Exodus 26 General Notes

• The sacred tent has four layers (from inside to out): linen, goats’ hair, tanned rams’ skins, and fine leather.
• There are multiple different curtains described using three different Hebrew words: one sort of curtains to make the walls of the tent (26:1–13), another to separate the Holy Place and Most Holy Place (also known as Holy of Holies) (26:31–34), and another for the entrance of the sacred tent (26:36–37). If there are words in your language that would make a distinction between these sorts of hanging cloths, it would be appropriate to make a distinction in your translation.

Structure and Formatting

This chapter is a continuation of the material in the previous chapter.

• v. 1–30: Instructions for constructing the exterior of the sacred tent
  • v. 1–6: Inner covering
  • v. 7–14: Outer covering layers
  • v. 15–30: Wooden framework
• v. 31–35: Instructions for arranging the interior of the sacred tent
• v. 36–37: Instructions for hanging the entrance curtain

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

The tent of meeting

This chapter gives specific instructions regarding the building of a tent where Moses would meet Yahweh and the box would be stored. This would eventually become the Dwelling. (See: tabernacle and holy)