Question 1

What are the boards in this passage and why were they so important?

Accepted Answer

The boards were upright pieces of shittim wood that formed the walls of the tabernacle. They were tall and fairly wide, each with two tenons at the bottom that fit into silver sockets. These boards were important because they gave strength and shape to the tabernacle. Without them the curtains would just hang and flap in the wind. The passage shows that God wanted His dwelling place to be both beautiful and solid. In a spiritual way, they picture how God wants His people to be upright, stable, and able to support the open display of faith.

Question 2

Why were the tabernacle boards set in silver sockets at the base?

Accepted Answer

Under each board there were silver sockets, two for every board, where the tenons fit in. This gave the whole structure a firm, joined foundation. The silver came from the people as a kind of ransom money, so it carried the idea of cost and sacrifice. The passage points to the fact that God’s dwelling among His people rests on something strong and precious, not on bare earth. Spiritually this points to Christ as the one sure foundation of the church. Just as the boards could stand only by resting in the sockets, so believers stand only by resting on Him.

Question 3

What is the meaning of the bars and rings that held the boards together?

Accepted Answer

The bars were also made of shittim wood and covered with gold. They passed through gold rings fixed to the boards. There were five bars for each side and end, and a middle bar that ran from end to end. These bars pulled all the boards together so the tabernacle was one tight, steady structure instead of many loose pieces. This pictures the unity God wants among His people. Each believer is like a board, but they are meant to be joined, not standing alone. Our shared faith in Christ and the work of His Spirit bind us together so we stand firm as one house.

Question 4

Why were the boards and bars overlaid with gold in God’s design?

Accepted Answer

The wood was strong but ordinary, so God commanded that the boards, rings, and bars be covered with gold. This made the inside of the tabernacle shine and showed honour toward God, whose presence would be there. The gold points to glory and holiness. The structure is made from earthly material, yet covered in a way that speaks of heaven. Spiritually this reminds us that the church is made up of ordinary people, yet called to share in God’s holiness and reflect His beauty. It also helped the Israelites feel the greatness of the God who chose to dwell among them.

Question 5

What does it mean that the boards were "coupled together" for the corners?

Accepted Answer

The passage says that two special corner boards were “coupled together beneath” and “coupled together above the head of it unto one ring.” The wording suggests they were like twins, perfectly matched and joined from top to bottom. This strengthened the corners, which are often the weakest points in a building. It also pictured how the end and side walls were knit into one. Spiritually, it points to how God joins His people together so there are no weak gaps in His house. Christ brings different people into one family, so they stand together and support one another.

Question 6

What is the significance of the repeated pattern and exact measurements here?

Accepted Answer

God gives very exact numbers: twenty boards on the south, twenty on the north, six on the west, plus two for the corners, with matching sockets and bars. This careful pattern shows that God cares about order in His worship. Moses could not design things his own way. He had to follow what God showed him on the mountain. This teaches that God decides how He is to be approached. In a wider sense, it reminds us that God’s plan for His people and His church is not random. He works with purpose, balance, and wisdom in everything He builds.

Question 7

How does this passage about boards and sockets point ahead to Christ and the church?

Accepted Answer

The passage never names Christ, but its picture fits what the rest of Scripture says about Him and His people. The silver sockets suggest a costly foundation, which fits with Christ giving Himself to save His people. The boards of upright wood picture believers made upright by grace. The bars that tie everything together point to the unity believers have as they are joined to Christ. The gold overlay shows the glory God gives to His dwelling. Together, this construction points beyond a tent in the desert to a spiritual house, built on Christ, made of people whom God makes holy.

Question 8

Why does God insist that the tabernacle be built "according to the fashion" shown in the mount?

Accepted Answer

At the end of the passage, God reminds Moses to set up the tabernacle according to the pattern shown on the mountain. This means Moses was not free to change the plan. The tabernacle was meant to match a heavenly pattern that God Himself revealed. This shows that true worship is not made up by human taste. It comes from God’s word. It also hints that the tabernacle on earth pictured something greater in heaven and in the future, especially God’s final dwelling with His people. Obeying the pattern was a way of honouring God’s wisdom and holiness.

Question 9

How can the strong boards and sockets help me think about my own faith today?

Accepted Answer

This detailed building plan can seem far from daily life, but it has a simple lesson. The curtains of the tabernacle would have blown around without solid boards and sockets. In the same way, our outward profession of faith needs an inward, steady heart. God wants our lives to rest firmly on Christ, not on feelings or habit. The joined boards show we are not meant to stand alone but to be fitted into a community of believers. As we trust Christ as our foundation and stay joined to His people, our faith will be more stable when trials or doubts come.

Question 10

Why does this practical building passage matter for understanding God’s character?

Accepted Answer

In this passage, God shows Himself as careful, ordered, and concerned with both beauty and strength. He is not careless about how He is worshiped or how His dwelling is built. He provides a sure foundation, gives clear instructions, and makes provision so that His people can draw near in a place that reflects His glory. This tells us that God is wise and thoughtful in how He deals with His people. He does not leave them to guess. He gives patterns, supports, and safeguards, both in the old tent in the wilderness and in the way He now builds His people into a spiritual house.

Exodus 26:15

¶ And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up.

The Frames and Bases

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Exodus 26:15

¶ And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up.

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