Introduction
In Exodus 26:15-30 we learn that the four layers of covering were draped not over tent poles but over golden walls. As would be expected there are some precious truths typified in the construction of these walls.1. A Brief Description
A. The shittim wood boards were fifteen feet long by twenty-seven inches broad. They were overlaid with gold. Twenty made up the south wall, twenty the north wall, and six the west wall plus two used in some way as corner boards. This made a total of forty-eight boards.
B. Each wall was held stable by the use of five gold covered bars of shittim wood that passed through rings fastened to the boards. The middle bar on each side ran the entire length of the wall.
C. Each board had two tenons or "hands" that fitted at the ground into two sockets of silver. There were one hundred of these sockets. Forty on the south side, forty on the north side, sixteen on the west or backside, and four across the house. These four held the pillars which supported the veil (Exodus 26:31-32). This Veil separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. These one hundred silver sockets formed the foundation of the structure.2. Typology Of The Walls
A. While the wood and gold of the boards remind us of the two natures of Christ further elaboration is difficult. Some have suggested that we think of Christ's body; the church. The church as a temple is "fitly framed together" (Ephesians 2:21). Difficult as the walls are of further exposition yet the scripture gives us the key to understanding the silver sockets.
B. The Jewish men twenty and above were to give a half a shekel of silver unto the Lord as atonement money (Exodus 30:11-16). This was used in the Tabernacle (Exodus 30:16). This half shekel coin was of small weight but 603,350 were collected, that being the number of the men (Numbers 1:46). Six thousand of these coins made up a talent. This silver then amounted to one hundred talents which were made into one hundred sockets each weighing a talent. The 7/12 of a talent left over was used in the court wall.
C. That the silver in the sockets came from the atonement or redemption money is very instructive. Redemption is the foundation of all Christ does for His people. All needed redemption. The same price would avail for rich and poor (Galatians 3:13). These silver sockets were then a type of the real redemption Christ made for His people (I Peter 1:18-19).
D. Lastly should we see in the wall a picture of the church as the temple of God we understand why the foundation was made of the atonement money silver. Truly only the Redeemer could be the foundation of the church (I Corinthians 3:11). Only by Christ's redemption could the Spirit come and cause the church to be a habitation of God (Ephesians 2:22).==================
Return to Exodus Index Page