Exodus 26

1 the tabernacle. This word means, “dwelling-place” (i.e., of God); and designates the interior structure of wood covered by embroidered curtains; over which was the tent—a triple covering, first one of woven goats’ hair, and two above of skins. It contained two compartments—the holy place, and the most holy—separated by the great vail. It was formed of forty-eight boards of shittim (or acacia) wood, about seventeen feet long and two and a half broad; covered with gold, and resting on bases of silver; and bound together by five transverse bars or beams of the same wood, likewise plated with gold; so that it had the appearance inside of a wall of gold. The length was about fifty-two or fifty-four feet, the breadth sixteen or eighteen, and the height about eighteen. It was so constructed, as to be easily taken apart and carried from place to place. For its symbolical reference see Heb. ix. 14, 24. The ark of God had no more substantial dwelling-place till the building of the temple. It was the seat and symbol of the Divine kingdom upon earth. With evident reference to the ancient temple, it is written, “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt [tabernacled] among us” (John i. 14). See also John ii. 19; 2 Cor. vi. 16; Eph. ii. 22; Col. i. 19; ii. 9; Heb. viii. 2; ix. 11, 24.

6 taches. A Celtic word, the same as “tack,” found also in the derived word “attach,” and meaning buckles or clasps.

7 goats’ [hair]. A coarse sort of cloth made from goats’ hair is still used in the East for covering tents. The Asiatic goat has longer and finer hair than the European, “a covering,” i.e., “a tent over the tabernacle” (R.V.).

10 which couplet the second. i.e., to correspond with the first or “outmost” curtain.

17 tenons. “pegs.”

31 vail. The vail of separation between the holy place, where the priests ministered daily, and the most holy, into which the high priest alone entered once a year, seems to represent the concealment of God’s brightest glory from the view of man, as well as to intimate that, except through the future atonement, the infinitely holy majesty of God must be inaccessible to sinful man. When a further revelation of the Divine character was made, and the plan of redemption was completed by the death of Christ, the vail was rent from top to bottom (Matt. xxvii. 51). See also Heb. x. 19, 20.