What is the meaning of Exodus 26:17? Two tenons The Lord instructed that every upright board in the tabernacle have “two tenons.” These pegs were cut from the bottom of each acacia-wood frame so they could slide into silver bases and stand solidly (Exodus 36:22–24). The detail shows God’s concern for stability in His dwelling place. Just as Noah’s ark was built to exact measurements (Genesis 6:15–16) and Solomon’s temple stones were shaped to fit perfectly (1 Kings 6:7), the tabernacle’s walls had to rest on a firm, precise foundation. • Literal purpose: two pegs prevented wobbling and kept the heavy curtains from sagging. • Spiritual echo: the Lord later describes His people as being “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20). Two secure points remind us that our lives need more than a single support; they rest on the whole counsel of God’s Word and on the person of Christ. must be connected The tenons “must be connected,” indicating that strength comes from proper joining. When the boards locked into their silver sockets, the wall became one unbroken line. In the New Testament, Paul picks up the same image: “The whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love” (Ephesians 4:16). Connection is not optional; it is commanded. • No loose boards were allowed—each believer today is meant to be an active, fitted part of Christ’s body (Romans 12:4–5). • The connection point was silver, a metal often linked with redemption money (Exodus 30:13–16). Redemption, then, is what unites us. to each other The phrase stresses horizontal unity. While every frame was first anchored downward into its base, it also leaned into its neighbors for side-to-side support. Peter uses similar language for living stones that are “being built together into a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5). • God values community; isolated boards—or isolated believers—are vulnerable (Ecclesiastes 4:9–12). • The direction “to each other” prevents pride. Every board had the same job and the same measurements, recalling that “there is no favoritism with God” (Acts 10:34). for each frame Uniformity mattered: every single frame, whether on the sunny south side or the shaded north, received the same treatment. This mirrors the earlier instruction, “See that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain” (Exodus 25:40). • God’s standards never shift from person to person or place to place (Malachi 3:6). • Consistency gives testimony; outsiders could look at the tabernacle and see flawless order, just as they should observe good order in the church (1 Corinthians 14:40). Make all the frames of the tabernacle in this way The closing sentence gathers the parts into a whole: nothing was left to human improvisation. Hebrews reminds us that the tabernacle was “a copy and shadow of what is in heaven” (Hebrews 8:5), so following God’s blueprint mattered. Obedience produced a portable sanctuary that hosted God’s glory cloud (Exodus 40:34–35). • Complete obedience opens the door for God’s presence and blessing (John 14:23). • Attention to detail in physical construction models attention to detail in spiritual obedience (James 1:22–25). summary Exodus 26:17 shows God demanding stability, connection, unity, uniformity, and obedience in His dwelling place. Two secure tenons per board kept the walls firm, pointing to the firm foundation of redemption and Scripture. Connection “to each other” stressed community, while identical treatment “for each frame” highlighted God’s unchanging standards. When every board followed the pattern, God’s glory filled the tabernacle. The same principles call believers today to stand on Christ, stay joined to one another, and walk in precise obedience so that He may dwell among us. |
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