Exodus 26

Here we have the instructions for making the tabernacle proper, the curtain of fine linen making up the whole interior of the tent (Exodus 26:1-6). "Here the term tabernacle, in its stricter sense, refers to ten linen curtains with figures of cherubim woven into the blue, purple, and scarlet tapestry work."[1] Next, there are recorded rules for making the other three coverings of the whole structure, that of goat's hair, the leather made of ram skins dyed red, and the covering of sealskins (Exodus 26:7-14). Then we have a section pertaining to the making of the "boards" (Exodus 26:15-25), and another with instructions for making the "bars," and an order to erect the structure "after the fashion" showed Moses in the mount (Exodus 26:26-30). Exodus 26:30 is extremely important because it shows the limited and incomplete nature of all of these instructions. Having "seen" on the mount exactly what God wanted him to build, it was totally unnecessary for Moses here to write down all of the details. There were many things about making "a tent" that Moses already knew and understood perfectly! Another section detailed the making of "the veil," the placement of certain articles of furniture, and the making of a "screen" for the door of the whole structure (Exodus 26:31-37).

One cannot fail to be disappointed by many of the commentaries on this chapter, which are preoccupied with problems arising from the incomplete nature of the instructions. One thing is sure, no one today, following these instructions, could go out and construct anything like what Moses built, that not at all being the purpose of these instructions. That the instructions are indeed incomplete is evident. We do not know if it had a flat roof, or a sloping roof like tents have today. Schick and Ferguson have presented models, quite different, of course, showing the traditional ridgepole and the sloping roof.[2]

Kennedy exhibited a `model,' having a flat roof, and giving the appearance of a black-draped coffin.[3] Cook's depiction has not one ridgepole, but three, and is considerably taller than other models.[4] Regarding the boards mentioned here, the estimates of how thick they were ranges all the way from "about three inches"[5] to about "eighteen inches."[6] That latter thickness would have meant that these beams weighed at least 1,200 pounds each.[7]

"There is also uncertainty as to whether the rams' skins and seals' skins provided one covering or two coverings."[8] Commentators are also lined up on both sides of the question regarding "the boards." Were they single planks, or frames of the size indicated? Were they monolithic, or pieced together? "We do not know the size of the sockets."[9] There are not two commentators anywhere who agree on what was meant by the doubling of the boards (Exodus 26:24). "The very meaning of the Hebrew term here rendered `doubled' is not fully known."[10] Noth thought that "the bars" went "on the outside," while others believe they went "inside." Furthermore, regarding the pillars, did they go "inside" the fine linen curtains decorated with the cherubim, or on the outside, in which case the gold covered pillars would have been completely hidden!

Other examples of this incompleteness could be cited, but these are sufficient to show that God was not telling all future generations how to make that tabernacle, but Moses only. Therefore, we may only laugh at Rylaarsdam's complaint, "How the five separate panels in each half were to be coupled to one another we are not told!"[11] "We" were not being instructed here; Moses was receiving the instructions, and we may be certain that he understood them and carried them out perfectly. What a phenomenal misunderstanding of the word of God is inherent in the habit of faulting this passage on the basis that "we" cannot take them and build a tabernacle like the one that was built by Moses! The things that were mentioned in these verses were given for the purpose, not of enabling us to build a tabernacle, but for the purpose of giving facts about it that are pertinent and significant for all generations because, "they are copies of the things in heaven."

Therefore, we pray that all of us may get out of the tabernacle building business and seek out the spiritual meaning of the facts given, which alone justifies their being recorded at all.

Before we look at the text, we must deplore the arrogant unbelief and blindness that critical scholars have brought to this chapter. Some have asserted that, "The tabernacle here presented never actually existed. It is a product of the priestly imagination, an "ideal structure."[12] Such denials remind one of the man brought up in the tropics who would not believe there was any such thing as ice, and when he was flown to see the great glacier of the Matterhorn, he insisted, "I still don't believe it!"

Yes, that tabernacle existed. One element of it, the great veil that concealed the Holy of Holies, was made a component of every succeeding temple the Jews ever built, and existed down until the crucifixion of Christ, when it was rent in twain from the top to the bottom! The critics might as well deny the Magna Carta, the Battle of Waterloo, or any other historical event as to deny the existence of the Mosaic tabernacle.