Exodus 26:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: "Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns; you shall make them with cherubim skillfully worked into them.

NIV: "Make the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim woven into them by a skilled worker.

NASB: Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twisted linen and violet, purple, and scarlet material; you shall make them with cherubim, the work of a skilled embroiderer.

CSB: "You are to construct the tabernacle itself with ten curtains. You must make them of finely spun linen, and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with a design of cherubim worked into them.

NLT: Make the Tabernacle from ten curtains of finely woven linen. Decorate the curtains with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and with skillfully embroidered cherubim.

KJV: Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.

NKJV: “Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine woven linen and blue, purple, and scarlet thread; with artistic designs of cherubim you shall weave them.

Exodus 26:1–14 describes the tabernacle (Exodus 25:8–9): a large tent-like space housing Israel's most sacred religious objects. The walls and ceiling of the tabernacle are made of finely woven linen with embroidery. This material forms two long curtains which will be joined and then draped over a wooden scaffolding (Exodus 26:15–30). The linens will cover the tabernacle's top, sides, and back wall. Over the linen will be goat-hair sheets. The fabrics are set with loops and rings made of gold and bronze. Two more layers of animal skins cap the top. These combine to make a watertight, enclosed space.

God gives Israel instructions for the main structure of His sanctuary (Exodus 25:8–9). This is a "tabernacle:" a large tent. The inner walls are made of linen curtains embroidered with cherubim. The outer walls are a separate arrangement of goat hair curtains. These are draped over wooden frames. The entire assembly is covered with two more layers of animal skin. The tabernacle has an outer screen and a veil which divides the interior into two spaces. The first room is the Holy Place. The second, called the Most Holy Place, is the resting place of the ark (Exodus 25:10–11).

After the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1–17) and a few other rules, the rest of Exodus is mostly descriptions of the tabernacle (Exodus 25:8–9) and its components. Chapter 25 introduced the ark, the table, and the menorah. This chapter details the large tent at the center of a large courtyard (Exodus 27:9). The next chapters describe various altars and sacred garments (Exodus 27—30).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.