Exodus 27:9-19 The Courtyard!

9You are also to make a courtyard for the tabernacle. On the south side of the courtyard make curtains of finely spun linen, a hundred cubits longb on one side, 10with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases, and silver hooks and bands on the posts.

11Likewise there are to be curtains on the north side, a hundred cubits long, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases, and with silver hooks and bands on the posts. 12The curtains on the west side of the courtyard shall be fifty cubits wide,c with ten posts and ten bases.

13The east side of the courtyard, toward the sunrise, is to be fifty cubits wide. 14Make the curtains on one side fifteen cubits long,d with three posts and three bases, 15and the curtains on the other side fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases.

16The gate of the courtyard shall be twenty cubits long, with a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It shall have four posts and four bases.

17All the posts around the courtyard shall have silver bands, silver hooks, and bronze bases. 18The entire courtyard shall be a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide, with curtains of finely spun linen five cubits high,g and with bronze bases. 19All the utensils of the tabernacle for every use, including all its tent pegs and the tent pegs of the courtyard, shall be made of bronze.

“As the Tent itself took up only about one-fifteenth [about 7%] of the area of the courtyard, there was plenty of room.” (Cole)

“Its purposes were fourfold: (1) it was a barrier in that it prevented unlawful approach; (2) it was a protection, keeping out all wild animals; (3) it was a positive line of demarcation between the world and the holy presence of God; and (4) with its single gate, it was a way of approach to God.” (Kaiser)

The gate to the courtyard is estimated to be thirty feet wide!

Can you imagine the process of dismantling and reassembling the tabernacle and courtyard every time the Israelites moved through the wilderness?

Five years ago when I moved across country after living in the same house for twenty nine years I almost killed myself packing boxes and a moving truck in the heat of summer! I couldn’t have accomplished the task without my brother!

Have you ever moved? How well did that go?

Blessings, David