Go to Related Reading
About this book

Exodus

About this book
Chapter 26

1 “The tabernacle itself you are to make with ten curtains of fine twisted linen and blue and purple and scarlet; you are to make them with cherubim that are the work of an artistic designer. 2 The length of each curtain is to be 42 feet, and the width of each curtain is to be 6 feet—the same size for each of the curtains. 3 Five curtains are to be joined, a woman to her sister9, and the other five curtains are to be joined, a woman to her sister9.⁠ 4 You are to make loops of blue material along the edge of the end curtain in one set, and in the same way you are to make loops in the outer edge of the end curtain in the second set. 5 You are to make 50 loops on the one curtain, and you are to make 50 loops on the end curtain which is on the second set, so that the loops are opposite one to another. 6 You are to make 50 gold clasps and join the curtains together with the clasps, so that the tabernacle is a unit. 7 “You are to make curtains of goats’ hair for a tent over the tabernacle; you are to make 11 curtains. 8 The length of each curtain is to be 45 feet, and the width of each curtain is to be 6 feet—the same size for the 11 curtains. 9 You are to join five curtains by themselves and six curtains by themselves. You are to double over the sixth curtain at the front of the tent. 10 You are to make 50 loops along the edge of the end curtain in one set and 50 loops along the edge of the curtain that joins the second set. 11 You are to make 50 bronze clasps and put the clasps into the loops and join the tent together so that it is a unit. 12 Now the part that remains of the curtains of the tent—the half curtain that remains will hang over at the back of the tabernacle. 13 The foot and a half on the one side and the foot and a half on the other side of what remains in the length of the curtains of the tent will hang over the sides of the tabernacle, on one side and the other side, to cover it. 14 “You are to make a covering for the tent out of ram skins dyed red and over that a covering of fine leather. 15 “You are to make the frames for the tabernacle out of acacia wood as uprights. 16 Each frame is to be 15 feet long, and each frame is to be 27 inches wide, 17 with two projections per frame parallel one to another. You are to make all the frames of the tabernacle in this way. 18 So you are to make the frames for the tabernacle: 20 frames for the south side, 19 and you are to make 40 silver bases to go under the 20 frames—two bases under the first frame for its two projections, and likewise two bases under the next frame for its two projections; 20 and for the second side of the tabernacle, the north side, 20 frames, 21 and their 40 silver bases, two bases under the first frame, and two bases under the next frame. 22 And for the back of the tabernacle on the west you will make six frames. 23 You are to make two frames for the corners of the tabernacle on the back. 24 At the two corners they must be doubled at the lower end and finished together at the top in one ring. So it will be for both. 25 So there are to be eight frames and their silver bases, sixteen bases, two bases under the first frame, and two bases under the next frame. 26 “You are to make bars of acacia wood, five for the frames on one side of the tabernacle, 27 and five bars for the frames on the second side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the frames on the back of the tabernacle on the west. 28 The middle bar in the center of the frames will reach from end to end. 29 You are to overlay the frames with gold and make their rings of gold to provide places for the bars, and you are to overlay the bars with gold. 30 You are to set up the tabernacle according to the plan that you were shown on the mountain.⁠ 31 “You are to make a special curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twisted linen;⁠ it is to be made with cherubim, the work of an artistic designer. 32 You are to hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold, set in four silver bases. 33 You are to hang this curtain under the clasps and bring the ark of the testimony in there behind the curtain. The curtain will make a division⁠ for you between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. 34 You are to put the atonement lid on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place. 35 You are to put the table outside the curtain and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle, opposite the table, and you are to place the table on the north side. 36 “You are to make a hanging for the entrance of the tent of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twisted linen, the work of an embroiderer. 37 You are to make for the hanging five posts of acacia wood and overlay them with gold, and their hooks will be gold, and you are to cast five bronze bases for them.

Texts in conversation

Compare Exodus 26:31 and 3 Enoch 45:6

Hebrew Bible · Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses

Share:

Summary

In 3 Enoch, Ishmael sees all of human history engraved on the curtain in the heavenly temple, echoing Exodus 26, where the tabernacle Moses is told to build is based on the heavenly temple.

Passages

Exodus 26:31

Hebrew Bible
30 You are to set up the tabernacle according to the plan that you were shown on the mountain. 31 “You are to make a special curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twisted linen; it is to be made with cherubim, the work of an artistic designer. 32 You are to hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold, set in four silver bases. 33 You are to hang this curtain under the clasps and bring the ark of the testimony in there behind the curtain. The curtain will make a division for you between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.
750–400 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Exodus

3 Enoch 45:6

Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses · Hebrew Book of Enoch
6 And all the rest of all the leaders of the generations and all the works of the generations both in Israel and in the nations of the world, both what is done and what will be done hereafter to all generations until the end of time, (all) were graven on the Curtain of MAQOM. And I saw all these things with my eyes; and after I had seen it, I opened my mouth in praise of MAQOM (the Divine Majesty) (saying thus, Eccl. viii. 4, 5): "For the King's word has power (and who may say to him: What are you doing?) Whoever keeps the commandments shall know no evil thing". And I said: (Ps. civ. 24) "O Lord, how manifold are your works!"
400–600 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in 3 Enoch

References

“... 45 a. "The curtain [pargod] of the Omnipresent One": This curtain is the heavenly counterpart of the Veil which divided the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies in the earthly Tabernacle and Temple (Ex 26:31; 2Chr 3:14). The earthly veil is called the pdrdket: the heavenly veil, though sometimes called a pdrdket, is more commonly designated the pargod. Pargod is a loanword from Persian: Cf. the PdfoVawpardag, "curtain," "veil," and the cognate Hindustani pardah, from which the English "purdah" is derived. The heavenly pargod separates the immediate pres­ ence of God from the rest of heaven. It shields the angels from the destructive glare of the divine glory (Targum Job 26:9; cf. 3En 22B:6), and it conceals the ultimate mysteries of the deity; only the Prince of the Divine Presence is allowed to go within the curtain (cf. b.Yoma 77a). Some­ times secrets are announced by a heavenly voice "from behind the curtain" (b.Ber 18b; b.Hag 15a; 16a; b.Sanh 89b; Ma'yan Hokmah, BHM, vol. 1, p. 60, 1. 10; Ma'aseh 'asarah haruge malkut, BHM, vol. 6, p. 21, 1. 32, and p. 31, 1. 28; MidraS " 'Ellen 'ezkerah," BHM, vol. 3, p. 65, I. 25; MidraS 'aseret hadibberot, BHM, vol. 1, p. 81, 11. 3f.; Haggadat Sema' Yisra'el, BHM, vol. 5, p. 165, 11. 29f.; Masseket bibbut haqqeber 4; BHM, vol. 1. p. 152, I. 10). The idea in 3En 45 appears to be that the whole course of human history is already worked out "in blueprint" in the heavenly realm, and has been totally foreordained by God. Cf. the heav­ enly tablets on which, according to Hekalot Rabbati 6:3 (BM, vol. 1. p. 76), all the trials foreordained for Israel are already recorded. ...”
Philip S. Alexander, “3 (Hebrew Apocalypse of) Enoch,” in The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, ed. James H. Charlesworth (Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Company, 1983), 1:296.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

Tags

Your feedback

Exodus 26:31 and 3 Enoch 45:6

Leave a comment

Your questions and comments are welcome!

Comments

Glossary

Search the Library