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The
Coverings of the Tabernacle
"Blessed are they who are covered" Exodus 26:1-6.
 THE
coverings of the Tabernacle structure were in two distinct
but related sections: The Mishkan and the Ohel.
The
Tabernacle or Mishkan was ceiled by two sets of five curtains
joined together to form a covering over the structure. Each
curtain was made of fine twined linen and embroidery, worked
in blue, purple and scarlet. Each measured 28 cubits long
by 4 cubits wide, or 42 feet by 6 feet. The joining together
of the two sets of five curtains was immediately over the
veil which divided the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place
(Exod. 26:31-33,36). They were joined by fifty golden taches
(Heb. qeres, a knob, pin, or hook) connecting fifty loops
of blue (Exod. 26:4-6).
The
curtains were cunningly embroidered with Cherubim (Exod. 26:1)
the faces of which thus looked into the inside of the Tabernacle.
Over
the Mishkan was the covering of the Ohel or tent. (Exod. 26:7-14.
"upon" (v.7) is rendered over in the R.V. See also Exod. 40:18,19
and Rotherham's translation).
The
significance of the Ohel was that is was clearly conspicuous
from a distance (Strong).
This
covering comprised:
- Goats'
Hair - Eleven curtains, each thirty cubits long by four
cubits wide, or 45 feet by 6 feet. These were made up into
two sets, one of five curtains and the other of six held
together by the use of fifty brass clasps ("Taches") and
fifty loops of blue upon each set. The sixth curtain of
the front set was doubled (Exod. 26:9) over at the front
of the Tabernacle, forming a porch-like arrangement. Half
of the rear set of five curtains fell over the rear of the
structure so that the two sets were joined over the veil.
Hence the Holy Place was separated from the Most Holy both
inside and out.
- Rams
skins dyed red, concerning which no dimensions or quantities
are recorded:
- Badger's
skins for which, likewise, no quantities are provided. These
skins are considered more reliably to be the skins of the
Dugong. Records indicate that this mammal was found in the
area of the Red Sea in times past or even quite recently.
The Biological Journal of the Linnear Society, Vol. 5, No.
4, Dec. 1973, reports evidences of past and recent distribution
and frequency of sightings of Dugong in the Red Sea, Gulf
of Aqaba, Gulf of Suez, Sudan Coasts, Arabian South Coast
and Persian Gulf Areas. (See also Animals of Bible Lands
pp. 138, 139). The color of its skin is reported to have
a bluish hue.
The
shape of the structure has been generally described as either
having a flat-top or a peaked top. There are factors in favor
of each arrangement while others are against one or the other.
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