Exodus 26:1-14

Exodus 26:1-14

[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  [2] The 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.  [3] The five  curtains  shall be coupled together  one  to another;  and other five  curtains  shall be coupled  one  to another.  [4] And 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.  [5] Fifty  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.  [6] And 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.  [8] The 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.  [9] And thou shalt couple  five  curtains  by themselves, and six  curtains  by themselves, and shalt double  the sixth  curtain  in the forefront  of the tabernacle.  [10] And 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.  [11] And thou shalt make  fifty  taches  of brass,  and put  the taches  into the loops,  and couple  the tent  together, that it may be one.  [12] And the remnant  that remaineth  of the curtains  of the tent,  the half  curtain  that remaineth,  shall hang  over the backside  of the tabernacle.  [13] And 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  [14] And thou shalt make  a covering  for the tent  of rams'  skins  dyed red,  and a covering  above  of badgers'  skins. 

What does Exodus 26:1-14 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The extent to which these curtains were visible from inside the tabernacle is not clear in the text and has been the subject of debate by commentators. They were of four colors that some writers have interpreted as having symbolic significance on the basis of other biblical references to and uses of these colors. The colors were white (holiness), blue (heavenly origin and character), purple (royal glory), and crimson (blood and vigorous life). Blue was also the color of garments that people of high social standing wore ( 1 Samuel 18:4; 1 Samuel 24:4).
"Woven into the fabric of the curtains were images of cherubim, apparently intended to recall the theme of "paradise lost" by alluding to the cherubim which guarded the "Tree of Life" in Genesis 3:24." [1]
Some interpreters have seen in the goats" skins separation from evil. The later prophets in Israel who dressed in goatskins called the people to holiness and separation from evil. Some have felt the rams" skins dyed red taught the Israelites the importance of devotion to God since God specified the use of rams in some offerings of worship. A slightly different interpretation follows.
"Within the sanctuary, moving from the inside out, the curtains of fine linen were visible only to the priests who served in the presence of him who is purity and righteousness itself. The curtains of goats" hair were reminders of the daily sin offering that was a kid from the goats ( Numbers 28:15) and of our cleansing from sin ( Leviticus 16). The covering of rams" skins also recalled the sacrifice used in consecrating the priesthood ( Leviticus 8); and it was deliberately dyed red, showing that the priesthood was set apart by blood. Finally, the protective coating of the sea cows" [2] hides marked a protective separation between the dwelling place of God and the world." [3]
The total area covered by these tapestries was45 feet long by15 feet wide by15 feet high. The most holy place was a15-foot cube and the holy place was30 by15 by15 feet. Thus the tabernacle structure was only about one and a half modern parking spaces wide and a little more than two parking spaces long.