Exodus

Exodus 36:8-38

The skilled workers construct the tabernacle structure and veil according to the Lord’s commanded design.

Exodus 36:8-38 (WEB)

8 All the wise-hearted men among those who did the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet. They made them with cherubim, the work of a skillful workman.

9 The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits. All the curtains had one measure.

10 He coupled five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he coupled to one another.

11 He made loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain from the edge in the coupling. Likewise he made in the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the second coupling.

12 He made fifty loops in the one curtain, and he made fifty loops in the edge of the curtain that was in the second coupling. The loops were opposite to one another.

13 He made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains to one another with the clasps: so the tabernacle was a unit.

14 He made curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the tabernacle. He made them eleven curtains.

15 The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits the width of each curtain. The eleven curtains had one measure.

16 He coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves.

17 He made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the coupling, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain which was outermost in the second coupling.

18 He made fifty clasps of bronze to couple the tent together, that it might be a unit.

19 He made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.

20 He made the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing up.

21 Ten cubits was the length of a board, and a cubit and a half the width of each board.

22 Each board had two tenons, joined to one another. He made all the boards of the tabernacle this way.

23 He made the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side southward.

24 He made 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.

25 For the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty boards

26 and their forty sockets of silver: two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.

27 For the far part of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.

28 He made two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the far part.

29 They were double beneath, and in the same way they were all the way to its top to one ring. He did this to both of them in the two corners.

30 There were eight boards and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets—under every board two sockets.

31 He made bars of acacia wood: five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,

32 and five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the hinder part westward.

33 He made the middle bar to pass through in the middle of the boards from the one end to the other.

34 He overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold as places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.

35 He made the veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. He made it the work of a skillful workman.

36 He made four pillars of acacia for it, and overlaid them with gold. Their hooks were of gold. He cast four sockets of silver for them.

37 He made a screen for the door of the tent, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of an embroiderer;

38 and the five pillars of it with their hooks. He overlaid their capitals and their fillets with gold, and their five sockets were of bronze.

Central Idea

The skilled workers construct the tabernacle structure and veil according to the LORD’s commanded design.

Authorial Intent

To narrate the skilled making of the tabernacle’s curtains, coverings, frames, crossbars, veil, and entrance curtain according to the LORD’s earlier instructions, showing the dwelling structure taking form through obedient craftsmanship.

Literary Context

This unit follows the calling and equipping of Bezalel, Oholiab, and the skilled workers, along with the overflowing generosity of the people. Exodus 36:8-38 is the construction counterpart to the instructions of Exodus 26:1-37. The narrative now shows Israel doing what the LORD commanded, moving from plan to implementation.

Historical Context

After the people bring more than enough materials and Moses restrains further giving, the skilled workers begin building the tabernacle itself. This passage corresponds to the earlier instructions in Exodus 26, now showing execution after covenant renewal.

Chapter: Exodus 36

More Than Enough: The Construction of the Tabernacle Begins

The LORD’s restored people give more than enough, and Spirit-equipped craftsmen begin building the tabernacle according to the LORD’s pattern, forming a dwelling marked by beauty, order, holiness, and guarded access.