Exodus 26:7
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Exodus 26:7
7 And thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.
Chapter Context
Exodus 26 is a narrative with legal sections chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of mercy, grace, redemption. Written during the Egyptian bondage and wilderness wandering (c. 1446-1406 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Egypt was the dominant superpower with a complex polytheistic religion and a god-king pharaoh.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-37: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it demonstrates God's faithfulness despite human unfaithfulness. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Exodus and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Exodus 26:7
7 And thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.
Analysis
Eleven curtains of goats' hair form the second covering, the tent over the tabernacle. Goats' hair was coarser than linen, providing weather protection. The number eleven (one beyond ten, completeness) suggests something exceeding expectation—God's provision beyond adequacy. While the inner linen displayed beauty for priestly eyes, the outer goats' hair faced wilderness elements, suggesting Christ's dual nature: glorious within, humble without (Isaiah 53:2).
Historical Context
Goats' hair curtains were typical Bedouin tent material, water-resistant and durable in desert conditions. These curtains were longer than the inner linen (verse 13), providing overhang that shed rain and protected the precious interior.
Reflection
- How did Christ display 'glory within' while appearing 'humble without'?
- What does God's provision 'beyond adequacy' (eleven, not ten) teach about His care?