Frames, boards

These parts of the Tabernacle have traditionally been understood as solid pieces of wood. It is more likely—and commonly accepted now—that they were wooden frames as described above. Each frame was 5 meters (16.5 feet) high and 75 centimeters (30 inches) wide. There were twenty such frames along the north and south sides of the Tabernacle and six along the back (west) side plus two corner frames, bringing the total on the back to eight (EXO 26:25).

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Most reconstructions of the Tabernacle show walls made of solid pieces of wood. Some scholars have even thought these walls were as much as 50 centimeters (20 inches) thick. This seems unlikely, however, in light of the difficulties of (1) finding such large pieces of wood and (2) transporting their weight. A suggestion that is now generally accepted is that the Hebrew word qeresh indicates a kind of “frame” made of wood. The outer dimensions would be the same, but such frames would be lighter, they would make the structure cooler, and they would allow the embroidered inner curtain to be seen on the inside. This suggestion is now included in most modern translations and is recommended here. See Hatton’s article, entitled “The Projections on the Frames of the Tabernacle.” Hatton (page 209) translates EXO 26:16; EXO 26:17; EXO 26:18; EXO 26:19 as follows: “16 Each frame is to be 15 feet high and 27 inches wide, 17 with two matching arms that are joined together by rungs. All the frames have these arms. 18 Make 20 frames for the south side, 19 and 40 silver bases to go under them, two bases under each frame to hold its two arms.”