Exodus 27:16

Commentary on Exodus 27:16

Exodus 27:16 provides specific instructions for the gate of the Tabernacle's outer court, detailing its dimensions, materials, and supporting structure. This verse is part of a larger section (Exodus 25-31) where God gives Moses precise blueprints for the construction of His dwelling place among the Israelites in the wilderness.

Context

This verse describes the entrance to the Tabernacle's outer court, which enclosed the altar of burnt offering and the laver. Unlike the rest of the court's plain white linen hangings (Exodus 27:9-15), the gate was designed to be distinct and ornate. This elaborate entrance served as the sole point of access to the sacred space, emphasizing that approach to God was strictly regulated and according to His divine design. The detailed specifications underscore the importance of obedience to God's commands in all matters of worship and service, as seen in the broader mandate for the Tabernacle's construction.

Key Themes

• Access and Invitation: The gate represented the singular way to enter God's presence. While regulated, it was also an open invitation for the clean to approach.
• Holiness and Separation: The gate marked the boundary between the common wilderness and the consecrated area where God's presence dwelled. It visually distinguished the sacred from the profane.
• Divine Prescription and Precision: Every detail, from the twenty cubits (approximately 30 feet) width to the number of pillars and sockets, was divinely specified, highlighting God's meticulous nature and the necessity of following His instructions exactly.
• Beauty and Value: The use of "blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework" indicates the preciousness and beauty dedicated to God's dwelling. This was not merely functional but also aesthetically magnificent.

Linguistic Insights and Symbolism

• "Hanging" (מָסָךְ, masakh): This term refers to a screen or veil, often used to separate spaces. Here, it is an entrance curtain, not a solid door, suggesting a degree of accessibility while still marking a boundary.
• "Wrought with needlework" (מַעֲשֵׂה רֹקֵם, ma'aseh roqem): This denotes intricate embroidery, requiring skilled craftsmanship and adding to the gate's splendor.
• Symbolism of Colors:
  • Blue: Often symbolizes heaven, the divine, and God's heavenly dwelling.
  • Purple: Traditionally associated with royalty, majesty, and kingship, signifying that the Tabernacle was the dwelling of the King of kings.
  • Scarlet: Represents life, sacrifice, and atonement, often pointing forward to the blood of Christ.
  • Fine Twined Linen: Symbolizes purity, righteousness, and holiness, as seen in other biblical contexts (e.g., Revelation 19:8).
  These vibrant colors, also used in the inner curtains of the Tabernacle, set the gate apart and conveyed profound spiritual truths about the nature of God and the way to approach Him.

Practical Application

The gate of the Tabernacle court serves as a powerful metaphor for our approach to God. Just as there was only one prescribed way to enter the Tabernacle, the New Testament reveals that Jesus Christ is the sole "gate" or "way" to God. He declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." The beauty and costliness of the gate also remind us of the immense value and glory of God's presence, and the reverence with which we should approach Him. Our access to God today is not through a physical structure but through the sacrifice of Christ, which tore the veil and opened the way to the Most Holy Place (Hebrews 10:19-20).