NOTES for Exo 26:1-37

The Tabernacle of the Covenant is a tent, a kind of portable temple whose name is meant to recall God’s constant and invisible presence. Its vivid colors make the Tabernacle stand out against the desert landscape. Wherever you may be, the blue and purple colors of the tent raised above the people will always renew your awareness of how, why, and for what purpose this exhausting journey was undertaken. On the one hand, closeness to God determined and regulated the whole life of the people. On the other hand, this closeness required constant sacrifice, a renunciation of oneself and one’s desires for the sake of being able to live under God’s protection and blessing. This difficult path demanded special courage and a special regard for the Tabernacle’s outward appearance and everything connected with it. More about the meaning of each of its indispensable attributes can be found in V. Sorokin’s book (RU).