Exodus Chapter 26 Verse 14

:14 “And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers' skins.” 

When God covered the nakedness of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, he made for them coats of skins.  This first sacrifice to cover the shame of sin pointed us to the Lord Jesus Christ who through his sacrificial atonement covered the shame of our sins.  The rams’ skins dyed red are figurative of the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of His elect world.   

The covering above of badgers’ skins is what outsiders saw of the tabernacle.  I cannot think of anything more plain or unappealing to the natural eye as badgers’ skins.  However, the beauty of the tabernacle was not in its outward appeal.  The beauty is inward.  Likewise, the beauty of the Lord’s manifest church on earth is not in its outward beauty, for it is very simple.  The real beauty is its inward beauty.  When the church has joined together in the Spirit to sing praises unto God, to pray for his guidance and blessings and to give thanks for his goodness, and the message is delivered from a God called minister who is led by the Holy Spirit, it is truly a blessing of great beauty to behold by a spirit born, sin convicted, child of God who rejoices that he has been saved from his sins and that he has a God who watches over him, blesses him daily, and guides him through the trials of life. 

Verses 15-29 

:15 “And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up. 16 Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board. 17 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.

18 And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards on the south side southward. 19 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. 20 And for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side there shall be twenty boards: 21 And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.  

22 And for the sides of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards. 23 And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides. 24 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. 25 And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board. 26 And thou shalt make bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle, 27 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. 28 And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end. 29 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.” 

The boards of the tabernacle provide the structural framework of the tabernacle.  Without the boards the whole structure would collapse.  The boards are an essential part of the tabernacle.  Similar to the tabernacle the members of the Lord’s church are built together as a structural framework of the church:

    1.  Eph. 2:19 “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

    2.  Eph. 4:15 “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” 

The boards were all of one measure in length.  Each was ten cubits in length.  As we have previously seen, ten is associated with the law or commandment.  The church is made up of members in whom God has written his law in their heart and mind:

    1.  Heb. 8:10 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:”

    2.  Heb. 10:16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;” 

There were twenty boards on both the south side and the north side of the tabernacle.  Since the boards were each a cubit and a half in breath, the total length of the south side and the north side of the tabernacle was thirty cubits.  As we have shown previously the number twenty is associated with service and the number thirty is associated with redemption.  One of the reasons that God has redeemed us is that we might serve him.  In the church we should have two great themes: we have been redeemed that the shed blood of Jesus and we are thus supposed to serve Him in His kingdom church.   

Moreover, each board had two sockets or tenons on which the board was founded.  These tenons were made of silver.  Silver (13) is associated with redemption in the scriptures.  The number two is associated with the subject of witness in the scriptures (14).  The very basis of our witness as the disciples of Christ is based on the fact that we have been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus.   

On both the north side and south side of the tabernacle there were forty sockets of silver.  The number forty (15) is associated with the subject of trial and judgment in the scriptures.  The Lord’s people in the church undergo many trials and timely judgments in their lives which serve to strengthen them as disciples and servants of the Lord:

    1.  2 Cor. 8:2 “How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.”

    2.  1 Pet. 1:7 “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”

    3.  1 Pet. 4:12 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

    4.  (2 Cor. 12:10 “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

    5.  James 1:2 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

    6.  Rom. 5:3 “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;” 

Including the two corner boards there were a total of eight boards on both the east and the west sides of the tabernacle.  As we have previously noted the number eight is closely associated with the subject of new beginnings.  Every member of the Lord’s church has experienced a new beginning in that they have all been born of the Spirit of God.   

Each side of the tabernacle was to have five bars made of shittim wood and overlaid with gold.  This shows forth and ties together the atoning work of Christ in his death and the two fold nature of the redeemed creature in that he is both flesh and spiritual and thus has been made a king and priest unto God.  As we have previously shown gold is associated with kings and kingdoms and through the blood of Christ we have been made kings and priests unto God: Rev. 1:5 “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”         

Footnotes: 

13 silver Silver – Redemption 

In the scriptures bible metals are associated with particular bible subjects.  The metal, silver, is associated with the subject of redemption.  It is well known that throughout history, silver and gold have been used as mediums of exchange (money).  The primary medium of exchange in the scriptures is silver.  The great majority of times that we find silver mentioned in the scriptures it is used as money to purchase or redeem various objects or materials. 

Many times in the scriptures we see various numbers, metals, colors, etc. associated with the basic bible doctrines by use of types and shadows.  We will look at the following examples of how silver is typically used to show forth the redemptive work of Jesus Christ:

                   1.  Value of price of a servant.

                   2.  Trespass offering.

                   3.  Trumpets of silver.

                   4.  Gift to Benjamin.

                   5.  Redemptive price of children of Israel.

                   6.  Abraham's gifts to Rebekah.

                   7.  Foundation of the tabernacle. 

14 Two Two = Witness 

Num. 35:30 Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die. 

Deu. 17: 6  At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. 

Deu. 19: 15  One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. 

1 King 21: 10  And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die. 

 Matt. 18: 16  But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 

Matt. 26: 59  Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; 60  But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, 61  And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. 

2 Cor. 13:1  This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. 

1 Tim. 5: 19  Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. 

Heb. 10: 28  He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 

Rev. 11: 3  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4  These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 

Gal. 4: 24  Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 

(15) Forty Forty – Trail and Judgment 

The number forty is often associated in the scriptures with the subject of trial and judgment.  In a courtroom, you first have the trial and then you have the judgment.  Sometimes we see the number forty associated with the trial and sometimes we see it associated with the judgment after the verdict is rendered. 

We observe in the scriptures the number forty associated with the following examples of trial or judgment:

    1.  The destruction of the world during the days of Noah

    2.  Moses going into the mount to receive the law contrasted to Christ's being tested of Satan.

    3.  The spies spying out the land of Canaan

    4.  The judgment upon the children of Israel in the wilderness because they did not believe the promise and power of God

    5.  The judgment of a wicked man

    6.  National judgment of Israel because of sin and repentance

    7.  Trial of faith due to Goliath's defiance

    8.  The buildings of the tabernacle, temple, and of Ezekiel's vision

    9.  The trial and judgment of Ninevah

  10.  Judgment of Jerusalem and Jews for their rejection of Christ.