What is the meaning of Exodus 27:11? Likewise there are to be curtains on the north side - The phrase “Likewise” points back to the identical instructions already given for the south side (Exodus 27:9), underscoring God’s symmetrical design. - North often symbolizes stability and security in Scripture (Psalm 48:2; Isaiah 14:13). By assigning the same covering to the north, God shows His protection is complete in every direction. - Just as the tabernacle faced east (Exodus 26:22), the balanced treatment of north and south demonstrates impartiality—echoed later when Christ’s salvation is offered to Jew and Gentile alike (Acts 10:34-35). A hundred cubits long - “A hundred cubits” (about 150 feet/45 meters) matches the south side’s length (Exodus 38:11), revealing perfect proportion. - Repetition of precise measurements highlights that God is a God of order (1 Corinthians 14:33). - The sizable span ensures the courtyard could hold the people as they approached the altar, prefiguring the invitation Jesus extends to all who come to Him (Matthew 11:28). With twenty posts - Twenty equally spaced posts kept the curtains upright, a vivid picture of steadfast support. - Posts (or pillars) appear elsewhere as symbols of faithful witness (Galatians 2:9) and of overcoming believers (Revelation 3:12). - Since the south side also had twenty posts (Exodus 27:10), the number reinforces balance and strength—qualities God desires in His dwelling and in His people (Ephesians 2:21-22). And twenty bronze bases - Each post rested on a bronze base, anchoring it securely. Bronze, first introduced in the altar of burnt offering (Exodus 27:1-2), consistently speaks of righteous judgment that can bear fire. - The bronze serpent lifted up in Numbers 21:8-9 prefigures Christ bearing sin’s judgment (John 3:14-15). Likewise, these bases remind us that holy fellowship stands on the completed judgment carried by our Substitute (Romans 8:3). With silver hooks and bands on the posts - Silver in Scripture often typifies redemption (Exodus 30:12-16; 1 Peter 1:18-19). The people’s atonement money was silver; here, silver secures the curtains. - Hooks joined the fabric to the posts, just as redemption joins sinners to God (Colossians 1:13-14). - Bands, also silver, added stability, illustrating how Christ not only redeems but also upholds us (Jude 24). summary Exodus 27:11 mirrors verse 10, showing God’s insistence on symmetry, stability, and solidity in His earthly dwelling. Every detail—location, measurement, materials—teaches: • God’s protection surrounds His people on every side. • Access to His presence is orderly and secure, resting on judgment already borne (bronze) and redemption already paid (silver). • Those redeemed become upright supports in His house, displaying His glory to a watching world. |
    |