Moses had gone up into Mount Sinai with Joshua where they remained forty days while God provided them with two tablets of stone with the law written on them (Exodus 24:12). The Mosaic Law written on stone tablets included the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-21) and civil/religious ordinances (Exodus 20:22-24:11) which, if obeyed, would help Israel maintain a right relationship with God and others. God also gave very specific instructions regarding the construction of the tabernacle and it’s furnishings such as the ark of the testimony (Exodus 25:10-22), the table of showbread (Exodus 25:23-30), and the gold lampstand (Exodus 25:31-40). The tabernacle would become symbolic of God’s presence dwelling among the people (Exodus 25:8) and served as the center of worship for the Israelites. Although the tabernacle was portable and accompanied Israel on their journey to Canaan, God gave specific instructions to Moses concerning the construction of the tabernacle.
The contents of the tabernacle were to be surrounded by ten linen curtains woven with blue, purple, and scarlet thread with cherubim embroidered on them (26:1). Each curtain was to measure 6 feet wide and 42 feet long (26:2). Five curtains were to be joined together to make one long curtain and the other five curtains were also to be joined together to make another long curtain (26:3). When the five curtains were joined together they measured 30×42 and joined to the other set of curtains it would measure 60×42 (26:4-6). The sixty foot width covered the top of the tabernacle as well as the back making the length 45 feet and the height 15 feet. The 42 foot part of the curtain extended over the top of the tabernacle and would have come within 18 inches of the ground on either side. Over top of the linen curtains were placed eleven curtains made of goat hair in order to protect the inside from the weather (26:7-13). These curtains were three feet longer so that they would touch the ground and hide the contents of the tabernacle from outside view. These two layers were to be covered by two more layers – a layer of ram skin dyed red and a badger skin on top of the ram skin (26:14). In total there were four layers covering the tabernacle.
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Exodus 26:15-30 describes the construction of the tabernacle frame. The walls were not to be solid but constructed with upright frames so that the layers of curtains could be draped over it and the inner curtains could be seen from the inside. This type of construction would also allow for quick disassembly and set up along their journey. God also provided very specific instructions for forming the veil, which would separate the holy place and the Most Holy Place, where the ark of the covenant was housed (26:31-35). The Most Holy Place or the Holy of Holies was the location where God would descend when He wanted to meet with His people. The high priest could only enter the Most Holy Place once a year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:1-20). The tabernacle was also to have an entrance point made of the same curtains as the inner, but without the embroidery (26:36-37). God had given Moses very specific instructions concerning the construction of the tabernacle and He expected them to be followed precisely (26:30). Following these instructions each time they started and stopped their journey would remind Israel that God is holy and He was to be revered. Worship of God was never to be on their own terms, but on the conditions He had commanded.
Dear God, You are holy and deserving of all my worship.
