also see:
The Encampment of the Children of Israel
The
Children of Israel on the March a
The outer court was enclosed by massive curtains which were 5 cubits (7 1/2 feet) high all around.
'The White Linen Fence'
The Pillars (Ex 27:9-19)
here
were 60 pillars upon which the curtain wall hung upon. 10 pillars on the east
and west and 20 pillars on the north and south. Nothing is told of the nature of
these pillars although it is assumed that they were made of
acacia wood. The wooden pillars each had a band or capital (an ornamental
top) of
silver. The pillars themselves were held in place by
cords or ropes tied to
pegs driven into the ground.
The upright pillars were each set into a socket within a bronze base. They were 5 cubits high and 5 cubits apart from one another. Passing from pillar to pillar was a rod, and upon these were silver hooks from which hung the curtains of fine linen.
Exod 27:9-19 "You shall also make the court of the tabernacle. For the south side there shall be hangings for the court made of fine woven linen, one hundred cubits long for one side. And its twenty pillars and their twenty sockets shall be of bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their bands shall be of silver. Likewise along the length of the north side there shall be hangings one hundred cubits long, with its twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of bronze, and the hooks of the pillars and their bands of silver. And along the width of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits, with their ten pillars and their ten sockets. The width of the court on the east side shall be fifty cubits. The hangings on one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and their three sockets. And on the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and their three sockets. For the gate of the court there shall be a screen twenty cubits long, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver. It shall have four pillars and four sockets. All the pillars around the court shall have bands of silver; their hooks shall be of silver and their sockets of bronze. The length of the court shall be one hundred cubits, the width fifty throughout, and the height five cubits, made of fine woven thread, and its sockets of bronze. All the utensils of the tabernacle for all its service, all its pegs, and all the pegs of the court, shall be of bronze.
The Curtains of Fine Linen (Ex 27:9-15)
The outer court was enclosed by massive curtains which were 5 cubits (7 1/2 feet) high all around. 150 feet long on the north and south sides, and 75 feet long on the west, and 45 feet long on the east, leaving room for the gate. The curtains were woven from fine linen and suspended from the pillars, which were also 5 cubits apart.
Five separate curtains were suspended round the courtyard. Two of them ran along the long side each being 100 cubits. The one at the west end was 50 cubits long while there were two short ones on either side of the front entrance each being 15 cubits in length.
The plain white linen screen formed a barrier around the House of God. No Israelite could casually wander around the Holy building or stroll into the courtyard.
The material that formed this barrier was fine white linen symbolizing righteousness. The symbolism is revealed in the Book of Revelation where, at the wedding of Christ with His bride (the church) who has made herself ready for the wedding. Her wedding dress will be made of fine linen:
Rev 19:8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
The wall of fine linen around the tabernacle presented a barrier to those whose acts were not 'righteous before God' making sure that they would not have access to the courtyard. And, symbolically, this would have excluded every person in Israel.
The Pegs of Bronze and their cords (Ex 35:18)
Exod 35:18 'the pegs of the tabernacle, the pegs of the court, and their cords;
These were for the tabernacle and the court. The pegs of bronze were like nails that were driven into the ground upon which the cords were attached. They added strength and protected from wind, etc. The Bible mentions a lot about these pegs and cords within Gods sanctuary.
Ezra 9:8 "And now for a little while grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage.
Is 22:23 I will fasten him as a peg in a secure place, and he will become a glorious throne to his father's house.
Is 54:2 "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; Lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes.
A Type of Christ
The fine white linen fence tells us that the righteousness of God keeps men out. Jesus Christ is the righteousness of God. The law was given as a standard' to show man exactly what is the sum total of perfection and anything short of that is sin and unrighteousness. God describes all of mans righteousness as filthy rags (a used woman's menstrual garment). Jesus said, "I have not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it." When He was here He was a living example of a sinless life. By dying for us and bearing our sin He becomes our substitute by which we, in exchange, receive His perfect life. Our sin went on Him and His perfect life is imputed to us. Therefore when God sees us He sees the righteousness of Jesus Christ. How good must one be to enter heaven? The answer is 'as perfect as God.' That is because we have His righteousness imputed to us by faith. Jesus Christ fulfilled the law. He was without sin. Even when the Jewish leaders wanted to stone Him He asked them, "for which good work are you going to stone me?" and they answered, "because you being a man make yourself out to be God." If a man were to gaze inside of the ark of the covenant by lifting the mercy seat he would be face to face with the law of God and without the blood it was instant death. The judgment angels were upon the mercy seat where the blood was to be sprinkled. Man in all of his unrighteousness must approach God the proper way and not the way of Cain. The law of God kills, not because it is bad but because it reveals mans sin. The perfect man, Jesus Christ, having never sinned was accepted on our behalf so that we may receive the righteousness of God as the Word says, "for as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous."
Luke 23:4 So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no fault in this Man."Matt 27:4 Judas said, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? You see to it!"
Matt 27:19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him."
Matt 27:24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it."
Luke 23:39-41 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? "And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong."
Luke 23:47 So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous Man!"
John 8:29 "And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him."
Matt 3:17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Rom 5:18-19 Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.