On Leviticus and Numbers

In the next few weeks we will finish Exodus. The books in the Torah that follow are Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.  After the legal requirements laid down in the last half of the book of Exodus, the books of Leviticus and Numbers can be difficult to work through. I will save those two books for later in this three-year journey through the Old Testament, after we have developed a more robust understanding of the role of the Old Testament Law in the nation of Israel. This year, I will jump directly on to the book of Deuteronomy.

What do we miss by skipping Leviticus and Numbers?

At the end of Exodus, YHWH renters the Tabernacle and his Holiness fills the tent. Yet now Moses cannot enter the Tabernacle. More work needs to be done.

Leviticus describes the rituals and sacrifices that must be done by the people of Israel in expectation of the Day of Atonement. The Day of Atonement is the central, climactic episode in the book. After all the feasts and sacrifices of Leviticus, Moses finally enters the Tabernacle.

The book of Numbers describes forty years in the desert, between the escape from Egypt and the entrance into Canaan. The first ten chapters begin with a census of Israel at Sinai (thus the title of the book) followed by preparation for moving out into the desert from Sinai, towards Canaan. After that, we read the history of this journey (beginning in chapter 11.) Critical to this history is the exploration of Canaan by twelve spies (in Numbers 13) followed by a cowardly retreat from Canaan, despite God's promises of victory. This leads to some 38 years of meandering in the desert, waiting for YHWH to allow them to enter Canaan. During this time, we meet Balaam (Numbers 23-25) and his plans to curse the Israelites, a plan that turns into a blessing – and a messianic prophecy. Prior to that we see a plague of serpents (Numbers 21) which is stopped by Moses raising a bronze symbol of the serpent for the people to focus on.

Throughout these wilderness journeys we have numerous "murmurings" --  numerous places where the Israelites whine about their difficulties. One of the first murmurings is a complaint about the steady diet of manna and quail.

At the end of Numbers, the people are on the border of Canaan, poised to enter. Two and a half tribes settle the region east of the Jordan (the "Transjordan" region) and then the Torah carries a series of final speeches by Moses. Those speeches are the subject of Deuteronomy. In those speeches, Moses includes a summary of the previous 40 years.  

In 2026, we will skip Leviticus and Numbers and jump on to Deuteronomy. I covered Leviticus and Numbers in 2025 and plan to return to them in 2028.

An excellent summary of Leviticus is given by the BibleProject here. An equally excellent summary of Numbers is here.

First published April 9, 2023; updated April 5, 2026

Exodus 31, Skilled Craftsmen

YHWH continues giving Moses instruction on building the temple. These instructions deal with the artistic designs – and the artists – that will ornament the temple.

Exodus 31:1-11, Spirit-skilled craftsmen

Then the LORD said to Moses, "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts-- to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship.

    

"Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you: the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent-- the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand-- and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests,  and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. 

    

"They are to make them just as I commanded you."

 

The Spirit of God will make these craftsmen into magnificent artists. The beauty, the artistry of the tabernacle is important. (If a Christian wanted to emphasize the value of art within human nature, this might be a good place to start.)

This is the sixth occurrence of "YHWH said to Moses." The seventh set of instructions will be about the seventh day....

Exodus 31: 12-17, Sabbath

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, `You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy. 

    

"`Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people. For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death.

    

"The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested.'"

The Sabbath Rest (the fourth of the Ten Commandments) is once again emphasized. Even with all the work to be done on the tabernacle, the workers are still to rest on the Sabbath.

Exodus 31: 18, Tablets

When the LORD finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.

This verse prepares us for the next chapter. Moses is still on Mount Sinai while the people wait below. It is not clear here what is on the tablets but tradition has that it is the Ten Commandments.

Commentators point out that, unlike the Hollywood images, the two tablets were likely two copies of the Ten Commandments. This was traditional in the Ancient Near East -- one copy went to one party of a treaty and another copy to the other party. In this case, both copies will be kept in the tabernacle.

First published April 5, 2023; updated April 4, 2026

Exodus 30, Altar, Taxes, Incense

We continue with details on building the tabernacle.

This passage uses some ancient units of measurement: a cubit is probably about 18 inches (half a meter), maybe a little less. A shekel is probably about 2/5 ounce, 12 grams. A hin is a bit more than a gallon.

Exodus 30:1-6, The altar

"Make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense. It is to be square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits high--its horns of one piece with it.

"Overlay the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it. Make two gold rings for the altar below the molding--two on opposite sides--to hold the poles used to carry it. Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 

"Put the altar in front of the curtain that is before the ark of the Testimony--before the atonement cover that is over the Testimony--where I will meet with you.

The altar has a square base with sides half of a meter and height about one meter. Acacia wood is apparently long-lasting, chosen for its endurance.

Exodus 30:7-10, Daily and yearly sacrifices

"Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the LORD for the generations to come. Do not offer on this altar any other incense or any burnt offering or grain offering, and do not pour a drink offering on it.

    

"Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on its horns. This annual atonement must be made with the blood of the atoning sin offering for the generations to come. It is most holy to the LORD."

It's not clear what the horns are.

Exodus 30:11-16, Sons of Israel

Then the LORD said to Moses,

    

"When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the LORD a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them.

    

"Each one who crosses over to those already counted is to give a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the LORD.    

    

"All who cross over, those twenty years old or more, are to give an offering to the LORD.

    

"The rich are not to give more than a half shekel and the poor are not to give less when you make the offering to the LORD to atone for your lives.

    

"Receive the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting. It will be a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD, making atonement for your lives."

This is the second set of instructions given to Moses. (The first begins in Exodus 25:1.) 

A census of Israel includes a temple tax.

Exodus 30:17-21, The bronze basin

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a bronze basin, with its bronze stand, for washing. Place it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it. Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it. Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die. Also, when they approach the altar to minister by presenting an offering made to the LORD by fire, they shall wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. 

    

"This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come."

This is the third speech by YHWH to Moses.

The priests will be perpetually reminded of the holiness, the terror of relating to the Creator of all life.

Exodus 30:22-29, Spices

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Take the following fine spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant cane, 500 shekels of cassia--all according to the sanctuary shekel--and a hin of olive oil.

    

"Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer. It will be the sacred anointing oil. Then use it to anoint the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony, the table and all its articles, the lampstand and its accessories, the altar of incense,  the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. 

"You shall consecrate them so they will be most holy, and whatever touches them will be holy."

We have more reminders of the need for holiness. Each statement now comes with YHWH giving new instructions to Moses. If we are keeping count of these instructions, this is the fourth.

Exodus 30:30-33, Anointment of Aaron and his sons

"Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them so they may serve me as priests.

"Say to the Israelites, `This is to be my sacred anointing oil for the generations to come.

"Do not pour it on men's bodies and do not make any oil with the same formula. It is sacred, and you are to consider it sacred. Whoever makes perfume like it and whoever puts it on anyone other than a priest must be cut off from his people.'"

The anointing oil, with its fragrance, is reserved only for the temple.

Exodus 30:34-38, Holy incense

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Take fragrant spices--gum resin, onycha and galbanum--and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts, and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer. It is to be salted and pure and sacred. Grind some of it to powder and place it in front of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you.   

   

"Do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves; consider it holy to the LORD. Whoever makes any like it to enjoy its fragrance must be cut off from his people."

The worship includes both sacrifice and incense.  (Is it possible that the smell of sacrifices necessitates incense?)

First published April 4, 2023; updated April 3, 2026

Exodus 29, Preparing Priests to Meet God

The garments for the priests have been described. Now YHWH instructs Moses on the consecration of the priests, so that they may approach YHWH and acts as mediators for Israel.

Exodus 29:1-9, Consecrating priests

"This is what you are to do to consecrate them, so they may serve me as priests: Take a young bull and two rams without defect. And from fine wheat flour, without yeast, make bread, and cakes mixed with oil, and wafers spread with oil. Put them in a basket and present them in it--along with the bull and the two rams.

    

"Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water. Take the garments and dress Aaron with the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod itself and the breastpiece. Fasten the ephod on him by its skillfully woven waistband. Put the turban on his head and attach the sacred diadem to the turban. Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head.

     

"Bring his sons and dress them in tunics and put headbands on them. Then tie sashes on Aaron and his sons. 

The priesthood is theirs by a lasting ordinance. In this way you shall ordain Aaron and his sons."

This passage describes the consecration of Aaron and his sons to act as priests. In every step, the priests are to be as perfect as possible, clean, well-dressed, anointed.

(NIV footnotes. In verse 9, the Septuagint  has the sashes tied on Aaron and "on them" instead of "his sons".)

Exodus 29:10-14, Slaughter the bull

"Bring the bull to the front of the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head. Slaughter it in the LORD's presence at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

    

"Take some of the bull's blood and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and pour out the rest of it at the base of the altar. Then take all the fat around the inner parts, the covering of the liver, and both kidneys with the fat on them, and burn them on the altar.

    

"But burn the bull's flesh and its hide and its offal outside the camp. It is a sin offering."

A bull is slaughtered at the entrance to the Tent. Part of the bull is burned on the altar and part is burned outside the tent.

Exodus 29:15-21, Sacrifice two rams

"Take one of the rams, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head. Slaughter it and take the blood and sprinkle it against the altar on all sides.

    

"Cut the ram into pieces and wash the inner parts and the legs, putting them with the head and the other pieces.  Then burn the entire ram on the altar. 

    

"It is a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire.

    

"Take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head. Slaughter it, take some of its blood and put it on the lobes of the right ears of Aaron and his sons, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. Then sprinkle blood against the altar on all sides. And take some of the blood on the altar and some of the anointing oil and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments and on his sons and their garments. Then he and his sons and their garments will be consecrated."

Instruction are given on slaughtering the two rams. In this case, some of the blood is dabbed on the right ears of Aaron and his sons and on their big toes. (Presumably these two extremities represent all of the individual.) Then both oil and blood are sprinkled on the priests and their garments.

Exodus 29:22-26, A wave offering

"Take from this ram the fat, the fat tail, the fat around the inner parts, the covering of the liver, both kidneys with the fat on them, and the right thigh. (This is the ram for the ordination.)

    

"From the basket of bread made without yeast, which is before the LORD, take a loaf, and a cake made with oil, and a wafer. Put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons and wave them before the LORD as a wave offering. Then take them from their hands and burn them on the altar along with the burnt offering for a pleasing aroma to the LORD, an offering made to the LORD by fire. 

    

"After you take the breast of the ram for Aaron's ordination, wave it before the LORD as a wave offering, and it will be your share."

What is a "wave offering"?  Apparently by waving the loaf and cake before YHWH, the priests were symbolically offering this material to YHWH, consecrating it, before later eating it. (The meat could be eaten after it was burnt, but the bread and cake were not to be burned.)

Exodus 29:27-30, The ordination ram and Aaron's garments

"Consecrate those parts of the ordination ram that belong to Aaron and his sons: the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented. This is always to be the regular share from the Israelites for Aaron and his sons. It is the contribution the Israelites are to make to the LORD from their fellowship offerings.

    

"Aaron's sacred garments will belong to his descendants so that they can be anointed and ordained in them. The son who succeeds him as priest and comes to the Tent of Meeting to minister in the Holy Place is to wear them seven days.

Aaron's garments are to be passed on to his descendants, and so passed on to future priests.

Exodus 29:31-34, Finishing the ram of ordination

"Take the ram for the ordination and cook the meat in a sacred place. At the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, Aaron and his sons are to eat the meat of the ram and the bread that is in the basket. They are to eat these offerings by which atonement was made for their ordination and consecration. But no one else may eat them, because they are sacred.

    

"And if any of the meat of the ordination ram or any bread is left over till morning, burn it up. It must not be eaten, because it is sacred."

 

The meat of the ram has a special role. None of the sacrifice is to be saved or hoarded.

Exodus 29:35-37, Final instructions on ordaining Aaron and his sons

"Do for Aaron and his sons everything I have commanded you, taking seven days to ordain them.  

    

"Sacrifice a bull each day as a sin offering to make atonement. Purify the altar by making atonement for it, and anoint it to consecrate it. For seven days make atonement for the altar and consecrate it. Then the altar will be most holy, and whatever touches it will be holy.

 

Seven days shows up again -- the ordination is to take a week. A bull is to be sacrificed every day.

Exodus 29:38-41, Sacrificing the lambs

"This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old. Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight.

    

With the first lamb offer a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of oil from pressed olives, and a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering.

    

Sacrifice the other lamb at twilight with the same grain offering and its drink offering as in the morning--a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire.

The bloody sacrifice is an integral part of the ancient Jewish worship system, emphasizing the peoples' inadequacies when facing YHWH.

An ephah is probably about five gallons so a tenth of an ephah would be about half a gallon. A hin was about 1 1/2 gallons so a quarter of a hin would be between one and two quarts.

Exodus 29:42-43, Regular meeting

`"For the generations to come this burnt offering is to be made regularly at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD. There I will meet you and speak to you; there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory.

These sacrifices allow future generations to regularly meet with God.

Exodus 29:44-46, Dwelling place of YHWH 

"So I will consecrate the Tent of Meeting and the altar and will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests. Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. They will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.

Once the priests have been consecrated, have been made holy, they can then serve God and He will physically and visibly live among the Israelites.

I find this chapter a bit of a struggle. The tedious (but rigorous) emphasis on getting the priests ready to meet God is written to the ancient Hebrews, in order to stress the holiness of God and their inadequacy before Him. But that culture is so ancient and that sacrificial system long gone, so that Christians in this century are but distant observers of these expectations and requirements.

First published April 3, 2023; updated April 2, 2026

Exodus 28, Garments for the Priests

The ornate structure of the temple has been described. Now we move on the the garments of the priests. All of this is designed to create an elegant, beautiful environment for the presence and worship of YHWH.

Exodus 28:1-5, Elegant clothes for my priests

"Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests.

    

Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron, to give him dignity and honor. Tell all the skilled men to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest.

    

These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests. Have them use gold, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen.

The garments are to display dignity and honor. The use of ornate colors and gems is part of this "dignity" and "honor". Imes, in her course on Exodus, points out that in those days dyes were expensive and hard to make. We tend to notice the appearance of gold, silver and precious gems but the ancients would have also noticed the very expensive colors of blue, purple and scarlet.

A variety of webpages have drawings that attempt to replicate these garments. Here is one image that shows up in a variety of places:

Exodus 28:6-8, Description of the ephod

"Make the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen--the work of a skilled craftsman. It is to have two shoulder pieces attached to two of its corners, so it can be fastened. Its skillfully woven waistband is to be like it--of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen.

An ephod is some type of apron. It will involve very colorful weaves, requiring a "skilled craftsman".

Exodus 28:9-14, Stones on the shoulders of the ephod

"Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel in the order of their birth--six names on one stone and the remaining six on the other. Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings and fasten them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear the names on his shoulders as a memorial before the LORD.

    

Make gold filigree settings and two braided chains of pure gold, like a rope, and attach the chains to the settings.

There are to be twelve small stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel.

Exodus 28:15-21, The breastpiece

"Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions--the work of a skilled craftsman. Make it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen.  It is to be square--a span long and a span wide--and folded double.

    

Then mount four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row there shall be a ruby, a topaz and a beryl  in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and an emerald; in the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst; in the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper. Mount them in gold filigree settings.

    

There are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.

The breastpiece presumably covers the ephod. It too is to carry precious stones representing the twelve tribes.

A "span" (verse 15) is probably about 9 inches? In verse 18, the Hebrew term sappir (סַפִּיר) could be translated "lapis lazuli". Sapphire is apparently too hard to engrave (see here) and so lapis lazuli, a softer blue stone, is most likely the gem named.

The names of the jewels in the ephod involve Hebrew words that are relatively rare in the Old Testament and so exact identification is uncertain. Terms like sapphire, onyx (and so on) are our best attempts to translate those rare words.

Exodus 28:22-28, Decorating the breastpiece

"For the breastpiece make braided chains of pure gold, like a rope.

      

"Make two gold rings for it and fasten them to two corners of the breastpiece. Fasten the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the breastpiece, and the other ends of the chains to the two settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front. Make two gold rings and attach them to the other two corners of the breastpiece on the inside edge next to the ephod. Make two more gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod, close to the seam just above the waistband of the ephod. The rings of the breastpiece are to be tied to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting it to the waistband, so that the breastpiece will not swing out from the ephod."

The breastpiece is to have, hanging from it, chains of pure gold. The chains of gold are attached to gold rings.

Exodus 28:29-30, Aaron's entrance to the Holy Place

"Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the LORD. Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron's heart whenever he enters the presence of the LORD. 

    

Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the LORD.

The Urim and Thummim were apparently used for seeking answers, almost like tossing a coin. They were in the breastpiece, covering the ephod. In later chapters of the Old Testament, we will see individuals, such as David, consulting "the ephod" of the priest. This may mean that the individual is consulting the Urim/Thummim.

Exodus 28:31-35,

"Make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth, with an opening for the head in its center. There shall be a woven edge like a collar around this opening, so that it will not tear. Make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them. The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe.

    

Aaron must wear it when he ministers. The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the LORD and when he comes out, so that he will not die.

It is not clear the value of the bells. But myths abound -- one myth said that the high priest was to have a rope around him (see here for a rebuttal.)

The meaning of the Hebrew interpreted "collar" in verse 32 is uncertain.

Exodus 28:36-39, Seal on Aaron's forehead

"Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD. Fasten a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban; it is to be on the front of the turban. It will be on Aaron's forehead, and he will bear the guilt involved in the sacred gifts the Israelites consecrate, whatever their gifts may be. It will be on Aaron's forehead continually so that they will be acceptable to the LORD.

    

"Weave the tunic of fine linen and make the turban of fine linen. The sash is to be the work of an embroiderer."

Aaron is to wear some type of cap or turban on his head.  The garments are to be of "fine linen".

Exodus 28:40-43, Aaron's sons

"Make tunics, sashes and headbands for Aaron's sons, to give them dignity and honor. After you put these clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint and ordain them. Consecrate them so they may serve me as priests.

    

"Make linen undergarments as a covering for the body, reaching from the waist to the thigh. Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they wiin vll not incur guilt and die. "This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants.

Just as Aaron is to be heavily dressed, there are similar expectations for the other serving priests.

Some Random Thoughts

In the Ancient Near East (ANE) the colors purple and scarlet would have involved expensive dyes and represented elegance and wealth. Blue was a popular rich color in the ANE and is prevalent throughout the Islamic art of central Asia.

In 2025, my wife and I enjoyed a visit to Uzbekistan. In the city of Bukhara, the bright blue lapis lazuli appeared to show up everywhere, even in our elegant hotel room. One picture is below.

I am told that sometimes the blue color represented protection from demons or evil spirits; it often had a spiritual significance. The beautiful color was intended to bring peace. It is no surprise that it is one of the colors in the priests' dress (in verse 18, above.)

First published April 1, 2023; updated April 1, 2026

Exodus 27, The Altar and Courtyard

Instructions for the building of the Tabernacle continue.

Exodus 27:1-8, Altar

"Build an altar of acacia wood, three cubits high; it is to be square, five cubits long and five cubits wide. Make a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar are of one piece, and overlay the altar with bronze.    

    

Make all its utensils of bronze--its pots to remove the ashes, and its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans.

    

Make a grating for it, a bronze network, and make a bronze ring at each of the four corners of the network. Put it under the ledge of the altar so that it is halfway up the altar.

    

Make poles of acacia wood for the altar and overlay them with bronze. The poles are to be inserted into the rings so they will be on two sides of the altar when it is carried.

    

Make the altar hollow, out of boards. 

    

It is to be made just as you were shown on the mountain.

In verse 1, since a cubit is estimated to be about 1.5 feet then the height of the altar is about 4.5 feet (a little over a meter) and its width is about 7.5 feet, just over 2 meters.

There is an interesting phrase at the end of this paragraph, in a reference to designs shown to Moses up on the mountain. The author of the New Testament letter to the Hebrews will use this to suggest (Hebrews 8: 5) that there is a real heavenly tabernacle of which the earthly one is merely a copy. 

Exodus 27:9-11, Courtyard

"Make a courtyard for the tabernacle. The south side shall be a hundred cubits long and is to have curtains of finely twisted linen, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts. 

    

"The north side shall also be a hundred cubits long and is to have curtains, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts.  The west end of the courtyard shall be fifty cubits wide and have curtains, with ten posts and ten bases. On the east end, toward the sunrise, the courtyard shall also be fifty cubits wide."

The courtyard is about 150 feet by 75 feet, larger than a basketball court but slightly smaller than half a football field.

           

Exodus 27:14-15, Curtains

Curtains fifteen cubits long are to be on one side of the entrance, with three posts and three bases, and curtains fifteen cubits long are to be on the other side, with three posts and three bases.

The curtains are over 20 feet long.

Exodus 27:16-19, Entrance to the courtyard

"For the entrance to the courtyard, provide a curtain twenty cubits long, of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen--the work of an embroiderer--with four posts and four bases. All the posts around the courtyard are to have silver bands and hooks, and bronze bases.

    

The courtyard shall be a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide, with curtains of finely twisted linen five cubits high, and with bronze bases.  All the other articles used in the service of the tabernacle, whatever their function, including all the tent pegs for it and those for the courtyard, are to be of bronze.

Intricate details of the beauty of the courtyard are described here.

Exodus 27:20-21, Keep the lamps burning

"Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning. In the Tent of Meeting, outside the curtain that is in front of the Testimony, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the LORD from evening till morning. 

    

"This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come."

The lamps of the Tent of Meeting are to burn perpetually. One might notice that there are lots of times in the future where the Tent of Meeting seems to be in disrepair or abandoned, much less the lamps!

First published Match 31, 2023; updated Match 31, 2026

Exodus 26, The Tabernacle

God continues to give Moses precise instructions on constructing the tabernacle.  Artists' rendition of this tabernacle are at this Wikipedia site.

Exodus 26:1-6, Ten curtains

"Make the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim worked into them by a skilled craftsman. All the curtains are to be the same size--twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide. 

    

"Join five of the curtains together, and do the same with the other five. Make loops of blue material along the edge of the end curtain in one set, and do the same with the end curtain in the other set. Make fifty loops on one curtain and fifty loops on the end curtain of the other set, with the loops opposite each other.  Then make fifty gold clasps and use them to fasten the curtains together so that the tabernacle is a unit."

Presumably these curtains form walls for the tabernacle.  In verse 2, the curtains are about 42 feet long and 6 feet wide.

Exodus 26:7-13, And an eleventh curtain

"Make curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle--eleven altogether. All eleven curtains are to be the same size--thirty cubits long and four cubits wide. Join five of the curtains together into one set and the other six into another set. Fold the sixth curtain double at the front of the tent. Make fifty loops along the edge of the end curtain in one set and also along the edge of the end curtain in the other set. Then make fifty bronze clasps and put them in the loops to fasten the tent together as a unit.

     

"As for the additional length of the tent curtains, the half curtain that is left over is to hang down at the rear of the tabernacle. The tent curtains will be a cubit longer on both sides; what is left will hang over the sides of the tabernacle so as to cover it."

The curtains for the tent over the tabernacle are a little bit longer than the curtains mentioned previously in verse 2. Instead of being 28 cubits in length (about 42 feet) hey are 30 cubits in length (about 45 feet.)

Exodus 26:14-25, Tent covering

Make for the tent a covering of ram skins dyed red, and over that a covering of hides of sea cows.

    

"Make upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle. Each frame is to be ten cubits long and a cubit and a half wide, with two projections set parallel to each other. Make all the frames of the tabernacle in this way.    

    

"Make twenty frames for the south side of the tabernacle and make forty silver bases to go under them--two bases for each frame, one under each projection. For the other side, the north side of the tabernacle, make twenty frames and forty silver bases--two under each frame. Make six frames for the far end, that is, the west end of the tabernacle, and make two frames for the corners at the far end. At these two corners they must be double from the bottom all the way to the top, and fitted into a single ring; both shall be like that. So there will be eight frames and sixteen silver bases--two under each frame."

The frames are about 15 feet long and a little over two feet wide.

Exodus 26:26-30, Crossbars

"Also make crossbars of acacia wood: five for the frames on one side of the tabernacle, five for those on the other side, and five for the frames on the west, at the far end of the tabernacle. The center crossbar is to extend from end to end at the middle of the frames.

    

"Overlay the frames with gold and make gold rings to hold the crossbars. Also overlay the crossbars with gold."

Everything is rich and elegant, overlaid with gold.

Exodus 26:30, Reminder

 "Set up the tabernacle according to the plan shown you on the mountain.

The instructions for this traveling worship center are intricate and precise.  We see, again, an emphasis of "get the pattern right!"

Exodus 26:31-33, The curtain that separates the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place

"Make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim worked into it by a skilled craftsman. Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases. Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

Beautiful curtains separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (the Holy of Holies.) In the ancient Near East, colorful yarn would have been expensive.

Exodus 26:34-37, The Holy of Holies

"Put the atonement cover on the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place. Place the table outside the curtain on the north side of the tabernacle and put the lampstand opposite it on the south side.

    

"For the entrance to the tent make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen--the work of an embroiderer. Make gold hooks for this curtain and five posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold. And cast five bronze bases for them."

Here we read additional emphasis on separating the Most Holy Place from the Holy Place.

Some Hebrew vocabulary

Our Hebrew word for the day is yam,

יָם

a masculine noun meaning "sea." Since the Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, was west of Canaan, the word also came to mean "west" and it is used this way in verses 22 and 26 to describe the west side of the tabernacle.

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First published March 30, 2023; updated March 30, 2026