TABERNACLE
gether
unexpected
arrangement
in
vv.'^-'".
Unfortu-nately
the
crucial
passage,
vv."-",
contains
several
obscure
technical
terms,
with
regard
to
which,
in
the
present
writer's
opinion,
the
true
exegetical
tradition
has
been
lost.
The
explanation
usually
given,
which
finds
in
the
word
rendered
'
boards
'
huge
wooden
beams
of
impossible
dimensions,
has
been
shown
in
a
former
study
to
be
exegetically
and
intrinsically
inadmissible;
see
art.
'
Tabernacle
'
in
Hastings
'
DB,
vol.
iv.
p.
sesi"
S.
To
§
7
(5)
of
that
article,
with
which
Haupt's
note
on
1
K
7^'
in
SBOT
should
now
be
compared,
the
student
is
referred
for
the
grounds
on
which
the
following
transla-tion
of
the
leading
passage
is
based.
'
And
thou
Shalt
make
the
frames
for
the
dwelling
of
acacia
wood,
two
uprights
for
each
frame
joined
together
by
cross
rails.'
The
result
is,
briefly,
the
substitution
of
48
light
open
frames
(see
diagrams,
op.
clt.),
each
10
cubits
in
height
by
li
in
width,
for
the
traditional
wooden
beams
of
these
dimensions,
each,
according
to
the
usual
theory,
1
cubit
thick,
equivalent
to
a
weight
of
from
15
to
20
hundredweightsi
The
open
frames
—
after
being
overlaid
with
gold
according
to
our
present
but
scarcely
original
text
(v.^')
—
are
to
be
'reared
up,'
side
by
side,
along
the
south,
west,
and
north
sides
of
a
rectangular
enclosure
measuring
30
cubits
by
10
(3:1),
the
east
side
or
front
being
left
open.
Twenty
frames
go
to
form
each
long
side
of
the
enclosure
(lix20=30
cubits);
the
western
end
requires
only
six
frames
(lix6=9
cubs.);
the
remaining
cubit
of
the
total
width
is
made
up
by
the
thickness
of
the
frames
and
bars
of
the
two
long
sides.
The
two
re-maining
frames
are
placed
at
the
two
western
corners,
where,
so
far
as
can
be
gathered
from
the
obscure
text
of
v.*S
the
framework
is
doubled
for
greater
security.
The
lower
ends
of
the
two
uprights
of
each
frame
are
inserted
into
solid
silver
bases,
which
thus
form
a
continuous
foundation
and
give
steadiness
to
the
structure.
This
end
is
further
attained
by
an
arrangement
of
bars
which
together
form
three
parallel
sets
running
along
all
three
sides,
binding
the
whole
framework
together
and
giving
it
the
necessary
rigidity.
Over
this
rigid
framework,
and
across
the
intervening
space,
are
laid
the
tapestry
curtains
to
form
the
dwelling,
the
symbolic
figures
of
the
cherubim
now
fully
displayed
on
the
sides
as
well
as
on
the
roof.
Above
these
come
the
first
of
the
protective
coverings
above
described,
the
goats'
hair
curtains
of
the
'
tent,'
as
distinguished
from
the
'dwelling.'
In
-virtue
of
their
greater
size,
they
overlap
the
curtains
of
the
latter,
their
breadth
of
30
cubits
exactly
sufficing
for
the
height
and
width
of
the
dwelling
(10
+
10
+
10
cubits).
As
they
thus
reached
to
the
base
of
the
two
long
sides
of
the
Tabernacle,
they
were
probably
fastened
by
pegs
to
the
ground.
At
the
eastern
end
the
outermost
curtain
was
probably
folded
in
two
so
as
to
hang
down
for
the
space
of
two
cubits
over
the
entrance
(26»).
In
what
manner
the
two
remaining
coverings
are
to
be
laid
is
not
specified.
[This
solution
of
the
difficulties
connected
with
the
con-struction
of
the
Tabernacle,
first
offered
in
DB
iv.,
has
been
adopted
since
the
above
was
written,,
by
the
two
latest
com-mentators
on
Exodus,
M'Neile
and
Bennett;
see
esp.
the
former's
Book
of
Exodics
[1908],
Ixxiii-xcii.]
(d)
The
fabric
of
the
Tabernacle,
as
described
up
to
this
point
in
Ex
26'-"'.
has
been
found
to
consist
of
three
parts,
carefully
distinguished
from
each
other.
These
are
(1)
the
artistic
linen
curtains
of
the
dwelling,
the
really
essential
part;
(2)
their
supporting
framework,
the
two
together
enclosing,
except
at
the
still
open
eastern
front,
a
space
30
cubits
long
and
10
cubits
wide
from
curtain
to
curtain,
and
10
cubits
in
height;
and
(3)
the
protecting
tent
(so
called)
of
goats'
hair,
with
the
two
subsidiary
coverings.
The
next
step
is
to
provide
tor
the
division
of
the
dwelling
into
two
parts,
in
the
proportion
of
2
to
1,
by
means
of
a
beautiful
portifere,
termed
the
veil
(w.^'"-),
of
the
same
material
and
artistic
workmanship
as
the
TABERNACLE
curtains
of
the
dwelling.
The
veil
is
to
be
suspended
from
four
gilded
pillars,
20
cubits
from
the
entrance
and
10
from
the
western
end
of
the
structure.
The
larger
of
the
two
divisions
of
the
dwelling
is
named
the
holy
place,
the
smaller
the
holy
of
holies
or
most
holy
place.
From
the
measurements
given
above,
it
will
be
seen
that
the
most
holy
place
—
the
true
presence-chamber
of
the
Most
High,
to
which
the
holy
place
forms
the
ante-chamber
—
has
the
form
of
a
perfect
cube,
10
cubits
(about
15
ft.)
in
length,
breadth,
and
height,
enclosed
on
all
four
sides
and
on
the
roof
by
the
curtains
and
their
cherubim.
(6)
No
provision
has
yet
been
made
for
closing
the
entrance
to
the
Tabernacle.
This
is
now
done
(v.'"-)
by
means
of
a
hanging,
embroidered
in
colours
—
a
less
artistic
fabric
than
the
tapestry
of
the
"cunning
work-man
'
—
measuring
10
cubits
by
10,
and
suspended
from
five
pillars
with
bases
of
bronze.
Its
special
designation,
'
a
screen
for
the
door
of
the
Tent
'
(v.s*
RV),
its
inferior
workmanship,
and
its
bronze
bases,
all
show
that
strangely
enough
it
is
not
to
be
reckoned
as
a
part
of
the
dwelling,
of
which
the
woven
fabric
is
tapestry,
and
the
only
metals
silver
and
gold.
6.
Coming
now
to
the
furniture
of
the
dwelling,
and
proceeding
as
before
from
without
inwards,
we
find
the
holy
place
provided
with
three
articles
of
furniture:
(a)
the
table
of
shewbread,
or,
more
precisely,
presence-
bread
(2523-30
3710-16);
(6)
the
so-called
golden
candle-stick,
in
reality
a
seven-branched
lampstand
(253'
-'o
3717-21)
(c)
the
altar
of
incense
(30'-'
37^-''').
Many
of
the
details
of
the
construction
and
ornamentation
of
these
are
obscure,
and
reference
is
here
made,
once
for
all,
to
the
fuller
discussion
of
these
difficulties
in
the
article
already
cited
(.DB
iv.
662
fl.).
(a)
The
table
of
shewbread.or
presence-table
(Nu
4'),
is
a
low
table
or
wooden
stand
overlaid
with
pure
gold,
li
cubits
in
height.
Its
top
measures
2
cubits
by
1.
The
legs
are
connected
by
a
narrow
binding-rail,
one
hand-breadth
wide,
the
'
border
'
of
Ex
252*,
to
which
are
attached
four
golden
rings
to
receive
the
staves
by
which
the
table
is
to
be
carried
on
the
march.
For
the
service
of
the
table
are
provided
'the
dishes,
the
spoons,
the
flagons,
and
the
bowls
thereof
to
pour
withal
'
(25^9
RV),
all
of
pure
gold.
Of
these
the
golden
'
dishes
'
are
the
salvers
on
which
the
loaves
of
the
presence-bread
(see
Shewbkead)
were
displayed;
the
'
spoons
'
are
rather
cups
for
frankincense
(Lv
24');
the
flagons'
(AV
'covers')
are
the
larger,
and
the
'bowls'
the
smaller,
vessels
for
the
wine
connected
with
this
part
of
the
ritual.
(6)
The
golden
candlestick
or
lampstand
is
to
be
constructed
of
'beaten
work'
(repoussi)
of
pure
gold.
Three
pairs
of
arms
branched
off
at
different
heights
from
the
central
shaft,
and
curved
outwards
and
upwards
until
their
extremities
were
on
a
level
with
the
top
of
the
shaft,
the
whole
providing
stands
for
seven
golden
lamps.
Shaft
and
arms
were
alike
adorned
with
orna-mentation
suggested
by
the
flower
of
the
almond
tree
(cf.
diagram
in
DB
iv.
663).
The
golden
lampstand
stood
on
the
south
side
of
the
holy
place,
facing
the
table
of
shewbread
on
the
north
side.
The
'
tongs
'
of
25"
are
really
'snuffers'
(so
AV
37»)
for
dressing
the
wicks
of
the
lamps,
the
burnt
portions
being
placed
in
the
'
snuS
dishes.'
Both
sets
of
articles
were
of
gold.
(c)
The
passage
containing
the
directions
for
the
altar
of
incense
(Ex
30'-')
forms
part
of
a
section
(chs.
30.
31)
which,
there
is
reason
to
believe,
is
a
later
addition
to
the
original
contents
of
the
Priests'
Code.
The
altar
is
described
as
square
in
section,
one
cubit
each
way,
and
two
cubits
in
height,
with
projecting
horns.
Like
the
rest
of
the
furniture,
it
was
made
of
acacia
wood
overlaid
with
gold,
with
the
usual
provision
of
rings
and
staves.
Its
place
is
in
front
of
the
veil
separating
the
holy
from
the
most
holy
place.
Incense
of
sweet
spices
is
to
be
offered
upon
it
night
and
morning
(30'^-).
7.
In
the
most
holy
place
are
placed
two
distinct
