And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle ,.... As in the manner before described, so in number as follows: twenty boards on the south side southward ; which being a cubit and a half broad, made the length of the tabernacle fifteen yards according to the common account; but if these were cubits of twenty one inches, then its length was much greater. read more
And thou shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards ,.... Or bases F19 אדני "bases", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Piscator, Drusius. , and which were properly the foundation of the tabernacle, on which it was settled and established; these sockets were the mortises for the two tenons of each board or plank to be placed in, and were as broad as the plank, and, joining each other, made one entire basis for the whole structure; each socket contained a... read more
And for the second side of the tabernacle the north side ,.... The direction of the tabernacle was east and west; at the east end was the entrance into the holy place, and at the west end the holy of holies; and the two sides were north and south; and as on the south side, so on the north there shall be twenty boards : just the same number as the laws of building required. read more
And their forty sockets of silver ,.... answerable to the twenty boards, for their two tenons to be placed in as in mortises: two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board; and so under all the boards on the north side as on the south. read more
And for the sides of the tabernacle ,.... Or the ends of it, the east and west, and the account begins with the west: westward thou shalt make six boards ; so that the breadth of the tabernacle was but nine cubits, or four yards and a half, according to a common cubit; but two boards more placed at the two corners of the sides, next observed, added to the breadth of it. read more
And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides. For the northwest and southwest corners, in the north and south sides; concerning which Dr. Lightfoot thus writes F20 Ut supra. (Works, vol 1. p. 719.) : and the west end had six planks entire, besides a plank at either corner, joining end and sides together; these corner planks were of the same breadth that all the others were, and, thus set, the middle of the breadth of the one plank was laid close to... read more
And they shall be coupled together beneath ,.... At the bottom of the boards or planks: and they shall be coupled together above the head of it unto one ring at the top of the boards there was a ring, to which they were coupled and fastened, and so at the bottom of them, though not expressed: some understand this of all the planks, both at the two sides and at the west end; but it seems rather to respect only the corner planks, since it follows: thus shall it be for them both, they... read more
And they shall be eight boards ,.... Six at the west end and one at each corner, northwest and southwest: and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets the same as those for the boards on both sides north and south: they were of the same metal, silver; and they were two under one board, to receive its two tenons as follows: two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board ; and so under all eight, and which sockets joining with those of the two sides, and in all made... read more
And thou shalt make bars of shittim wood , Which being put into rings or staples of gold, kept the boards tight, close, and firm together: five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle : for instance, the south side; four of these were placed, two at the upper end of the boards, and two at the lower end, and the fifth in the middle, particularly taken notice of, Exodus 26:28 , how long these bars were it is not said, but it is reasonable to conclude that they reached the length... read more
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John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 26:17
Two tenons shall there be on one board ,.... Every board was to be so cut and shaped at the lower end of it, as to have, as it were, "two hands" F18 שתי ידות "duae manus", Montanus. , as in the original, to enter into, lay hold on, and fasten in mortises: set in order one against another ; at a proper distance from each other, as the rounds of a ladder: thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle ; everyone was to have two tenons. read more