Exodus 26:26-29

26-29. Bars The description and design of these are easy to be understood . “They held the whole firmly together,” says Josephus, “and for this reason was all this joined so fast together, that the tabernacle might not be shaken either by the winds or by any other means, but that it might preserve itself quiet and immovable continually . ” These bars of shittim wood, as well as the boards, were overlaid with gold, and were made to pass through gold rings or staples, which were fastened in each board as places (Hebrews, houses) for the bars. They were five in number for each side and for the western end, the middle bar in the midst of the boards on each side reaching from end to end . Whether these bars were to be on the outside or inside of the boards is not stated, and both views have had their advocates . Most probably they were on the outside, as thus, in putting up and taking down the structure, there would be less occasion to invade the holy places. As the middle bar extended the whole length of the wall of boards, it is naturally inferred that the other four did not, and hence the general conclusion that there were but three rows of bars on each side, the upper and lower row consisting of two bars, each running half the length of the middle bar.