Exodus Chapter 26 to 27 : Easy-to-Read Version  | SearchSearch | Next Version | Previous Page | Next Page |

Other Versions

The Holy Tent

26 {The Lord said to Moses,} “The Holy Tent* should be made from ten curtains. These curtains must be made from fine linen* and blue, purple, and red yarn. A skilled worker should sew pictures of Cherub angels* with wings into the curtains. 2Make each curtain the same size. Each curtain should be 28 cubits* long and 4 cubits* wide. 3Join the curtains together into two groups. Join five curtains together to make one group, and join five curtains together to make the other group. 4Use blue cloth to make loops along the edge of the end curtain in one group. Do the same on the end curtain in the other group. 5There must be 50 loops on the end curtain of the first group. And there must be 50 loops on the end curtain of the other group. 6Then make 50 gold rings to join the curtains together. This will join the Holy Tent together into one piece. 7“Make another tent that will cover the Holy Tent.* Use eleven curtains to make this tent. Make these curtains from goat hair. 8All these curtains must be the same size. They must be 30 cubits* long and 4 cubits* wide. 9Join five of the curtains together into one group. Then join the other six curtains together into another group. Fold back half of the sixth curtain at the front of the Tent. 10Make 50 loops down the edge of the end curtain of one group. Do the same for the end curtain of the other group. 11Then make 50 bronze* rings to join the curtains together. This will join the tent together into one piece. 12Half of the end curtain of this tent will hang down below the back edge of the Holy Tent. 13On the sides, the curtains of this tent will hang down 1 cubit* below the bottom edges of the Holy Tent. So this tent will completely cover the Holy Tent. 14Make two coverings to go over the outer tent. One covering should be made from ram skins dyed red. The other covering should be made from fine leather.* 15“Use acacia wood to make frames to support the Holy Tent.* 16The frames should be 10 cubits* high and 1 1/2 cubits* wide. 17Two side poles should be joined together with cross pieces to make each frame. All the frames for the Holy Tent must be the same.18Make 20 frames for the south side of the Holy Tent. 19And make 40 silver bases for the frames. Each frame should have two silver bases to go under it—one base for each side pole. 20Make 20 more frames for the other side (the north side) of the Holy Tent. 21And make 40 silver bases for these frames—two bases under each frame. 22Make six more frames for the back (the west side) of the Holy Tent. 23Make two frames for the corners at the back of the Holy Tent. 24The frames at the corners should be joined together at the bottom. At the top, a ring will hold the frames together. Do the same for both corners. 25There will be a total of eight frames {for the west end of the Tent}. And there will be 16 silver bases—two bases under each frame. 26“Use acacia wood and make braces for the frames of the Holy Tent.* There should be five braces for the first side of the Holy Tent. 27And there should be five braces for the frames on the other side of the Holy Tent. And there should be five braces for the frames at the back (the west side) of the Holy Tent. 28The middle brace should pass through the frames from one end to the other. 29“Cover the frames with gold. And make rings for the frames to hold the braces. Make these rings from gold. Also, cover the braces with gold. 30Build the Holy Tent* the way I showed you on the mountain.

Inside the Holy Tent

31“Use fine linen* and make a special curtain {to divide the inside of the Holy Tent}. Use blue, purple, and red yarn and sew pictures of Cherub angels into the curtain. 32Make four posts from acacia wood, and cover the posts with gold. Put hooks made from gold on the four posts. Put four silver bases under the posts. Then hang the curtain on the gold hooks. 33Put the curtain under the gold rings.* Then put the Box of the Agreement* behind the curtain. This curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. 34Put the cover* on the Box of the Agreement in the Most Holy Place. 35“{In the Holy Place} on the other side of the curtain put the special table you made. The table should be on the north side of the Holy Tent.* Then put the lampstand on the south side. This will be across from the table.

The Door of the Holy Tent

36“Then make a curtain to cover the entrance to the {Holy} Tent.* Use blue, purple, and red yarn and fine linen to make this curtain. And weave pictures into it. 37Make gold hooks for this curtain. And make five posts using acacia wood covered with gold. And make five bronze* bases for the five posts.”

Holy Tent Or, “tabernacle,” the tent where God came to live among his people. linen Thread or cloth made from the fibers of the flax plant. Cherub angels Special angels from God. Statues of these angels were on top of the Box of the Agreement. 28 cubits 48’ 2 3/4” (14.7m). 4 cubits 6’ 10 13/16” (2.1m). 30 cubits 51’ 8 1/16” (15.75m) bronze A metal. The Hebrew word can mean “copper,” “bronze,” or “brass.” 1 cubit 1’ 8 5/8” (52.5cm) fine leather Leather made from the skin of an animal like a seal or a sea cow. 10 cubits 17’ 2 11/16” (5.25m). 1 1/2 cubits 2’ 7” (78.75cm.) linen Thread or cloth made from the fibers of the flax plant. under the gold rings The 50 gold rings that joined together the two parts of the Holy Tent. See Ex. 26:6. Box of the Agreement Or, “ark of the Covenant.” The box containing the flat stones with the Ten Commandments written on them and the other things that proved God was with the people of Israel during their time in the Sinai desert. cover Also called “mercy seat.” The Hebrew word can mean “lid,” “cover” or “the place where sins are forgiven.”


The Altar for Burning Offerings

27 {The Lord said to Moses,} “Use acacia wood and build an altar.* The altar should be square. It must be 5 cubits* long, 5 cubits* wide, and 3 cubits* high. 2Make a horn for each of the four corners of the altar. Join each horn to its corner so that everything is one piece. Then cover the altar with bronze.* 3“Use bronze* to make all the tools and dishes that will be used on the altar.* Make pots, shovels, bowls, forks, and pans. These will be used for cleaning ashes from the altar. 4Make a grating for the altar. This grating will be shaped like a net. And make a bronze ring at each of the four corners of the grating. 5Put the grating under the ledge at the bottom of the altar. The grating will go halfway up into the altar from below. 6“Use acacia wood to make poles for the altar,* and cover them with bronze.* 7Put the poles through the rings on both sides of the altar. Use these poles for carrying the altar. 8Make the altar like an empty box with the sides made from boards. Make the altar just like I showed you on the mountain.

The Courtyard Around the Holy Tent

9“Make a courtyard for the Holy Tent.* The south side should have a wall of curtains 100 cubits* long. These curtains must be made from fine linen.* 10Use 20 posts and 20 bronze* bases under the posts. The hooks for the posts and the curtain rods* should be made from silver. 11The north side must also have a wall of curtains 100 cubits long. It must have 20 posts, and 20 bronze bases. The hooks for the posts and the curtain rods must be made from silver. 12“On the west side of the courtyard there must be a wall of curtains 50 cubits* long. There must be ten posts and ten bases. 13The east side of the courtyard must also be 50 cubits long. 14{This east side is the entrance to the courtyard.} One side of the entrance must have curtains 15 cubits* long. There must be three posts and three bases on this side. 15The other side must also have curtains 15 cubits long. There must be three posts and three bases on that side. 16Make a curtain 20 cubits* long to cover the entrance to the courtyard. Make that curtain from fine linen* and blue, purple, and red yarn. Weave designs into that curtain. There must be four posts and four bases for that curtain. 17All the posts around the courtyard must be joined with silver {curtain rods}. The hooks on the posts must be made from silver, and the bases for the posts must be bronze.* 18The courtyard should be 100 cubits* long and 50 cubits* wide. The wall of curtains around the courtyard should be 5 cubits* high. The curtains must be made from fine linen. The bases under the posts must be bronze. 19All the tools, tent pegs, and other things used in the Holy Tent* must be made from bronze. And all the pegs {for the curtains around the courtyard} must be made from bronze.

Oil for the Lamp

20“Command the people of Israel to bring the best olive oil. Use this oil for the lamp that must be lit each evening. 21Aaron and his sons will have the job of caring for the lamp. They will go into {the first room of} the Meeting Tent.* This is outside {the room with} the Agreement* that is behind the curtain {that separates the two rooms}. In this place they will make sure the lamp continues burning before the Lord from evening till morning. The people of Israel and their descendants* must obey this law forever.”

altar A table or raised area used for offering sacrifices. 5 cubits 8’ 7 5/16” (2.625m). 3 cubits 5’ 2” (1.575m. bronze A metal. The Hebrew word can mean “copper,” “bronze,” or “brass.” Holy Tent Or, “tabernacle,” the tent where God came to live among his people. It is often called the “Meeting Tent.” 100 cubits 172’ 3” (52.5m). linen Thread or cloth made from the fibers of the flax plant. curtain rods These were either rods that joined the posts together or grommets (rings) sewn into the curtains. 50 cubits 86’ 1 1/2” (26.25m). 15 cubits 25’ 10” (7.875m). 20 cubits 34’ 5 3/8” (10.5m) 5 cubits 8’ 7 5/16” (2.625m). Meeting Tent The Holy Tent (tabernacle), where the people of Israel went to meet with God. Agreement Literally, “Proof.” The flat stones with the Ten Commandments written on them. These were proof of the Agreement between God and the people of Israel. descendants A person’s children and their future families. 

Other Versions