Bible Commentaries

Exodus 26:1 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.

Ver. 1. 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]

Exodus 26:2 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.

Ver. 2. Of the curtains.] Not, Of the tabernacles, as the vulgar interpreter hath it.

Exodus 26:3 The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and [other] five curtains [shall be] coupled one to another.

Ver. 3. 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.

Exodus 26:4 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.

Ver. 4. 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]

Exodus 26:6 And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.

Ver. 6. 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"}

Exodus 26:7 And thou shalt make curtains [of] goats’ [hair] to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.

Ver. 7. 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.

Exodus 26:14 And thou shalt make a covering for the tent [of] rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering above [of] badgers’ skins.

Ver. 14. 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.

Exodus 26:15 And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle [of] shittim wood standing up.

Ver. 15. Standing up.] As pillars. "Him that overcometh will Christ make a pillar in God’s temple." [Revelation 3:12]

Exodus 26:28 And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end.

Ver. 28. 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]

Exodus 26:31 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:

Ver. 31. 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]

Exodus 26:36 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.

Ver. 36. 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.

Exodus 26:37 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.

Ver. 37. 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.