Bible Commentaries
Exodus 26

Verse 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 them.

Thou shalt make the tabernacle. — A type, (1.) Of Christ who "dwelt among us, full of grace and truth"; John 1:14 (2.) Of the Church built by Christ; 1 Corinthians 3:9 (3.) Of every true Christian. Ephesians 2:19-22

Verse 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.

Of the curtains. — Not, Of the tabernacles, as the vulgar interpreter hath it.

Verse 3

The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and [other] five curtains [shall be] coupled one to another.

Shall be coupled together. — These curtains were coupled with loops; so should Christians by love. "My dove is but one: the daughters saw her and blessed her." Song of Solomon 6:9 See Ephesians 2:21-22 ; Ephesians 4:16 .

Verse 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.

Upon the edge of the one curtain. — The coupling of these two great curtains together, to make one tabernacle, might signify that the saints both in heaven and earth do make but one Church. Ephesians 1:10 ; Ephesians 3:15

Verse 6

And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.

With the taches. — So is "the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Ephesians 4:3

Shall be one tabernacle. — See those many ones in Ephesians 4:3-5 , See Trapp on " Ephesians 4:3 " See Trapp on " Ephesians 4:4 " See Trapp on " Ephesians 4:5 "

Verse 7

And thou shalt make curtains [of] goats’ [hair] to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.

Of goats’ hair. — The tabernacle was goats’ hair without, and gold within. God hid his Son under the carpenter’s son. "The king’s daughter is all glorious within." Psalms 45:13 And all her sons are princes in all lands. Psalms 45:16 Howbeit, they must be content to pass to heaven as Christ their Head did, as concealed men. "Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew not him." John 1:10 "Our life is hid with Christ," Colossians 3:4 as the life of flowers in winter is hid in the root.

Verse 14

And thou shalt make a covering for the tent [of] rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering above [of] badgers’ skins.

A covering for the tent. — Shadowing out God’s protecting his people, Isaiah 4:6 ; Isaiah 25:4 Psalms 27:5 as these rams’ skins covered the ark from the violence of wind and weather.

Verse 15

And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle [of] shittim wood standing up.

Standing up. — As pillars. "Him that overcometh will Christ make a pillar in God’s temple." Revelation 3:12

Verse 28

And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end.

And the middle bar in the midst of the boards. — The fastening together of these boards thus with bars signified, saith an interpreter, the uniting of all the members together by one and the same Spirit in Christ: "from whom the whole body fitly joined together, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in love." Ephesians 4:16

Verse 31

And thou shalt make a vail [of] blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:

With cherubims. — To note the special presence and attendance of the holy angels in the assemblies of the saints. Luke 1:11 John 1:51

Verse 36

And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, [of] blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.

A hanging for the door. — This shadowed him that said of himself, "I am the door." John 10:9 The ceremonial law was the Jews’ gospel, for it was Christ in figure; and to him it led them.

Verse 37

And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars [of] shittim [wood], and overlay them with gold, [and] their hooks [shall be of] gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.

Of shittim wood. — This, say some, they might bring with them out of Egypt, for necessary uses. Others note that great store of it grew in the desert of Arabia.