(Exodus 26:1-14)
COVERINGS OF
• The first or inner, ten curtains of blue, purple joined with loops and golden taches. Exodus 26:1-6; Exodus 36:8-13
• The second, eleven curtains of goats’ hair. Exodus 26:7-13; Exodus 36:14-18
• The third of rams’ skins dyed red. Exodus 26:14; Exodus 36:19
• The fourth or outward of badgers’ skins. Exodus 26:14; Exodus 36:19
THE INNER COVERING (TEN CURTAINS) (Exodus26:1-6)
The covering embroidered with Cherubim was the innermost covering over the Sanctuary. It was this covering that formed the actual Tabernacle, in the specific sense of Exodus 26:1. The Cherubim embroidered covering also formed the ceiling of the Tabernacle, looking up from inside the Sanctuary. Since much of the embroidery hung over the external walls of the Boards, what was visible from the inside was only a small part of the whole. The were 10 curtains individual curtains to begin with, each 13 metres x 2 metres approx. Five curtains were then coupled together with one another, and likewise the other five. Then the 2 x 5 curtains were looped together, using 50 golden clasps to make one enormous embroidery 13 metres wide and almost 19 metres long.
The book of Exodus does not give us the precise pattern of the embroidery, but we are told that the colouring was blue, purple, scarlet and white (the colour of the fine twined linen) and that the motifs were Cherubim angels (Exodus 26:1).
THE SECOND COVERING (ELEVEN CURTAINS OF GOATS’ HAIR) (Exodus 26:7-13)
Altogether there were 11 curtains of woven goats’ hair, measuring 20 metres x 14 metres approx., held together by 50 bronze clasps. This covering made a “Tent” over the Tabernacle (Exodus 26:7)
Goats were of particular importance on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the time when the children of Israel came together to be reconciled to God (Leviticus chapter 16). Two goats were selected by lottery, one for sacrifice and the other to be sent out into the wilderness. The blood of the sacrificed goat would be taken into the Holy of Holies by the High Priest, as required by God to forgive the sins of the children of Israel, for “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). Then the High Priest would lay his hands on the head of the other goat and confess all the sins of the children of Israel before it was sent out into the wilderness, signifying that God would forget all the sins thus confessed. Here is the origin of the ‘scapegoat’.
THE THIRD COVERING (RAM’S SKIN) (Exodus 26:14)
Since a ram’s skin is not red naturally, but had to be dyed to become red, this reminds us once more of the great significance of blood shown throughout the fabrics of the Doors and Coverings of the Tabernacle. Isaiah prophesied of the Messiah some 750 years before His crucifixion “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter” (Isaiah 53:7).
The sheer size of this covering indicates how precious is the sacrifice of Messiah (Hebrew), or Christ (Greek): the covering measured at least 14 metres x 20 metres.
Jesus said “My blood is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28).
THE OUTER COVERING (BADGER’S SKIN) (Exodus 26:14)
The covering was made from either badger or seal/dolphin skin (there is some uncertainty as to the correct translation from Hebrew). But there is no uncertainty as to its function: this covering formed a thick, protective, weatherproof layer over the Tabernacle. No amount of baking heat from the sun or wind-driven sand-storms or rain could disturb the treasure contained within the Tabernacle, thanks to this covering.
So with Christ: after 40 days in the wilderness, the tempter could not make any in-roads either at the Lord Jesus’ human frailty (“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”, Matthew 4:4), or at His perception of the divine order of things (“You shall not tempt the Lord your God… You shall worship the Lord your God; Him only shall you serve” Matthew 4:7,10).