The Church Fathers on this verse

Exodus 26:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In the sides of the boards shall be made two mortises, whereby one board may be joined to another board: and after this manner shall all the boards be prepared.

Douay-Rheims

שְׁתֵּ֣י יָד֗וֹת לַקֶּ֙רֶשׁ֙ הָאֶחָ֔ד מְשֻׁלָּבֹ֔ת אִשָּׁ֖ה אֶל־אֲחֹתָ֑הּ כֵּ֣ן תַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה לְכֹ֖ל קַרְשֵׁ֥י הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Wlastow G.K.

19th centuryCommentator

The bases of the boards kept the timber from touching the earth, thus preventing deterioration. Together, these bases constituted a unified foundation, forming a beautifully appointed framework for the Tabernacle. Each bar was equipped with two pegs at the bottom, and distinct footings were crafted for each peg. At the corners of the Tabernacle, the boards were interconnected by rings, serving as the sole link between the rear wall and the side walls. The structure of the walls, as will be discussed further, was maintained through staves that passed through all the boards. While the exact method of how the rings on the corner beams were joined remains uncertain, one might conjecture that they were either bolted together or linked by chains or cords.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.