(The Lord speaking is red text)
The length of one curtain [shall be] thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains [shall be all] of one measure.
Each sheet is to be forty-five feet long and six feet wide -all eleven sheets are to be the same size.
Each of the eleven curtains is to be the same size—thirty cubits long and four cubits wide.
The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits: the eleven curtains shall have one measure.
The length{H753} of one{H259} curtain{H3407} shall be thirty{H7970} cubits{H520}, and the breadth{H7341} of one{H259} curtain{H3407} four{H702} cubits{H520}: and the eleven{H6249}{H6240} curtains{H3407} shall be all of one{H259} measure{H4060}.
26:8 is a verse from the book of Exodus, which is part of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. The book of Exodus recounts the story of the Israelites' liberation from slavery in Egypt, their journey through the wilderness, and the establishment of their covenant with God at Mount Sinai.
Exodus 26 provides detailed instructions for constructing the Tabernacle, a portable dwelling place for God, which the Israelites were to build so that He could dwell among them during their wilderness wanderings. The Tabernacle was to be a sacred space where God's presence would be particularly manifest, and where sacrifices and worship would be conducted according to divine instruction.
The verse in question, Exodus 26:8, specifies the dimensions for the curtains that were to form the roof and sides of the Tabernacle structure. These curtains were to be made of fine linen and colored yarns, including blue, purple, and scarlet. The precise measurements indicate the importance of the structure's design and the care required in its construction.
Themes in this verse include:
1. **Divine Detail**: The meticulous instructions for the Tabernacle's construction reflect the exactness with which God's commands were to be followed, emphasizing the importance of obedience and the sanctity of the space.
2. **Holiness and Separation**: The Tabernacle was to be set apart from the rest of the camp, both physically and ritually, symbolizing the separation between the sacred and the profane.
3. **God's Presence**: The Tabernacle was designed to be a dwelling place for God, highlighting the theme of God's desire to be close to His people.
4. **Community Unity**: The uniformity of the curtain sizes (all eleven curtains of the same measure) may symbolize the unity of the Israelite community in their worship and adherence to God's laws.
The historical context of Exodus 26:8 is rooted in the period after the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, likely in the 13th century BCE, during their journey to the Promised Land. The instructions for the Tabernacle would have been given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai, and the Tabernacle itself would have been constructed by skilled artisans among the Israelites, using materials donated by the people. The detailed description of the Tabernacle's construction serves as a blueprint for creating a space that was both functional for worship and symbolic of the Israelites' relationship with God.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)