John Calvin on Numbers 8:2-4

2 When thou lightest the lamps. This precept, like many others, is not inserted in its proper place. Moses again declares what was the use of the candlestick, and how the lamps should be arranged, so that their light might be spread through the sanctuary, and that the brightness of the gold might shine over against them; for this was the reason why God would have the lamps lighted against the face of, or opposite to, the candlestick, that the very stand of the light might retain its beauty. Moreover, it is expressly stated that Aaron obeyed God’s command, as if in no despicable matter, as he had received it from Moses. To this also refers what immediately follows, that it was made “according unto the pattern” which Moses had seen in the mount; and this was, as I have before explained it, that God is the Father of lights, who illuminates His Church by His Spirit, that it may not wander in darkness; and so, whilst darkness covers the whole earth, He is as an everlasting light to believers instead of the sun and moon, as says Isaiah 60:19

Exodus 26

Exodus 26:1-37

1. Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purpl e, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.

1. Tabernaculum vero facies e decem cortinis e bysso retorta, et hyacintho et purpura, et vermiculo cocci: cherubin opere phrygionico facies.

2. The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure.

2. Longitudo cortinae unius erit octo et viginti cubitorum: et latitudo cortinae unius, quatuor cubitorum: mensura, una erit omnibus cortinis.

3. The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.

3. Quinque cortiae erunt con junctae altera eum altera, et quinque aliae cortinae conjunctae altera cum altera.

4. And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second.

4. Facies quoque, laqueolos hya cinthinos in ora cortinae unius in extremo in conjunetione: et sic facies in ora cortinae extrema in conjunctione secunda.

5. Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second, that the loops may take hold one of another.

5. Quinquaginta laqueolos facies in cortina una, et quinquaginta laqueolos facies in extremo cortintae quae est in conjunctione secunda: oppositi erunt laqueoli alter alteri.

6. And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.

6. Facies item quinquaginta uncinos aureos, et ita conjunges cortinas alteram cum altera per uncinos: atque ita fiet tabernaculum unum.

7. And thou shalt make curtains of goats’ hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.

7. Facies insuper cortinas e pilis caprarum in tentorium super tabernaculum: undecim cortinas facies eas.

8. The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure.

8. Longitudo cortinae unius, triginta cubitorum: et latitudo cortinae unius, quatuor cubitorum: mensura una erit undecim cortinis:

9. And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tabernacle.

9. Et conjunges quinque cortinas seorsum: et sex cortinas seorsum: et conduplicabis cortinam sextam e regione faciei tentorii.

10. And thou shalt make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops in the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second.

10. Facies autem quinquaginta laqueolos in ora cortinae unius in extremo in conjunctione, et quinquaginta laqueolos in ora cortinae con-junctionis secundae.

11. And thou shalt make fifty taches of brass, and put the taches into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one.

11. Facies item uncinos aereos quinquaginta, quos induces in laqueolos, et conjunges tentorium, et erit unum.

12. And the remnant that remaineth of the curtains of the tent, the half-curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the backside of the tabernacle.

12. Superfluitas autem quae redundat in cortinis tentorii, nempe dimidium cortinae redundantis, su-perfluet a tergo tabernaculi.

13. And a cubit on the one side, and a cubit on the other side, of that which remaineth in the length of the curtains of the tent, it shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it.

13. Cubitusque hinc, et cubitus illinc, qui redundat in longitudine cortinarum tentorii, redundabit super latera tabernaculi hinc et inde, ut tegat illud.

14. And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers’ skins.

14. Facies item operimentum tentorio e pellibus arietum rubifactis: operimentum item e pellibus taxorum superne.

15. And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up.

15. Facies et tabulas tabernaculo e lignis sittim stantes.

16. Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board.

16. Decem cubitorum longitudo tabulae: cubiti vero et dimidii latitudo tabulae unius.

17. Two tenons shall there be in one board, set in order one against another: thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle.

17. Duo cardines erunt tabulae uni, instar graduum sealae dispositi, alter e regione alterius, sic facies omnibus tabulis tabernaculi.

18. And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards on the south side southward.

18. Facies autem tabulas tabernaculo, viginti tabulas ad latus meridianum ad austrum.

19. And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards: two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.

19. Et quadraginta bases argenteas facies sub viginti tabulis, duas bases sub una tabula, pro duobus cardinibus ejus: et duas bases sub tabula altera, pro duobus cardinibus ejus.

20. And for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, there shall be twenty boards:

20. In latere vero tabernaculi secundo ad plagam Aquilonis, viginti tabulas.

21. And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board

21. Et quadraginta bases earum argenteas, duas bases sub una tabula, et duas bases sub tabula altera.

22. And for the sides of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards.

22. Porro in latere tabernaculi ad occidentem facies sex tabulas.

23. And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.

23. Et duas tabulas facies angulis tabernaculi in latere occidentali:

24. And they shall be coupled together beneath, and they shall be coupled together above the head of it unto one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners.

24. Quae erunt quasi gemellae inferne, et simul erunt quasi gemellae in fastigio ejus in circulum unum: sic erit de duabus illis: in duobus angulis erunt.

25. And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.

25. Erunt igitur octo tabulae, et bases earum argenteae, sexdecim bases: duae bases erunt sub tabula una, et duae bases sub tabula altera.

26. And thou shalt make bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,

26. Facies etiam vectes e lignis sittim, quinque tabulis pro latere tabernaculi uno.

27. And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the two sides westward.

27. Et quinque vectes tabulis pro latere tabernaculi altero: et quinque vectes tabulis pro latere tabernaeuli, pro latere inquam vergente ad occi- dentem.

28. And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end.

28. Vectis autem medius per medium tabularum transibit ab extremo ad extremum.

29. And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars: and thou shalt overlay the bars with gold.

29. Tabulas vero teges auro, atque annulos earum facies ex auro, per quos trajicientur vectes, coope-riesque vectes ipso auro.

30. And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount.

30. Et ita eriges tabernaculum secundum dispositionem ejus, quae tibi ostensa est in monte.

31. And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:

31. Facies et velum ex hyacintho, et purpura, et vermiculo cocci, et bysso retorta, opere phrygionico facies illud cum figuris cherubin.

32. And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.

32. Et pones illud super quatuor columnas sittim obductas auro (un-cini earum aurei) super quatuor bases argenteas.

33. And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.

33. Ponesque velum sub uncinis, et introduces illuc intra velum arcam testimonii, dividetque velum illud vobis inter sanctum et sanctum sanctorum.

34. And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.

34. Pones insuper propitiatorium super arcata testimonii in sancto sanctorum.

35. And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.

35. Pones quoque mensam illam extra velum, et candelabrum e regione mensae in latere tabernaculi ad meridiem, et mensam pones in latere aquilonis.

36. And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.

36. Et facies velum ad ostium tabernaculi ex hyacintho, et purpura, et vermiculo cocci, et bysso retorta opere acupictoris.

37. And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.

37. Velo autem facies quinque columnas ex sittim, quas teges auro, et uncini earum aurei, fundesque els quinque bases aereas.