Exodus 26:8

26:7-14 The curtains of meaner materials, being made both longer and broader, covered the others, and were defended by coverings of skins. The whole represents the person and doctrine of Christ, and the church of true Christians, and all heavenly things, which outwardly are mean, but inwardly, and in the sight of God, are glorious and precious.

The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits,.... The breadth of them is the same with the linen curtains, but the length of them two cubits more; the reason of which was, that they might hang down lower on either side, and the better preserve them from any injury: and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure; as to length and breadth.

Verse 8. - The length... shall be thirty cubits . A tent with a rectangular roof, over such a chamber as the mishkan , brought down, as tents usually are, within six or seven feet of the ground, would have required a covering of this length. If the slope of the roof had been greater, the covering must have been longer. The breadth ... four cubits. This gives for the entire covering, when made up, a width of forty-four cubits, or sixty-six feet. As the entire length of the mishkan was only thirty cubits, or forty-five feet, it is evident that the tent projected considerably beyond the tabernacle, either at both ends, or, at any rate, at one end. Probably the projection was at one end only - viz., in front; where it constituted a porch, eighteen or twenty feet deep. The temple, which was modelled after the tabernacle, had a porch fifteen feet deep. Exodus 26:8

8 . The dimensions of the ‘curtains,’ or, as we should here say, ‘breadths.’ On the late Heb. for ‘eleven,’ see LOT. 156 n. 9a. The curtains, or ‘breadths,’ are to be coupled together, so as to form two sets, of five and six breadths respectively. 9b. double over ] i.e., as commonly understood, lay double on the top Model of P’s Tent of Meeting, as reconstructed by Prof. Kennedy. The two outermost coverings ( Exodus 26:14 ) are removed, shewing the framework covered by the tapestry curtains a a with the figures of cherubim, the goats’ hair curtains of the ‘tent’ ( Exodus 26:7 ) b b , one of the corner frames c , the bars d d d , the veil e , and the screen f . From Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible , iv. 661. of the Dwelling in front, so as to form a kind of portal above the entrance. But this is not the natural meaning of the Heb., which is that the curtain is to be doubled in front of the Dwelling, so as to hang down there for 2 cubits, forming a kind of valance over the top of the screen ( v. 36), and securing that the Dwelling is in perfect darkness (so Kennedy, p. 662a). Render then double (without ‘over’); and see further on v. 12.

CHAPTER 26 Ex 26:1-37. Ten Curtains 1. cunning work—that is, of elegant texture, richly embroidered. The word "cunning," in old English, is synonymous with "skilful."Moses is commanded to make the tabernacle with ten curtains, Exodus 26:1 The length and breadth of the curtains, Exodus 26:2. The form of the curtains, Exodus 26:3-6. He is commanded to make eleven curtains of goats’ hair, Exodus 26:7. The manner of the making and placing them, Exodus 26:8-14. Of what the tabernacle is to be made, Exodus 26:15. The manner of its making, with other utensils, Exodus 26:16-30. Of the veil, and what it is to be made of, Exodus 26:31. The fashion of it, Exodus 26:32,33. The hanging for the tent-door, Exodus 26:36. The tabernacle, or tent; a little house wherein the ark, table, and candlestick were to be placed. And scarlet, i.e. with materials of these colours, to wit, wool, as may be gathered from hence, that it is opposed to linen. Compare Exodus 25:4. Of cunning work, either woven, or rather wrought with needle, wherein is most skill and curiosity.

The outer tent-cloth, "for the tent over the dwelling," was to consist of eleven lengths of goats' hair, i.e., of cloth made of goats' hair; (Note: The coverings of the tents of the Bedouin Arabs are still made of cloth woven from black goats' hair, which the women spin and weave (see Lynch's Expedition of the United States to the Jordan and Dead Sea).) each piece being thirty cubits long and four broad.

[Reformed Biblical] th materials of these colours, to wit, wool, as may be gathered from hence, that it is opposed to linen. Compare Exo_25:4. Of cunning work, either woven, or rather wrought with needle, wherein is most skill and curiosity. Exodus 26:2 Exodus 26:3 Exodus 26:4 ## Loops together with the taches w ere for the j oining the curtains together, as appears from Exo_26:11, which way of conjunction was most convenient for the often taking them down and setting them up. ## From the selvage , or from , or in the extremity, or end , or edge , Heb. lip . In the coupling , i.e. in the place where the two curtains are coupled together. And likewise the second curtain is to be made exactly like the first. Exodus 26:5 ## Ver. 5 . No text from Poole on this verse. Exodus 26:6 The taches, or hooks or buttons, which were put into the loops to unite and fasten the curtains. Exodus 26:7 ## Of goats ’ hair , spun, Exo_35:26, and woven into a stuff, like our camlet. ## To be a covering ; to be put next above the curtains. Exodus 26:8 Exodus 26: 9 For the bet ter security of the inward covering. Exodus 26:10 Exodus 26:11 Exodus 26:12 Exodus 26:13 Exodus 26:14 To prese