Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 1.djvu/356

324 of the one curtain that is 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 back side 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 of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers' skins.

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 inclose them, and probably were stretched out at some little distance from them, v. 7, &c. These were coupled to gether 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 goat's hair as between those of purple and scarlet.

2. Over this there was to be another covering, and that a double one; (v. 14.) one of rams' skins dyed red, probably dressed with the wool on; another of badgers' skins, 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, Ezek. 16.10. 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 outward, like whited sepulchres; but the king's daughter is all glorious within; (Ps. 45. 13.) in the eye of the world, black as the tents of Kedar, but in the eye of God, comely as the curtains of Solomon, Cant. 1. 5. Let our adorning be that of the hidden man of the heart, which God values, 1 Pet. 3. 4. (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, Isa. 6. 5, 6. The protection of Providence shall always be upon the beauty of holiness. God's tent will be a pavilion. Ps. 27. 5.

15. And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim-wood, standing up. 16. Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board. 17. Two tenons shall there be 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, there shall be twenty boards. 21. And their forty sockets of 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 of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board. 26. And thou shalt make bars of 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 of gold for 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.

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, Isa. 54. 2. These boards had tenons, which fell into the mortises, that were made for them in silver bases. God took care to have everything strong, as well as fine, in his tabernacle. Curtains without boards would have been shaken by every wind; but it is a good thing to have the heart established with grace, 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, (v. 24.) and kept firm with bars that ran through golden staples in every board; (v. 26.) and the boards and bars were all richly gilded, v. 29. 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, Here will I dwell; in allusion to this, the new Jerusalem is said to be of pure gold, Rev. 21. 18. But the builders of the gospel-church said, Silver and gold have we none; and yet the glory of their building far exceeded that of the tabernacle, 2 Cor. 3. 10, 11. How much better is wisdom than gold! 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 were so left, it may remind us of ch. 20. 24, An altar of earth shall thou make unto me.

31. And thou shalt make a vail of blue,