The Walls and Framework

The Boards and Bases
Exodus 26:15-22

“And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up.  Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board.  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.” (Exodus 26:15-17)

The tabernacle was to be supported by portable wooden walls made from standing dead shittim trees.  Decay organisms quickly attack down timber and the demand that it be standing timber would provide cured wood free of decay.  Each board was to be fifteen feet long, and about twenty seven inches wide, which would require huge old trees.  Each board was to have two tenons or tongues cut on one end to go into holes in the sockets that would support them.

“And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards on the south side southward.  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.  And for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side there shall be twenty boards: And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.  And for the sides of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards.” (Exodus 26:18-22)

There were to be twenty standard boards each for the north and south sides of the Tabernacle.  Six standard boards were to be cut for the west end.  Two support sockets were to be made of silver for each board.  These sockets would prevent the boards from contacting or sinking into the ground and protect them from decay and insect attack.

The Corner Detail
Exodus 26:23-25

“And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.  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.  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.  And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.” (Exodus 26:23-25)

In addition to the forty six regular boards there were to be four corner assemblies.  Each corner would consist of two boards like the standard boards, but drilled and joined each end by a ring to serve as hinges for each corner.  Each board for the corners was to have tenons and sixteen additional sockets were to be made for the corners.  When assembled, the with the corners, the north and south walls would bee thirty three cubits long or about forty nine feet long, and the west wall would be twelve cubits, or about eighteen feet wide.  The inner covering would thus overhang about eleven feet on each of the three sides, with the goats’ hair covering hanging down about twelve or thirteen feet.

The Connecting Bars
Exodus 26:26-28

“And thou shalt make bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle, 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.  And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end.” (Exodus 26:26-28)

Bars or beams were to be made to hold all the boards in place.  There were to be five on each side, with the middle bar reaching the full length of the wall.  With rings attached at each end and the center of the boards the bars could be shoved through the top and bottom before standing the wall up, but in sections of only about ten boards at a time. The full length center beam would maintain structural integrity.  The design would make it relatively easy to transport.

Finish And Trim  Details 
Exodus 26:29-30

“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.  And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was showed thee in the mount.” (Exodus 26:29-30) 

All the wooden parts were to be finished by covering them with gold leaf.  All the rings which held the bars were to made of gold.  The method of assembly was demonstrated to Moses on the mountain so he could show the others.  The gold covering and the silver sockets would prevent weathering and decay, prolonging the life of the  wood.  The use of cured wood would be critical to prevent shrinkage from dislodging the gold covering, or cracking the boards but to cut and air dry green lumber would have required at least a year and a half or two years.  Using standing dead trees would eliminate the problems.

The walls portray Christ as the basis of our entire Christian life.  Once again the wood portrays his humanity and the gold pictures his divinity.  The silver sockets portray his righteousness protecting us from contamination by the world.