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The Tabernacle Underwritten

¹ "Now Bezalel, 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 everything that the LORD has commanded."

² Then Moses called Bezalel, 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 every ^(F1)contribution which the sons of Israel had brought to perform ^(F2)the work ^(F3)in the construction of the sanctuary. And they still continued bringing to him ^(F4)voluntary offerings every morning.⁴ And all the ^(F1)skillful people who were performing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from ^(F2)the work which they were 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 circulated a ^(F1)proclamation throughout the camp, saying, "No man or woman is to perform work any longer for the ^(F2)contributions of the sanctuary." So 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 Begins

^8 (C1)All the ^(F1)skillful people among those who were performing the work made the ^(F2)tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twisted linen and ^(F3)violet, purple, and scarlet material, with cherubim, the work of a skilled embroiderer, ^(F4)Bezalel made them.⁹ The length of each curtain was ^(F1)twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four 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 And he made loops of violet on the edge of the ^(F1)outermost curtain in the first ^(F2)set; he did likewise on the edge of the curtain that was ^(F1)outermost in the second ^(F2)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 also made ^(C1)fifty clasps of gold, and ^(F1)joined the curtains to one another with the clasps, so that the tabernacle was ^(F2)a unit.

¹⁴ Then ^(C1)he made curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle; he ^(F1)made eleven curtains in all.¹⁵ The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits was 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 also made fifty clasps of ^(F1)bronze to ^(F2)join the tent together so that it would be ^(F3)a unit.¹⁹ And he made a covering for the tent of rams' skins ^(F1)dyed red, and a covering of ^(F2)fine leather 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; he did this to all the boards of the tabernacle.²³ So he made the boards for the tabernacle: twenty boards ^(F1)for the south side;²⁴ and he made forty bases of silver under the twenty boards; two bases under one board for its two tenons, and two bases 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 bases of silver; two bases under one board, and two bases under another board.²⁷ And for the ^(F1)back 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)back.²⁹ They were double beneath, and together they were complete to its ^(F1)top, ^(F2)to the first ring; he did this with both of them for the two corners.³⁰ There were eight boards with their bases of silver, sixteen bases, two bases 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)back side to the west.³³ And he made the middle bar to pass through in the ^(F1)center of the boards from end to end.³⁴ Then 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 violet, purple, and scarlet material, and fine twisted linen; he made it with cherubim, the work of a skilled embroiderer.³⁶ And he made four pillars of acacia for it, and overlaid them with gold, with their hooks of gold; and he cast four bases of silver for them.³⁷ He also made a ^(C1)curtain for the doorway of the tent, of violet, purple, and scarlet material, and fine twisted linen, the work of a ^(F1)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 bases were of ^(F2)bronze.