Instructions for the Tabernacle
Exodus 26“Moreover you are to make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim. You are to make them with the work of a skillful worker. Each curtain should be twenty-eight cubits long,+26:2 A cubit is the length from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow on a man’s arm, or about 18 inches or 46 centimeters. and four cubits width: all the curtains should have the same measure. Five curtains are to be joined together to one another, and the other five curtains are to be joined to one another. You are to make loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain from the edge in the coupling, and you are to do likewise on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second coupling. You are to make fifty loops in the one curtain, and make fifty loops in the edge of the curtain that is in the second set. The loops should be opposite one another. You are to make fifty clasps of gold, and join the curtains to one another with the clasps, so the tabernacle is a unit.
“You are to make curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the tabernacle. You are to make eleven curtains. Each curtain is to be thirty cubits long and four cubits wide: the eleven curtains are to have the same measure. You are to join five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and double over the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tent. You are to make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outermost in the coupling, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain which is outermost in the second coupling. You are to make fifty clasps of bronze, and put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one. The overhanging part that remains of the curtains of the tent—the half curtain that remains—are to hang over the back of the tabernacle. The cubit on the one side and the cubit on the other side, of that which remains in the length of the curtains of the tent, is to hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it. You are to make a covering for the tent of ram skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.
“You are to make the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright. Ten cubits is to be the length of a board, and one and a half cubits the width of each board. There are to be two tenons in each board, joined to one another: thus you are to make for all the boards of the tabernacle. You are to make twenty boards for the tabernacle, for the south side southward. You are to make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two sockets under another board for its two tenons. For the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, twenty boards, and their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board. For the far side of the tabernacle westward you are to make six boards. You are to make two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the far side. They are to be paired from the bottom to the top in to one ring, for them both, they will be for the two corners. There is to be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
“You are to make bars of acacia wood: five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the far side westward. The middle bar in the middle of the boards is to pass through from end to end. You are to overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars. You are to overlay the bars with gold. You are to set up the tabernacle according to the way that it was shown to you on the mountain.
“You are to make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. It will be the work of a skillful artisan. You are to hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold with hooks of gold on silver bases. You are to hang up the veil under the clasps and bring the ark of the covenant in there within the veil. The veil will make a separation for y’all between the holy place from the most holy place. You are to put the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant in the most holy place. You are to place the table outside the veil, and the lamp stand opposite the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south, then put the table on the north side.
“You are to make a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer. You are to make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold with hooks of gold. You are to cast five bronze bases for them.