Tabernacle Building

I think I may have to do more research on this project. It could very well end up being one of those things that I update as I go through the year. It's been interesting, nonetheless.

After they left Egypt, the Israelites stopped off at Mount Sinai where God gave them the Ten Commandments as well as other laws. One of the items that they were to construct was the tabernacle. The instructions are quite specific down to the dimensions and materials. Ten curtains were commanded to be made: 26 cubtis by 4 cubits or roughly 42 feet by 6 feet. They were to be made of linen and colored thread.

As a fiber artist, this description is tantalizing. As a writer of historical novels, it opens up for an interesting story, but on to the research. Just how did they make these curtains? The ancients didn't have our modern convenience of a local yarn store, mass-produced cones, or even the spinning wheel.

The Egyptians and the Hebrews used what is called a drop spindle. On this they could weave a variety of threads from very fine to coarse.

How did they weave? Well, there are two options. Option number one is the traditional Egyptian way to weave: horizontal.

With the horizontal weaving, the entire warp was stretched out on the ground, and the weaving progressed forward. For this weaving, space and nice weather was a must.

The second way was a vertical weaving style.

This style, which allowed the weaver to sit at the base, was introduced from Canaan and was common in areas where the weather wasn't as dry as Egypt. Both styles would have been known to the Hebrews.

How much would they have had to weave? Figuring that these were to be durable, beautiful, and coverings, I estimated that they would have woven at 40 epi. They might have gone finer or coarser, but 40 is a good middle ground, I think. Now, the Bible gives the dimensions of each of the ten curtains: 26 cubits by 4 cubits, or 42 feet by 6 feet. If they were woven at 40 epi, for one inch, there would have needed to be 560 yards of linen. For six feet: 3360 yards. With ten curtains, that works up to 33,600 yards.

According to one website, the growing season for flax, from where we obtain linen, is November to March. Interestingly, flax was one of the major trades in Ancient Egypt. Also, the first Passover would have taken place sometime in March or April. When the Jews left Egypt, God moved the hearts of the Egyptians to give the Hebrews jewels, gold, fabric and a variety of other items. Chances are that the Hebrews had material and unspun flax with them at Mount Sinai.

Saturday, I will write about the designs and how they could have made the curtains. Also, where did the colors come from?