literary Structure

The cherubim woven into the tabernacle's inner curtains create the only biblical instance where these divine guardians appear as decorative art rather than living beings or golden sculptures.

Insight Literary Structure

The Hebrew word "qeresh" (board/plank) appears 26 times in this passage alone—more than its total occurrences in the rest of the Old Testament combined.

Insight Literary Structure

The veil's cherubim motif uniquely mirrors Eden's cherubim guardians (Genesis 3:24), transforming the tabernacle's innermost sanctuary into a restored paradise where God's presence dwells protected.