(The Lord speaking is red text)
And he made fifty loops upon the uttermost edge of the curtain in the coupling, and fifty loops made he upon the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second.
He made fifty loops on the edge of the outermost sheet in the first set and fifty loops on the outermost sheet in the second set.
He made fifty loops along the edge of the end curtain in the first set, and fifty loops along the edge of the corresponding curtain in the second set.
And he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops made he upon the edge of the curtain which was outmost in the second coupling.
And he made{H6213} fifty{H2572} loops{H3924} upon the uttermost{H7020} edge{H8193} of the curtain{H3407} in the coupling{H4225}, and fifty{H2572} loops{H3924} made{H6213} he upon the edge{H8193} of the curtain{H3407} which coupleth{H2279} the second{H8145}.
Exodus 36:17 is a verse that falls within the narrative of the construction of the Tabernacle, which is the portable dwelling place for God's presence among the Israelites during their journey in the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt. This verse specifically details the craftsmanship of Bezalel, who was chosen by God and filled with the Spirit of God, along with Oholiab, to lead the construction. They were tasked with creating the Tabernacle and its furnishings according to the divine blueprint given to Moses on Mount Sinai.
In the context of Exodus 36:17, the verse describes the careful and meticulous work of making loops on the edges of the curtains that would make up the Tabernacle's outer covering. These loops were designed to couple or connect the curtains together with clasps or hooks, ensuring the structure's integrity and stability. The precise number of loops—fifty on each edge of the curtains—reflects the detailed instructions Moses received from God, emphasizing the importance of following the divine plan exactly.
The themes present in this verse include divine instruction, meticulous craftsmanship, and the unity of separate pieces to form a sacred dwelling place. The historical context is rooted in the Israelites' journey towards the Promised Land, where the Tabernacle served not only as a place of worship but also as a symbol of God's guidance and covenantal relationship with His people. The detailed description of the Tabernacle's construction in the text underscores the significance of the Tabernacle as a holy space where God would meet with the Israelites and where atonement for sin would be made through the sacrificial system.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)