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. liv. 2. 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 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.
xxi. 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. iii. 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 was so
left, it may remind us of ch. xx. 24, An altar of earth shalt thou make
unto me.