THE TABERNACLE. The sacred furniture which the tabernacle was to contain having been described, with the exception of the "altar of incense" the description of which is reserved for Exodus 30:1-38. (Exodus 30:1-10)-directions were next given for the sacred structure itself. This was to consist of three main things—
1. A quadrangular enclosure thirty cubits long by ten broad, open at one end, and on the other three sides enclosed by boards of acacia-wood overlaid with gold—called the mishkan, or "the dwelling-place," in our version usually translated "tabernacle."
2. A tent of goat's hair, supported upon poles, and stretched by means of ropes and tent-pegs in the ordinary manner over the mishkan. This is called the 'ohel—which is the usual word for a "tent" in Hebrew, and is so translated generally (Genesis 4:20; Genesis 9:21; Genesis 13:1-18:31; Genesis 18:1, etc.), though in this chapter, unfortunately, "covering" (Exodus 30:7); and
3. A "covering"—mikseh, to be placed over the 'ohel, composed of rams' skins dyed red, and seals' skins (Exodus 30:14). Subordinate parts of the structure were—
(a) The sockets, or bases, which were to receive and support the upright boards (Exodus 30:19-25);
(b) The bars which were to hold the boards together (Exodus 30:26-29);
(c) The veil, stretched on pillars, which was to be hung across the" dwelling-house," and to separate it into two parts, the "holy place" and the "holy of holies" (Exodus 30:31-33); and
(d) The curtain or "hanging" at the open end of the "dwelling-place," where there were no boards, which was intended to close that side of the structure when necessary (Exodus 30:36, Exodus 30:37).