Make curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle — eleven curtains in all. The second layer is goat hair — eleven curtains rather than ten. The goat hair tent is less beautiful than the inner linen curtains but more durable, providing weather protection for the precious inner layer. The asymmetry of eleven versus ten reflects the different function: the outer layer needs to extend slightly beyond the inner to provide complete coverage. The goat hair that covers the tabernacle is the same material used for the high priest's hair-based instruments of determination (Urim and Thummim are sometimes associated with the priestly garments). The goat-hair covering that protects the inner glory is the outer form that hides what is most precious.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

Publish a note on this verse