“And for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side there shall be twenty boards.”
In order to understand this verse better, let’s examine the context and the significance of the tabernacle’s construction.
Context: The book of Exodus recounts the story of how the Israelites were delivered from slavery in Egypt and their subsequent journey to the Promised Land. After their deliverance, God instructed Moses to build a tabernacle, a sacred structure where His presence would dwell among the people.
The Tabernacle: The tabernacle was divided into three main sections: the outer court, the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place (or the Holy of Holies). The verse in question focuses on the construction of the walls of the tabernacle.
Construction of the Tabernacle: In Exodus 26, God provides detailed instructions on how the tabernacle should be built. The tabernacle walls were made of boards or planks, crafted from acacia wood and overlaid with gold. Each board was ten cubits (approximately 15 feet) long and one and a half cubits (approximately 2.25 feet) wide.
North Side of the Tabernacle: Exodus 26:20 specifically mentions the construction of the second side of the tabernacle, which is the north side. This verse indicates that the north side of the tabernacle would consist of twenty boards.
Symbolic Meaning: While the specific significance of the number twenty is not explicitly explained in this verse, numbers often carry symbolic meaning in the Bible. The number twenty can be associated with completion, expectancy, and the end of a period. Additionally, the number twenty is often used to symbolize a generation, as the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years, which can be divided into two generations of twenty years each.
In summary, Exodus 26:20 describes the construction of the north side of the tabernacle, which consisted of twenty boards. This verse provides details about the physical construction of the sacred dwelling place of God’s presence among the Israelites. It is a part of the broader instructions given to Moses regarding the construction of the tabernacle, a central component of Israel’s worship and religious life during their time in the wilderness.
