mh_parser/vol_split/2 - Exodus/Chapter 26.xml

<div2 id="Ex.xxvii" n="xxvii" next="Ex.xxviii" prev="Ex.xxvi" progress="44.09%" title="Chapter XXVI">
<h2 id="Ex.xxvii-p0.1">E X O D U S</h2>
<h3 id="Ex.xxvii-p0.2">CHAP. XXVI.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ex.xxvii-p1">Moses here receives instructions, I. Concerning
the inner curtains of the tent or tabernacle, and the coupling of
those curtains, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.26.1-Exod.26.6" parsed="|Exod|26|1|26|6" passage="Ex 26:1-6">ver. 1-6</scripRef>.
II. Concerning the outer curtains which were of goats' hair, to
strengthen the former, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.26.7-Exod.26.13" parsed="|Exod|26|7|26|13" passage="Ex 26:7-13">ver.
7-13</scripRef>. III. Concerning the case or cover which was to
secure it from the weather, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.26.14" parsed="|Exod|26|14|0|0" passage="Ex 26:14">ver.
14</scripRef>. IV. Concerning the boards which were to be reared up
to support the curtains, with their bars and sockets, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.26.15-Exod.26.30" parsed="|Exod|26|15|26|30" passage="Ex 26:15-30">ver. 15-30</scripRef>. V. The partition
between the holy place and the most holy, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.26.31-Exod.26.35" parsed="|Exod|26|31|26|35" passage="Ex 26:31-35">ver. 31-35</scripRef>. VI. The veil for the door,
<scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Exod.26.36-Exod.26.37" parsed="|Exod|26|36|26|37" passage="Ex 26:36,37">ver. 36, 37</scripRef>. These
particulars, thus largely recorded, seem of little use to us now;
yet, having been of great use to Moses and Israel, and God having
thought fit to preserve down to us the remembrance of them, we
ought not to overlook them. Even the antiquity renders this account
venerable.</p>
<scripCom id="Ex.xxvii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Exod.26" parsed="|Exod|26|0|0|0" passage="Ex 26" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ex.xxvii-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Exod.26.1-Exod.26.6" parsed="|Exod|26|1|26|6" passage="Ex 26:1-6" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.26.1-Exod.26.6">
<h4 id="Ex.xxvii-p1.9">The Tabernacle and Its
Furniture. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxvii-p1.10">b. c.</span> 1491.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ex.xxvii-p2">1 Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle
<i>with</i> ten curtains <i>of</i> fine twined linen, and blue, and
purple, and scarlet: <i>with</i> cherubims of cunning work shalt
thou make them. 2 The length of one curtain <i>shall be</i> eight
and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and
every one of the curtains shall have one measure. 3 The five
curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and <i>other</i>
five curtains <i>shall be</i> coupled one to another. 4 And thou
shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the
selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the
uttermost edge of <i>another</i> curtain, in the coupling of the
second. 5 Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty
loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that <i>is</i> in
the coupling of the second; that the loops may take hold one of
another. 6 And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the
curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one
tabernacle.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxvii-p3">I. The house must be a <i>tabernacle</i> or
<i>tent,</i> such as soldiers now use in the camp, which was both a
mean dwelling and a movable one; and yet the ark of God had not
better, till Solomon built the temple 480 years after this,
<scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.6.1" parsed="|1Kgs|6|1|0|0" passage="1Ki 6:1">1 Kings vi. 1</scripRef>. God
manifested his presence among them thus in a tabernacle, 1. In
compliance with their present condition in the wilderness, that
they might have him with them wherever they went. Note, God suits
the tokens of his favour, and the gifts of his grace, to his
people's wants and necessities, according as they are,
accommodating his mercy to their state, prosperous or adverse,
settled or unsettled. <i>When thou passest through the waters, I
will be with thee,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.43.2" parsed="|Isa|43|2|0|0" passage="Isa 43:2">Isa. xliii.
2</scripRef>. 2. That it might represent the state of God's church
in this world, it is a <i>tabernacle-state,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.15.1" parsed="|Ps|15|1|0|0" passage="Ps 15:1">Ps. xv. 1</scripRef>. <i>We have here no continuing
city;</i> being strangers in this world, and travellers towards a
better, we shall never be fixed till we come to heaven.
Church-privileges are movable goods, from one place to another; the
gospel is not tied to any place; the candlestick is in a tent, and
may easily be taken away, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.2.5" parsed="|Rev|2|5|0|0" passage="Re 2:5">Rev. ii.
5</scripRef>. If we make much of the tabernacle, and improve the
privilege of it, wherever we go it will accompany us; but, if we
neglect and disgrace it, wherever we stay it will forsake us.
<i>What hath my beloved to do in my house?</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p3.5" osisRef="Bible:Jer.11.15" parsed="|Jer|11|15|0|0" passage="Jer 11:15">Jer. xi. 15</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxvii-p4">II. The curtains of the tabernacle must
correspond to a divine pattern. 1. They were to be very rich, the
best of the kind, <i>fine twined linen;</i> and colours very
pleasing, <i>blue,</i> and <i>purple,</i> and <i>scarlet.</i> 2.
They were to be embroidered with cherubim (<scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.26.1" parsed="|Exod|26|1|0|0" passage="Ex 26:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>), to intimate that the angels of
God pitch their tents round about the church, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.34.7" parsed="|Ps|34|7|0|0" passage="Ps 34:7">Ps. xxxiv. 7</scripRef>. As there were cherubim over the
mercy-seat, so there were round the tabernacle; for we find the
angels compassing, not only the throne, but the elders; see
<scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.5.11" parsed="|Rev|5|11|0|0" passage="Re 5:11">Rev. v. 11</scripRef>. 3. There were to
be two hangings, five breadths in each, sewed together, and the two
hangings coupled together with golden clasps, or tacks, so that it
might be all one tabernacle, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.26.6" parsed="|Exod|26|6|0|0" passage="Ex 26:6">v.
6</scripRef>. Thus the churches of Christ and the saints, though
they are many, are yet one, being <i>fitly joined together</i> in
holy love, and by the <i>unity of the Spirit,</i> so growing into
one <i>holy temple</i> in <i>the Lord,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:Eph.2.21-Eph.2.22 Bible:Eph.4.16" parsed="|Eph|2|21|2|22;|Eph|4|16|0|0" passage="Eph 2:21,22,4:16">Eph. ii. 21, 22; iv. 16</scripRef>. This
tabernacle was very strait and narrow; but, at the preaching of the
gospel, the church is bidden to <i>enlarge the place of her
tent,</i> and to <i>stretch forth her curtains,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p4.6" osisRef="Bible:Isa.54.2" parsed="|Isa|54|2|0|0" passage="Is 54:2">Isa. liv. 2</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ex.xxvii-p4.7" osisRef="Bible:Exod.26.7-Exod.26.14" parsed="|Exod|26|7|26|14" passage="Ex 26:7-14" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.26.7-Exod.26.14">
<p class="passage" id="Ex.xxvii-p5">7 And thou shalt make curtains <i>of</i> goats'
<i>hair</i> to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains
shalt thou make. 8 The length of one curtain <i>shall be</i> thirty
cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven
curtains <i>shall be all</i> of one measure. 9 And thou shalt
couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves,
and shalt double the sixth curtain in the forefront of the
tabernacle. 10 And thou shalt make fifty loops on the edge of the
one curtain <i>that is</i> outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops
in the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second. 11 And thou
shalt make fifty taches of brass, and put the taches into the
loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one. 12 And the
remnant that remaineth of the curtains of the tent, the half
curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the backside of the
tabernacle. 13 And a cubit on the one side, and a cubit on the
other side of that which remaineth in the length of the curtains of
the tent, it shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this
side and on that side, to cover it. 14 And thou shalt make a
covering for the tent <i>of</i> rams' skins dyed red, and a
covering above <i>of</i> badgers' skins.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxvii-p6">Moses is here ordered to make a double
covering for the tabernacle, that it might not rain in, and that
the beauty of those fine curtains might not be damaged. 1. There
was to be a covering of hair camlet curtains, which were somewhat
larger every way than the inner curtains, because they were to
enclose them, and probably were stretched out at some little
distance from them, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.26.7" parsed="|Exod|26|7|0|0" passage="Ex 26:7">v. 7</scripRef>,
&amp;c. These were coupled together with brass clasps. The stuff
being less valuable, the tacks were so; but the brass tacks would
answer the intention as effectually as the golden ones. The bonds
of unity may be as strong between curtains of goats' hair as
between those of purple and scarlet. 2. Over this there was to be
another covering, and that a double one (<scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.26.14" parsed="|Exod|26|14|0|0" passage="Ex 26:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>), one of <i>rams' skins dyed
red,</i> probably dressed with the wool on; another of <i>badgers'
skins,</i> so we translate it, but it should rather seem to have
been some strong sort of leather (but very fine), for we read of
the best sort of shoes being made of it, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.16.10" parsed="|Ezek|16|10|0|0" passage="Eze 16:10">Ezek. xvi. 10</scripRef>. Now observe here, (1.) That
the outside of the tabernacle was coarse and rough, the beauty of
it was in the inner curtains. Those in whom God dwells must labour
to be better than they seem to be. Hypocrites put the best side
outwards, like <i>whited sepulchres;</i> but <i>the king's daughter
is all glorious within</i> (<scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.13" parsed="|Ps|45|13|0|0" passage="Ps 45:13">Ps. xlv.
13</scripRef>); in the eye of the world black as the tents of
Kedar, but, in the eye of God, comely as the curtains of Solomon,
<scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:Song.1.5" parsed="|Song|1|5|0|0" passage="So 1:5">Cant. i. 5</scripRef>. Let our adorning
be that of the hidden man of the heart, which God values, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p6.6" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.3.4" parsed="|1Pet|3|4|0|0" passage="1Pe 3:4">1 Pet. iii. 4</scripRef>. (2.) That where God
places his glory he will create a defence upon it; even upon the
habitations of the righteous there shall be a covert, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p6.7" osisRef="Bible:Isa.6.5-Isa.6.6" parsed="|Isa|6|5|6|6" passage="Isa 6:5,6">Isa. vi. 5, 6</scripRef>. The protection of
Providence shall always be upon the beauty of holiness. God's tent
will be a pavilion, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p6.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.27.5" parsed="|Ps|27|5|0|0" passage="Ps 27:5">Ps. xxvii.
5</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ex.xxvii-p6.9" osisRef="Bible:Exod.26" parsed="|Exod|26|0|0|0" passage="Ex 26" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ex.xxvii-p6.10" osisRef="Bible:Exod.26.15-Exod.26.30" parsed="|Exod|26|15|26|30" passage="Ex 26:15-30" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.26.15-Exod.26.30">
<p class="passage" id="Ex.xxvii-p7">15 And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle
<i>of</i> shittim wood standing up. 16 Ten cubits <i>shall be</i>
the length of a board, and a cubit and a half <i>shall be</i> the
breadth of one board. 17 Two tenons <i>shall there be</i> in one
board, set in order one against another: thus shalt thou make for
all the boards of the tabernacle. 18 And thou shalt make the boards
for the tabernacle, twenty boards on the south side southward. 19
And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty
boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two
sockets under another board for his two tenons. 20 And for the
second side of the tabernacle on the north side <i>there shall
be</i> twenty boards: 21 And their forty sockets <i>of</i> silver;
two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
22 And for the sides of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six
boards. 23 And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the
tabernacle in the two sides. 24 And they shall be coupled together
beneath, and they shall be coupled together above the head of it
unto one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for
the two corners. 25 And they shall be eight boards, and their
sockets <i>of</i> silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one
board, and two sockets under another board. 26 And thou shalt make
bars <i>of</i> shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of
the tabernacle, 27 And five bars for the boards of the other side
of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the
tabernacle, for the two sides westward. 28 And the middle bar in
the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end. 29 And thou
shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings <i>of</i>
gold <i>for</i> places for the bars: and thou shalt overlay the
bars with gold. 30 And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according
to the fashion thereof which was showed thee in the mount.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxvii-p8">Very particular directions are here given
about the boards of the tabernacle, which were to bear up the
curtains, as the stakes of a tent which had need to be strong,
<scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.54.2" parsed="|Isa|54|2|0|0" passage="Isa 54:2">Isa. liv. 2</scripRef>. These boards
had tenons which fell into the mortises that were made for them in
silver bases. God took care to have every thing strong, as well as
fine, in his tabernacle. Curtains without boards would have been
shaken by every wind; but <i>it is a good thing</i> to have the
<i>heart established with grace,</i> which is as the boards to
support the curtains of profession, which otherwise will not hold
out long. The boards were coupled together with gold rings at top
and bottom (<scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.26.24" parsed="|Exod|26|24|0|0" passage="Ex 26:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>),
and kept firm with bars that ran through golden staples in every
board (<scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.26.26" parsed="|Exod|26|26|0|0" passage="Ex 26:26"><i>v.</i> 26</scripRef>), and
the boards and bars were all richly gilded, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.26.29" parsed="|Exod|26|29|0|0" passage="Ex 26:29">v. 29</scripRef>. Thus every thing in the tabernacle was
very splendid, agreeable to that infant state of the church, when
such things were proper enough to please children, to possess the
minds of the worshippers with a reverence of the divine glory, and
to affect them with the greatness of that prince who said, <i>Here
will I dwell;</i> in allusion to this the new Jerusalem is said to
be of <i>pure gold,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p8.5" osisRef="Bible:Rev.21.18" parsed="|Rev|21|18|0|0" passage="Re 21:18">Rev. xxi.
18</scripRef>. But the builders of the gospel church said,
<i>Silver and gold have we none;</i> and yet the glory of their
building far exceeded that of the tabernacle, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p8.6" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.10-2Cor.3.11" parsed="|2Cor|3|10|3|11" passage="2Co 3:10,11">2 Cor. iii. 10, 11</scripRef>. <i>How much better is
wisdom than gold!</i> No orders are given here about the floor of
the tabernacle; probably that also was boarded; for we cannot think
that within all these fine curtains they trod upon the cold or wet
ground; if it was so left, it may remind us of <scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p8.7" osisRef="Bible:Exod.20.24" parsed="|Exod|20|24|0|0" passage="Ex 20:24"><i>ch.</i> xx. 24</scripRef>, <i>An altar of earth shalt
thou make unto me.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Ex.xxvii-p8.8" osisRef="Bible:Exod.26.31-Exod.26.37" parsed="|Exod|26|31|26|37" passage="Ex 26:31-37" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.26.31-Exod.26.37">
<p class="passage" id="Ex.xxvii-p9">31 And thou shalt make a vail <i>of</i> blue,
and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work:
with cherubims shall it be made: 32 And thou shalt hang it upon
four pillars of shittim <i>wood</i> overlaid with gold: their hooks
<i>shall be of</i> gold, upon the four sockets of silver. 33 And
thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest
bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the
vail shall divide unto you between the holy <i>place</i> and the
most holy. 34 And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the
testimony in the most holy <i>place.</i> 35 And thou shalt set the
table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table
on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put
the table on the north side. 36 And thou shalt make an hanging for
the door of the tent, <i>of</i> blue, and purple, and scarlet, and
fine twined linen, wrought with needlework. 37 And thou shalt make
for the hanging five pillars <i>of</i> shittim <i>wood,</i> and
overlay them with gold, <i>and</i> their hooks <i>shall be of</i>
gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxvii-p10">Two veils are here ordered to be made, 1.
One for a partition between the holy place and the most holy, which
not only forbade any to enter, but forbade them so much as to look
into the holiest of all, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.26.31 Bible:Exod.26.33" parsed="|Exod|26|31|0|0;|Exod|26|33|0|0" passage="Ex 26:31,33">v. 31,
33</scripRef>. Under that dispensation, divine grace was veiled,
but now we behold it with open face, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.18" parsed="|2Cor|3|18|0|0" passage="2Co 3:18">2
Cor. iii. 18</scripRef>. The apostle tells us (<scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Heb.9.8-Heb.9.9" parsed="|Heb|9|8|9|9" passage="Heb 9:8,9">Heb. ix. 8, 9</scripRef>) what was the meaning of this
veil; it intimated that the ceremonial law <i>could not make the
comers thereunto perfect,</i> nor would the observance of it bring
men to heaven; the <i>way into the holiest of all was not made
manifest while the first tabernacle was standing; life and
immortality</i> lay concealed till they were <i>brought to light by
the gospel,</i> which was therefore signified by the rending of
this veil at the death of Christ, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Matt.27.51" parsed="|Matt|27|51|0|0" passage="Mt 27:51">Matt. xxvii. 51</scripRef>. We have not <i>boldness to
enter into the holiest,</i> in all acts of devotion, <i>by the
blood of Jesus,</i> yet such as obliges us to a holy reverence and
a humble sense of our distance. 2. Another veil was for the outer
door of the tabernacle, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.26.36-Exod.26.37" parsed="|Exod|26|36|26|37" passage="Ex 26:36,37">v. 36,
37</scripRef>. Through this first veil the priests went in every
day to minister in the holy place, but not the people, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvii-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:Heb.9.6" parsed="|Heb|9|6|0|0" passage="Heb 9:6">Heb. ix. 6</scripRef>. This veil, which was all
the defence the tabernacle had against thieves and robbers, might
easily be broken through, for it could be neither locked nor
barred, and the abundance of wealth in the tabernacle, one would
think, might be a temptation; but by leaving it thus exposed, (1.)
The priests and Levites would be so much the more obliged to keep a
strict watch upon it, and, (2.) God would show his care of his
church on earth, though it is weak and defenceless, and continually
exposed. A curtain shall be (if God please to make it so) as strong
a defence to his house as gates of brass and bars of iron.</p>
</div></div2>