Exodus 36:27
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Exodus 36:27
27 And for the sides of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.
Chapter Context
Exodus 36 is a narrative with legal sections chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of creation, wisdom, prayer. 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 21-38: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it reveals key aspects of God's character through divine actions and declarations. 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 36:27
27 And for the sides of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.
Analysis
Six boards form the west side (יַרְכְּתֵי הַמִּשְׁכָּן, yarketei ha-mishkan, 'the rear/back of the tabernacle'), creating the back wall opposite the entrance. The tabernacle's orientation (entrance east, back west) meant worshipers faced west, moving away from the rising sun—a deliberate contrast with pagan sun-worship. Israel's God dwelt in the west, and His people approached Him moving away from sun-worship, demonstrating that true worship rejects created things for the Creator (Romans 1:25).
Historical Context
The western wall, solid and permanent, contrasted with the eastern entrance where curtains allowed access. This orientation positioned the tabernacle so priests facing the ark faced west, with their backs to the sun—explicitly avoiding solar worship common in Egypt and Canaan.
Reflection
- What is the theological significance of the tabernacle's westward orientation, requiring worshipers to turn from the rising sun?
- How does the contrast between the solid western wall and the accessible eastern entrance illustrate God's holiness and accessibility?