Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 36:20

And he made boards for the tabernacle [of] shittim wood, standing up.

20. the tabernacle ] the Dwelling. So vv. 22, 23, &c.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 20. And he made boards] See Clarke on Ex 26:15, &c.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

[See comments on Ex 36:8]

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

Verses 20-34:

These verses describe the construction of the boards which formed the side and end walls of the tabernacle, with the tenons or pegs on one end of each board, the silver sockets in which these tenons rested, and the bars used to hold the boards together to form the walls. The workmen followed the pattern given in Ex 26:15-30. See the comments on this passage for details of the pattern.

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

(20-34) After the construction of the roof, that of the walls is described, the order of Exodus 26 being still followed. Exo. 36:20-34 correspond to Exo. 36:15-29 of Exodus 26. The correspondence is closer than would appear from the Authorised Version.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

The Framework For The Sanctuary Which Will Support The Curtains ( Exo 36:20-34 ).

Exo 36:20-34

‘And he made the frames for the Dwellingplace, of acacia wood, standing up. Ten cubits was the length of a frame, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each frame. Each frame had two tenons, joined one to another. Thus did he make for all the frames for the Dwellingplace. And he made the frames for the Dwellingplace: twenty frames for the south side southward. And he made forty sockets of silver under the twenty frames; two sockets under one frame for its two tenons, and two sockets under another frame for its two tenons. And for the second side of the Dwellingplace, on the north side, he made twenty frames, and their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one frame, and two sockets under another frame. And for the hinder part of the Dwellingplace westward he made six frames. And he made two frames for the corners of the tabernacle in the hinder part. And they were double beneath; and in the same way they were entire unto its top to one ring: thus he did to both of them in the two corners. And there were eight frames, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; under every frame two sockets. And he made bars of acacia wood; five for the frames of the one side of the Dwellingplace, and five bars for the frames of the other side of the Dwellingplace, and five bars for the frames of the Dwellingplace for the hinder part westward. And he made the middle bar to pass through in the midst of the boards from the one end to the other. And he overlaid the frames with gold, and made their rings of gold for places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.’

The frames were an important part of the Dwellingplace giving the support required. They formed the skeleton without which it would not stand. There are always some who must bear the burden unseen to enable others to do their work. See on Exo 26:15-30.

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

The Framework and the Veils

v. 20. And he made boards (planks) for the Tabernacle of shittim wood, standing up, strong and durable.

v. 21. The length of a board was ten cubits and the breadth of a board one cubit and a half.

v. 22. One board had two tenons, equally distant one from another. Thus did he make for all the boards of the Tabernacle.

v. 23. And he made boards for the Tabernacle; twenty boards for the south side southward;

v. 24. and forty sockets of silver he made under the twenty boards: two sockets under one board for his two tenons and two sockets under another board for his two tenons. The tenons, fitting exactly in the sockets of the bases, held the planks upright.

v. 25. And for the other side of the Tabernacle, which is toward the north corner, he made twenty boards,

v. 26. and their forty sockets of silver: two sockets under one board and two sockets under another board.

v. 27. And for the sides of the Tabernacle westward he made six boards, of the regular width.

v. 28. And two boards made he for the corners of the Tabernacle in the two sides, the planks on the northwest and southwest corners, respectively, being apparently only one half cubit in width, as they were dovetailed to the first planks on the north and the south side to form a solid corner.

v. 29. And they were coupled beneath, and coupled together at the head thereof, to one ring. Thus he did to both of them in both the corners.

v. 30. And there were eight boards all told, on the west side; and their sockets were sixteen sockets of silver, under every board two sockets.

v. 31. And he made bars of shittim wood, cross-bars of acacia wood to lock the planks in place: five for the boards of the one side of the Tabernacle,

v. 32. and five bars for the boards of the other side of the Tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the Tabernacle for the sides westward.

v. 33. And he made the middle bar to shoot through the boards from the one end to the other, thus making the walls solid.

v. 34. And he overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold to be places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold. Cf Exo 26:15-30.

v. 35. And he made a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen; with cherubim made he it of cunning work, the four kinds of thread woven into a damask cloth with figures of cherubim.

v. 36. And he made thereunto four pillars of shittim wood, for the entrance of the Most Holy Place, and overlaid them with gold; their hooks, to which the curtain was fastened, were of gold; and he cast for them four sockets of silver, heavy bases to hold the pillars upright.

v. 37. And he made an hanging for the Tabernacle door, the door leading to the Holy Place, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, of needlework, woven in geometrical figures.

v. 38. And the five pillars of it with their hooks, from which this outer screen was suspended; and he overlaid their chapiters, their heads, or capitals, and their fillets, the rods connecting them, with gold; but their five sockets were of brass, of less costly metal than those of the inner curtain. Cf Exo 26:31-37. Thus the directions of the Lord, as given to Moses, were followed with the most painstaking exactness, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann

shittim

i.e. acacia.

Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes

boards: Exo 26:15-25, Exo 40:18, Exo 40:19

shittim wood: Exo 25:5, Exo 25:10, Num 25:1, Deu 10:3

Reciprocal: Exo 36:21 – The length Num 3:36 – under the custody and charge

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

36:20 And he made boards for the tabernacle [of] shittim wood, {f} standing up.

(f) And to bear up the curtains of the tabernacle.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes