βMoreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet : with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them. of cunning: Heb. the work of a cunning workman, or, embroidererβ
Twisted, for greater strength, with double threads. (Du Hamel) β Diversified, &c. Hebrew, βcherubim wrought by a skilful workman.β A cherubic work is one extremely diversified, and wonderful; representing birds, flowers, monsters; either in gold, wood, painting, or tapestry. When it is done with a needle, it is styled rokom, βfeathers,β (plumarium opus.) But when the variety of colours is done with the loom, being more ingenious, the Hebrew call it Γ©ssob, βof an inventor.β Such were these curtains.
βThe five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.β
Five curtains, which would cover half the tabernacle, or 20 cubits. (Calmet) β Being joined together, they remind us of fraternal charity and union; which ought to adorn the members of the church. (Worthington)
βAnd thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.β
Rings. Hooks or taches, ver. 11.
βAnd a cubit on the one side, and a cubit on the other side of that which remaineth in the length of the curtains of the tent, it shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it. of that: Heb. in the remainder, or, surplusβ
A cubit. As these curtains were two cubits longer, and four broader, than those more precious ones below, they hung down to the ground. Josephus, [Antiquities?] iii. 5.
βAnd thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers' skins.β
Skins. These two were probably as large as the last, to keep out rain; (Menochius) though the text only specifies the roof.
βTwo tenons shall there be in one board, set in order one against another: thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle. tenons: Heb. handsβ
Mortises, (incastraturΔ). Hebrew, βtenons,β which corresponded with the former. (Calmet)
βAnd 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.β
Corners. Hebrew tenons, literally, βhands,β which has the same meaning as the Vulgate. Some think, the sockets or bases rested on the ground, and had a point which entered into the boards, to keep them in their places. (Lyranus) β The ornaments on the north and south were the same. (Calmet)
βAnd for the sides of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards.β
Six, at the western end, with two other strong boards, or pillars, to connect the whole, as they were placed at the two corners, and were half a cubit each. (Menochius)
βAnd thou shalt make bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,β
Bars, 30 cubits long, on two sides, and ten on the western end, to fasten the boards.
βAnd thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet , and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:β
A veil, to hang before the entrance of the tabernacle, at the east side, which had no boards. Within was the ark, ver. 33. (Haydock)
βAnd thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.β
Heads. Chaptrels of setim-wood, overlaid with gold, β (Vovim), not little hooks for curtains. (Calmet)
βAnd thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.β
The sanctuary, &c. That part of the tabernacle, which was without the veil, into which the priests daily entered, is here called the sanctuary, or holy place; that part which was within the veil, into which no one but the high priest ever went in, and he but once a year, is called the holy of holies, (literally, the sanctuaries of the sanctuary) as being the most holy of all holy places. (Challoner) β It occupied only one-third of the tabernacle. (Menochius)
βAnd thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet , and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.β
Hanging, or veil, suspended on five pillars, before the sanctuary. (Haydock) β It was the other veil, which was rent at the death of Christ. Baronius observes, that Christian temples were formerly built in imitation of the Jewish tabernacle. It was a figure of the Catholic church, 1 Timothy iii. 15.