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The Tabernacle Underwritten

¹ "Now Bezalel and Oholiab, and every ^(F1)skillful person in whom the LORD has put ^(F2)skill and understanding to know how to perform all the work ^(F3)in the construction of the sanctuary, shall perform in accordance with all that the LORD has commanded."

² Then Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every ^(F1)skillful person in ^(F2)whom the LORD had put ^(F3)skill, ^(C1)everyone whose heart stirred him, to come to the work to perform it.³ They received from Moses all the ^(F1)contributions which the sons of Israel had brought ^(F2)to perform the work ^(F3)in the construction of the sanctuary. And they still continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning.⁴ And all the ^(F1)skillful men who were performing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from ^(F2)the work which ^(F3)he was performing,⁵ and they said to ^(F1)Moses, "^(C1)The people are bringing much more than enough for the ^(F2)construction work which the LORD commanded us to ^(F3)perform."⁶ So Moses issued a command, and a ^(F1)proclamation was circulated throughout the camp, saying, "Let no man or woman any longer perform work for the ^(F2)contributions of the sanctuary." Thus the people were restrained from bringing any more.^7 (C1)For the ^(F1)material they had was sufficient and more than enough for all the work, to perform it.

Construction Proceeds

^8 (C1)All the ^(F1)skillful men among those who were performing the work made the ^(F2)tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twisted linen and ^(F3)blue and purple and scarlet material, with cherubim, the work of a skillful workman, ^(F4)Bezalel made them.⁹ The length of each curtain was twenty-eight ^(F1)cubits and the width of each curtain four ^(F1)cubits; all the curtains had ^(F2)the same measurements.¹⁰ He ^(F1)joined five curtains to one another and the other five curtains he ^(F1)joined to one another.¹¹ He made loops of ^(F1)blue on the edge of the ^(F2)outermost curtain in the first ^(F3)set; he did likewise on the edge of the curtain that was ^(F2)outermost in the second ^(F3)set.¹² He made ^(C1)fifty loops in the one curtain and he made fifty loops on the ^(F1)edge of the curtain that was in the second ^(F2)set; the loops were opposite each other.¹³ He made ^(C1)fifty clasps of gold and ^(F1)joined the curtains to one another with the clasps, so the tabernacle was ^(F2)a unit.

¹⁴ Then ^(C1)he made curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle; he made eleven curtains ^(F1)in all.¹⁵ The length of each curtain was thirty cubits and four cubits the width of each curtain; the eleven curtains had ^(F1)the same measurements.¹⁶ He ^(F1)joined five curtains by themselves and the other six curtains by themselves.¹⁷ Moreover, he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the first ^(F1)set, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the second ^(F1)set.¹⁸ He made fifty clasps of ^(F1)bronze to ^(F2)join the tent together so that it would be ^(F3)a unit.¹⁹ He made a covering for the tent of rams' skins ^(F1)dyed red, and a covering of porpoise skins above.

^20 (C1)Then he made the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright.²¹ Ten cubits was the length of ^(F1)each board and one and a half cubits the width of each board.²² There were two tenons for each board, ^(F1)fitted to one another; thus he did for all the boards of the tabernacle.²³ He made the boards for the tabernacle: twenty boards ^(F1)for the south side;²⁴ and he made forty ^(F1)sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two ^(F1)sockets under one board for its two tenons and two ^(F1)sockets under another board for its two tenons.²⁵ Then for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty boards,²⁶ and their forty ^(F1)sockets of silver; two ^(F1)sockets under one board and two ^(F1)sockets under another board.²⁷ For the ^(F1)rear of the tabernacle, to the west, he made six boards.²⁸ He made two boards for the corners of the ^(F1)tabernacle at the ^(F2)rear.²⁹ They were double beneath, and together they were complete to its ^(F1)top ^(F2)to the first ring; thus he did with both of them for the two corners.³⁰ There were eight boards with their ^(F1)sockets of silver, sixteen ^(F1)sockets, ^(F2)two under every board.

³¹ Then he made ^(C1)bars of acacia wood, five for the boards of one side of the tabernacle,³² and five bars for the boards of the ^(F1)other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the ^(F2)rear side to the west.³³ He made the middle bar to pass through in the ^(F1)center of the boards from end to end.³⁴ He overlaid the boards with gold and made their rings of gold as holders for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.

^35 (C1)Moreover, he made the veil of ^(F1)blue and purple and scarlet material, and fine twisted linen; he made it with cherubim, the work of a skillful workman.³⁶ He made four pillars of acacia for it, and overlaid them with gold, with their hooks of gold; and he cast four ^(F1)sockets of silver for them.³⁷ He made a ^(C1)screen for the doorway of the tent, of ^(F1)blue and purple and scarlet material, and fine twisted linen, the work of a ^(F2)weaver;³⁸ and he made its ^(C1)five pillars with their hooks, and he overlaid their tops and their ^(F1)bands with gold; but their five ^(F2)sockets were of ^(F3)bronze.