Exodus 38:9-20
The skilled workers construct the courtyard around the tabernacle, marking the sacred boundary and appointed entrance into the Lord’s dwelling complex.
9 He made the court: for the south side southward the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, one hundred cubits;
10 their pillars were twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver.
11 For the north side one hundred cubits, their pillars twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze; the hooks of the pillars, and their fillets, of silver.
12 For the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their pillars ten, and their sockets ten; the hooks of the pillars, and their fillets, of silver.
13 For the east side eastward fifty cubits,
14 the hangings for the one side were fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three;
15 and so for the other side: on this hand and that hand by the gate of the court were hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.
16 All the hangings around the court were of fine twined linen.
17 The sockets for the pillars were of bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver. Their capitals were overlaid with silver. All the pillars of the court had silver bands.
18 The screen for the gate of the court was the work of the embroiderer, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. Twenty cubits was the length, and the height along the width was five cubits, like the hangings of the court.
19 Their pillars were four, and their sockets four, of bronze; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their capitals, and their fillets, of silver.
20 All the pins of the tabernacle, and around the court, were of bronze.
The skilled workers construct the courtyard around the tabernacle, marking the sacred boundary and appointed entrance into the LORD’s dwelling complex.
To narrate the making of the tabernacle courtyard with its linen hangings, bronze bases, silver hooks and bands, posts, entrance curtain, and tent pegs according to the LORD’s earlier instructions, establishing the ordered boundary around the altar, basin, and tent of meeting.
Exodus 38 continues the execution phase of the tabernacle instructions. After the bronze altar and bronze basin are made, the craftsmen build the courtyard that frames those outdoor sanctuary objects and separates the holy approach-space from the surrounding camp. The passage corresponds to the earlier command in Exodus 27:9-19, but here the emphasis is not new instruction; it is faithful completion.
After the bronze altar and basin are made, the construction report turns to the courtyard that encloses the outer sanctuary area. This courtyard will contain the altar and basin and will surround the tent of meeting, marking Israel’s sacred approach space.
The Altar, Basin, Courtyard, and Inventory of Tabernacle Materials
The LORD’s restored people construct the altar, basin, courtyard, and material inventory of the tabernacle, showing that approach to God requires sacrifice, cleansing, ordered boundaries, and accountable stewardship.