Exodus 36

The Tabernacle Underwritten

1“Now Bezalel and Oholiab, and every 1skillful person in whom the Lord has put 2skill and understanding to know how to perform all the work 3in the construction of the sanctuary, shall perform in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded.”

2Then Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every 4skillful person in 5whom the Lord had put 6skill, 7everyone whose heart stirred him, to come to the work to perform it. 3They received from Moses all the 8contributions which the sons of Israel had brought 9to perform the work 10in the construction of the sanctuary. And they still continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning. 4And all the 11skillful men who were performing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from 12the work which 13he was performing, 5and they said to 14Moses, “15The people are bringing much more than enough for the 16construction work which the Lord commanded us to 17perform.” 6So Moses issued a command, and a 18proclamation was circulated throughout the camp, saying, “Let no man or woman any longer perform work for the 19contributions of the sanctuary.” Thus the people were restrained from bringing any more. 720For the 21material they had was sufficient and more than enough for all the work, to perform it.

Construction Proceeds

822All the 23skillful men among those who were performing the work made the 24tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twisted linen and 25blue and purple and scarlet material, with cherubim, the work of a skillful workman, 26Bezalel made them. 9The length of each curtain was twenty-eight 27cubits and the width of each curtain four 28cubits; all the curtains had 29the same measurements. 10He 30joined five curtains to one another and the other five curtains he 31joined to one another. 11He made loops of 32blue on the edge of the 33outermost curtain in the first 34set; he did likewise on the edge of the curtain that was 35outermost in the second 36set. 12He made 37fifty loops in the one curtain and he made fifty loops on the 38edge of the curtain that was in the second 39set; the loops were opposite each other. 13He made 40fifty clasps of gold and 41joined the curtains to one another with the clasps, so the tabernacle was 42a unit.

14Then 43he made curtains of goats’ hair for a tent over the tabernacle; he made eleven curtains 44in all. 15The length of each curtain was thirty cubits and four cubits the width of each curtain; the eleven curtains had 45the same measurements. 16He 46joined five curtains by themselves and the other six curtains by themselves. 17Moreover, he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the first 47set, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the second 48set. 18He made fifty clasps of 49bronze to 50join the tent together so that it would be 51a unit. 19He made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins 52dyed red, and a covering of porpoise skins above.

2053Then he made the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright. 21Ten cubits was the length of 54each board and one and a half cubits the width of each board. 22There were two tenons for each board, 55fitted to one another; thus he did for all the boards of the tabernacle. 23He made the boards for the tabernacle: twenty boards 56for the south side; 24and he made forty 57sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two 58sockets under one board for its two tenons and two 59sockets under another board for its two tenons. 25Then for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty boards, 26and their forty 60sockets of silver; two 61sockets under one board and two 62sockets under another board. 27For the 63rear of the tabernacle, to the west, he made six boards. 28He made two boards for the corners of the 64tabernacle at the 65rear. 29They were double beneath, and together they were complete to its 66top 67to the first ring; thus he did with both of them for the two corners. 30There were eight boards with their 68sockets of silver, sixteen 69sockets, 70two under every board.

31Then he made 71bars of acacia wood, five for the boards of one side of the tabernacle, 32and five bars for the boards of the 72other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the 73rear side to the west. 33He made the middle bar to pass through in the 74center of the boards from end to end. 34He overlaid the boards with gold and made their rings of gold as holders for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.

3575Moreover, he made the veil of 76blue and purple and scarlet material, and fine twisted linen; he made it with cherubim, the work of a skillful workman. 36He made four pillars of acacia for it, and overlaid them with gold, with their hooks of gold; and he cast four 77sockets of silver for them. 37He made a 78screen for the doorway of the tent, of 79blue and purple and scarlet material, and fine twisted linen, the work of a 80weaver; 38and he made its 81five pillars with their hooks, and he overlaid their tops and their 82bands with gold; but their five 83sockets were of 84bronze.