Exodus 26:1-6 (ESV)

“Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns; you shall make them with cherubim skillfully worked into them. The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains shall be the same size. Five curtains shall be coupled to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another. And you shall make loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set. Likewise you shall make loops on the edge of the outermost curtain in the second set. Fifty loops you shall make on the one curtain, and fifty loops you shall make on the edge of the curtain that is in the second set; the loops shall be opposite one another. And you shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains one to the other with the clasps, so that the tabernacle may be a single whole.”

So, when all these pieces are joined together, they become a single cloth 40 cubits by 28 cubits (60’ x 42’). How does this make a tabernacle?

The tabernacle is a huge tent with a wooden frame. This fabric forms the ceiling of the tent plus covers the outside of the frame.

The frame is described in the next readings. It’s approximately 30 cubits long by 10 cubits wide by 10 cubits high (45’ x 15’ x 15’). If you drop a 60’ x 42’ piece of fabric over this like a tablecloth, you can almost completely cover the top, two sides, and one end, leaving the other end open for the entrance.

So, this covering hangs almost to the floor on both sides and one end but barely reaches the edge of the “table” on the other end. Of course, you’d never want a tablecloth to be that far off center, but it makes perfect sense here.

That’s the basic design. More layers of covering will be added to make it waterproof, but they will follow this geometry.

Sometimes God’s instructions are general principles and sometimes He gives specifics. The tabernacle design is specific. Why does this particular task need to be exactly specified while other things don’t?

This is an exciting question because the answer would give us insight into God’s priorities. That could allow us to serve Him better, or at least alert us to what’s most important.

Unfortunately, this question is as difficult as it is exciting. We do have some clues though. This parallels the difference between the Old and New Testaments. The presence of the Holy Spirit gives us liberty.

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. – Jeremiah 31:33a (ESV)

It’s a tremendous honor to be given flexibility in how to serve God. However, the responsibility is scary.

We who teach will be judged with greater strictness. – James 3:1 (ESV)

The weekly study guides, which include discussion questions, are available for download here:

https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies