Exodus 27

Exodus 27 outlines specific instructions for building key elements of the Tabernacle. The first part describes the altar of burnt offering, where sacrifices were made, symbolizing Israel’s worship and atonement. Next, the passage provides details for constructing the courtyard that surrounds the Tabernacle, emphasizing the separation between sacred and common areas. Finally, the chapter concludes with instructions for the oil used in the lampstand, ensuring that the light of God's presence remains burning continually.

Exodus 27:1-3 (NKJV)
1 “You shall make an altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide—the altar shall be square—and its height shall be three cubits.
2 You shall make its horns on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it. And you shall overlay it with bronze.
3 Also you shall make its pans to receive its ashes, and its shovels and its basins and its forks and its firepans. You shall make all its utensils of bronze.

The altar, central to Israel’s sacrificial system, is made from durable acacia wood and overlaid with bronze, symbolizing strength and endurance. The horns on the four corners, which would later have religious significance as a place of refuge, are integral to the altar's design. All the utensils used for the offerings—pans, shovels, and basins—are also made of bronze, reflecting the altar’s purpose in handling the intense heat of burnt offerings. This ensures the altar’s practical function while emphasizing the holiness of the space where sacrifices occur.

Exodus 27:4-5 (NKJV)
4 You shall make a grate for it, a network of bronze; and on the network you shall make four bronze rings at its four corners.
5 You shall put it under the rim of the altar beneath, that the network may be midway up the altar.

The bronze grate beneath the altar is designed to allow ashes and residue from the burnt offerings to fall through, aiding in maintaining cleanliness and order. The bronze rings on the corners enable portability, allowing the altar to be carried with ease when the Israelites moved, underscoring the mobile nature of their worship during their wilderness journey.

Exodus 27:6-8 (NKJV)
6 And you shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze.
7 The poles shall be put in the rings, and the poles shall be on the two sides of the altar to bear it.
8 You shall make it hollow with boards; as it was shown you on the mountain, so shall they make it.

The poles, also made of acacia wood and covered with bronze, are inserted into the rings for transport. This allows the altar to be carried without direct contact, emphasizing its sacredness. The command to make the altar hollow shows practical design for transport, yet it retains its durability. God’s instruction to follow the pattern shown on the mountain reflects the divine authority behind these designs and the precision required in Israel's worship.

Exodus 27:9-11 (NKJV)
9 “You shall also make the court of the tabernacle. For the south side there shall be hangings for the court made of fine woven linen, one hundred cubits long for one side.
10 And its twenty pillars and their twenty sockets shall be bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their bands shall be silver.
11 Likewise along the length of the north side there shall be hangings one hundred cubits long, with its twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of bronze, and the hooks of the pillars and their bands of silver.

The court of the Tabernacle is a large enclosed area, marking the sacred space. The fine woven linen symbolizes purity, setting apart the holy grounds of the Tabernacle from the ordinary world. The contrast between bronze sockets (symbolizing judgment and strength) and silver hooks and bands (symbolizing redemption) highlights the balance of justice and mercy in God's presence. The meticulous instructions for the court reflect God's desire for reverence in worship.

Exodus 27:12-15 (NKJV)
12 “And along the width of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits, with their ten pillars and their ten sockets.
13 The width of the court on the east side shall be fifty cubits.
14 The hangings on one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and their three sockets.
15 And on the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and their three sockets.

The western and eastern sides of the court maintain symmetry, with a clear focus on the designated entrance on the east side. The hangings on either side of the gate create an organized and ordered structure, emphasizing the importance of boundaries and separation between the sacred and the common. The detailed measurements ensure a space that is proportionate and functional, but also sacred and intentional.

Exodus 27:16-17 (NKJV)
16 “For the gate of the court there shall be a screen twenty cubits long, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver. It shall have four pillars and four sockets.
17 All the pillars around the court shall have bands of silver, their hooks shall be of silver, and their sockets of bronze.

The gate serves as the entrance to the sacred space and is made of richly colored threads—blue, purple, and scarlet—signifying royalty, priesthood, and sacrifice. The fine woven linen highlights the sacred craftsmanship involved. The pillars and their sockets reinforce the importance of separation between God’s holy dwelling place and the outside world. The use of silver and bronze in the design reflects God's redemptive purpose combined with His righteous judgment.

Exodus 27:18-19 (NKJV)
18 The length of the court shall be one hundred cubits, the width fifty throughout, and the height five cubits, made of fine woven linen, and its sockets of bronze.
19 All the utensils of the tabernacle for all its service, all its pegs, and all the pegs of the court, shall be of bronze.

The dimensions of the court are specified to ensure a defined, enclosed space that is both functional and symbolic of God’s ordered presence among His people. The height of the walls at five cubits ensures privacy and separation from the outside world. The use of bronze for all utensils, pegs, and sockets points to the durability and holiness of the tools used in worship and reinforces the symbolism of strength and endurance in the rituals.

Exodus 27:20-21 (NKJV)
20 “And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually.
21 In the tabernacle of meeting, outside the veil which is before the Testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening until morning before the Lord. It shall be a statute forever to their generations on behalf of the children of Israel.

The command to bring pure olive oil symbolizes the purity and holiness required in approaching God. The light from the lamp represents God’s presence and the continuous nature of His covenant with Israel. Aaron and his sons, as priests, have the responsibility to keep the light burning, emphasizing the ongoing, active role of the priesthood in maintaining the worship of God. This duty is a perpetual ordinance, showing the enduring nature of God's relationship with His people.