In our study of Exodus chapter twenty six, we look at the precision that was involved in constructing the tabernacle.
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"You are to make the tabernacle with ten sheets of finely woven linen and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn. You are to make them with k'ruvim worked in, that have been crafted by a skilled artisan. Each one is to be forty-two feet long and six feet wide; all the sheets are to be the same size. Five sheets are to be joined one to another, and the other five sheets are to be joined one to another.
Now, we see the start of the construction of the mishkan (tabernacle)and we see that ten curtains made of twisted lined are to be used but, once again, without seeing the pattern in heaven like Moshe did, we cannot really understand how the tabernacle is to be made. We see the size of each curtain is 28 cubits by 4 cubits and are reminded that the number four has to do with the nations of the earth while 28 has to do with global holiness. In this, we see that, at some point, all the nations will come and worship the Lord and we see this again in Zechariah 14 where it says the nations will come to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
Make loops of blue on the edge of the outermost sheet in the first set, and do the same on the edge of the outermost sheet in the second set. Make fifty loops on the one sheet, and make fifty loops on the edge of the sheet in the second set; the loops are to be opposite one another. Make fifty fasteners of gold, and couple the sheets to each other with the fasteners, so that the tabernacle forms a single unit.
Here, we see how the curtains are to be joined together using hooks made of gold. We also see that there are 50 fasteners and that number speaks of freedom from the bondage of the ways of the world.
"You are to make sheets of goat's hair to be used as a tent covering the tabernacle; make eleven sheets. Each sheet is to be forty-five feet long and six feet wide - all eleven sheets are to be the same size. Join five sheets together and six sheets together, and fold the sixth sheet double at the front of the tent. Make fifty loops on the edge of the outermost sheet in the first set and fifty loops on the edge of the outermost sheet in the second set. Make fifty fasteners of bronze, put the fasteners in the loops, and join the tent together, so that it forms a single unit. As for the overhanging part that remains of the sheets forming the tent, the half-sheet remaining is to hang over the back of the tabernacle; and the eighteen inches on the one side and the eighteen inches on the other side of that remaining in the length of the sheets forming the tent is to hang over the tabernacle to cover it on each side. "You are to make a covering for the tent of tanned ram skins and an outer covering of fine leather.
The inner structure of the tabernacle was to be covered by layers with the first layer being curtains made of goat's hair, the second layer made of ram skins, and a third layer made out of the skins of some animal but we are not sure what animal that was to be. We see that the layer of goat's hair was to be made of eleven curtains and that number is a reminder that grace makes the imperfect perfect.
"Make the upright planks for the tabernacle out of acacia-wood. Each plank is to be fifteen feet long and two-and-a-quarter feet wide. There are to be two projections on each plank, and the planks are to be joined one to another. That is how you are to make all the planks for the tabernacle. "Make the planks for the tabernacle as follows: twenty planks for the south side, facing southward. Make forty silver sockets under the twenty planks, two sockets under one plank for its two projections and two sockets under another plank for its two projections. "For the second side of the tabernacle, to the north, make twenty planks and their forty silver sockets, two sockets under one plank and two under another. "For the rear part of the tabernacle, toward the west, make six planks. For the corners of the tabernacle in the rear, make two planks; these are to be double from the bottom all the way to the top but joined at a single ring. Do the same with both of them; they are to form the two corners. Thus there will be eight planks with their silver sockets, sixteen sockets, two sockets under one plank and two under another.
This passage speaks of the wooden frame that was to support the curtains of the tent and how the frame was to be joined together.
"Make crossbars of acacia-wood, five for the planks of the one side of the tabernacle, five crossbars for the planks of the other side of the tabernacle, and five crossbars for the planks at the side of the tabernacle at the rear toward the west. The middle crossbar, halfway up the planks, is to extend from end to end. Overlay the planks with gold, make gold rings for them through which the crossbars will pass, and overlay the crossbars with gold.
There were to be poles covered with gold that were to hold the entire structure together.
"You are to erect the tabernacle according to the design you have been shown on the mountain. "You are to make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely woven linen. Make it with k'ruvim worked in, that have been crafted by a skilled artisan. Hang it with gold hooks on four acacia-wood posts overlaid with gold and standing in four silver sockets. Hang the curtain below the fasteners. Then bring the ark for the testimony inside the curtain; the curtain will be the divider for you between the Holy Place and the Especially Holy Place.
Now, we see the veil that was to be used to separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. This is the same veil that was torn when Yeshua died on the cross.
You are to put the ark-cover on the ark for the testimony in the Especially Holy Place. "You are to put the table outside the curtain and the menorah opposite the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south; put the table on the north side.
Now, the heavenly furnishings are placed in the tabernacle in their proper places.
"For the entrance to the tent, make a screen of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely woven linen; it should be in colors, the work of a weaver. For the screen, make five posts of acacia-wood; overlay them with gold; and cast for them five sockets of bronze.
The entrance to the tabernacle was to be covered by a screen made in the similar manner as the rest of the tabernacle.
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