Ex. 26 Moses is commanded to make the tabernacle with ten curtains, Ex. 26:1 The length and breadth of the curtains, Ex. 26:2. The form of the curtains, Ex. 26:3–6. He is commanded to make eleven curtains of goats’ hair, Ex. 26:7. The manner of the making and placing them, Ex. 26:8–14.

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 Ex. 25:4.

Loops together with the taches were for the joining the curtains together, as appears from Ex. 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.

The taches, or hooks or buttons, which were put into the loops to unite and fasten the curtains.

Of goats’ hair, spun, Ex. 35:26, and woven into a stuff, like our camlet. To be a covering; to be put next above the curtains.

For the better security of the inward covering.

To preserve the rest from the injury of the weather.

Two tenons, Heb. hands, i.e. parts of the boards, so cut and framed that like hands they may take hold of and be fastened into the sockets, Ex. 26:19.

Forty sockets, or bases, or pedestals, or feet, upon which the boards stood, and to which they were fastened.

Which were of another fashion than the former, as may be gathered both from the distinct nomination and use of them, and from the laws of building. And whereas the rest were but single boards, these were double, for greater strength and conveniency of joining them together.

Coupled together, Heb. as twins, i.e. equal and equally joined together, and exactly answering one to the other. Unto one ring, which ring was exactly in the corner, and with the help of the bars kept the corner boards, and with them the other boards of the tabernacle, close together.

By bars you may understand either, 1. Several rows or orders of bars, one bar beginning at the end of the other, and each containing four cubits in length, and altogether twenty cubits, which was the length of the tabernacle; or, 2. Single bars, which seem truer, 1.

There was but one side westward. Either therefore here is a transposition of the Hebrew words, which is usual, and the words are thus to be placed and rendered, westward, looking to both sides, or, westward, according to both the other sides, now mentioned, to note that the number and length of…

In the midst of the boards; not within the thickness of the boards, as the Jews conceive, but in the length of them; as appears, 1. Because this bar, as well as the rest, was gilded, Ex. 26:29, which was frivolous if it were never seen 2.

Either by visible representation to his eye, or rather by mental vision or impression of it upon his imagination.

Thou shalt make a veil, which was thick and strong that none could see through it, called the second veil, Heb. 9:3, whereby the holy of holies, which represented the highest heaven, was divided from the holy place, where the church militant, or its representatives, met and served God, Ex. 26:33.

The hooks were fastened to the tops of the pillars, as the veil was fastened to them.

Under the taches, or, in the place (as the Hebrew tacheth oft signifies) of the taches, to wit, where the two curtains are joined together by taches, Ex. 26:6.

For the door of the tent, i.e. of the holy place, where it was divided from the court of the people.