Exodus 26:21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

A silver double footstool serves as a symbol, illustrating that Christ radiates light and glory upon the earth, as expressed in the scripture, ‘God the Lord hath appeared unto us’ (Psalms 117:27). This implies that a dual comprehension is necessary, for both God and humanity are represented in Him; thus, I believe this signifies a footstool that is both double and silver in nature.

Two sets of twenty pillars and forty sockets were positioned on the side facing midday, totaling sixty in all, with an identical arrangement on the northern side, symbolizing the leaders, princes, and rulers. This figure is likewise referenced by the wise Solomon in the Song of Songs, where it is written, ‘Behold, Solomon's bier, sixty strong around it’ (Song of Songs 3:7).

The sockets of the boards protected the wood from touching the earth and from deterioration. Collectively, these sockets created a solid foundation, described in the translation of the Seventy as a unified base, which served as the elaborate decoration of the Tabernacle. Each bar was equipped with two supports at its base, and a unique footrest was crafted for each support. At the corners of the Tabernacle, the boards were joined by rings, which were the sole means of linking the rear wall to the side walls. As we will explore further, the walls maintained their unity through staves that ran through all the boards. While the exact method of connecting the rings on the corner beams is not explicitly known, one could conjecture that they were fastened together through bolts or possibly linked by chains or cords.