Exodus 27:11

27:9-19 The tabernacle was enclosed in a court, about sixty yards long and thirty broad, formed by curtains hung upon brazen pillars, fixed in brazen sockets. Within this enclosure the priests and Levites offered the sacrifices, and thither the Jewish people were admitted. These distinctions represented the difference between the visible nominal church, and the true spiritual church, which alone has access to God, and communion with him.

And likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings of one hundred cubits long,.... The north and south sides of this court being equal, the same length of hangings were for the one as the other: and his twenty pillars, and their twenty sockets of brass; there went on this side the same number of pillars and sockets, and of the same metal: the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver; just as they were on the south side.

And he made the court,.... The open court of the tabernacle, where the people met, of which, its pillars, sockets, hangings, hooks, and pins, an account is given, to Exodus 38:10 of which See Gill on Exodus 27:9 , Exodus 27:10 , Exodus 27:11 , Exodus 27:12 , Exodus 27:13 , Exodus 27:14 , Exodus 27:15 , Exodus 27:16 , Exodus 27:17 , Exodus 27:18 , Exodus 27:19 .

Sockets - Bases. See Exodus 26:19 . Fillets - Rather, Connecting rods; curtain-rods of silver connecting the heads of the pillars. The hangings were attached to the pillars by the silver hooks; but the length of the space between the pillars would render it most probable that they were also in some way fastened to these rods.

Sockets - More literally, bases, or foundations. Each base weighed a talent, that is, about 94 lbs. (see Exodus 38:27 ), and must have been a massive block. The bases formed a continuous foundation for the walls of boards, presenting a succession of sockets or mortices (each base having a single socket), into which the tenons were to fit. They served not only for ornament but also for the protection of the lower ends of the boards from the decay which would have resulted from contact with the ground.

9-19. the court of the tabernacle—The enclosure in which the edifice stood was a rectangular court, extending rather more than fifty yards in length and half that space in breadth, and the enclosing parapet was about three yards or half the height of the tabernacle. That parapet consisted of a connected series of curtains, made of fine twined linen yarn, woven into a kind of network, so that the people could see through; but that large curtain which overhung the entrance was of a different texture, being embroidered and dyed with variegated colors, and it was furnished with cords for pulling it up or drawing it aside when the priests had occasion to enter. The curtains of this enclosure were supported on sixty brazen pillars which stood on pedestals of the same metal, but their capitals and fillets were of silver, and the hooks on which they were suspended were of silver also.

(cf. Exodus 38:9-20 ). The Court of the dwelling was to consist of קלעים "hangings" of spun byssus, and pillars with brass (copper) sockets, and hooks and fastenings for the pillars of silver. The pillars were of course made of acacia-wood; they were five cubits high, with silvered capitals ( Exodus 38:17 , Exodus 38:19 ), and carried the hangings, which were fastened to them by means of the hooks and fastenings. There were twenty of them on both the southern and northern sides, and the length of the drapery on each of these sides was 100 cubits (באמּה מאה, 100 sc., measured by the cubit), so that the court was a hundred cubits long ( Exodus 27:18 ).

[Bible] 26:36. Thou shalt make also a hanging in the entrance of the tabernacle of violet, and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine twisted linen with embroidered work. 26:37. And thou shalt overlay with gold five pillars of setim wood, before which the hanging shall be drawn: their heads shall be of gold, and the sockets of brass. Exodus Chapter 27 The altar; and the court of the tabernacle with its hangings and pillars. Provision of oil for lamps. 27:1. Thou shalt make also an altar of setim wood, which shall be five cubits long, and as many broad, that is four square, and three cubits high. 27:2. And there shall be horns at the four corners of the same: and thou shalt cover it with brass. 27:3. And thou shalt make for the uses thereof pans to receive the ashes, and tongs and fleshhooks, and firepans: all its vessels thou shalt make of brass. 27:4. And a grate of brass in manner of a net; at the four corners of which, shall be four rings of brass, 27:5. Which thou shalt put under the hearth of the altar: and the grate shall be even to the midst of the altar. 27:6. Thou shalt make also two bars for the altar, of setim wood, which thou shalt cover with plates of brass: 27:7. And thou shalt draw them through rings, and they shall be on both sides of the altar to carry it. 27:8. Thou shalt not make it solid, but empty and hollow in the inside, as it was shewn thee in the mount. 27:9. Thou shalt make also the court of the tabernacle, in the south side whereof southward there shall be hangings of fine twisted linen of a hundred cubits long for one side. 27:10. And twenty pillars with as many sockets of brass, the heads of which, with their engraving, shall be of silver. 27:11. In like manner also on the north side there shall be hangings of a hundred cubits long, twenty pillars, and as many sockets of brass, and their heads with their engraving of silver.