Exodus 26:7 - Exposition

The goat ' s skin tent-cloth ( Exodus 26:7-13 ).

From the inner covering of the tabernacle the directions proceed to the external covering, or rather coverings, which constituted the real strength of the structure, and its protection from wet or stormy weather. Curtains of goats' hair, such as the Arabs still use, as the ordinary covering of their tents, were to form a true "tent" ( 'ohel ) above the tabernacle, being supported by tent-poles, and kept taut by means of cords and pegs ( Exodus 27:19 ; Exodus 35:18 ). See the representation in Dr. W . Smith's Dictionary of the Bible , vol. 3. p. 1454, which is reproduced in the Speaker ' s Commentary , vol. 1. p. 376. To be a covering . In Exodus 36:14 , we have—"he made curtains of goats' hair for the tent over the tabernacle," which is far better. The word used in both places is the same ( 'ohel ). Eleven curtains — i.e; "eleven breadths ." Compare Exodus 36:1 .