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Exodus 36

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Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the Lord put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the Lord had commanded.

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And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it:

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And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning.

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And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made;

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And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the Lord commanded to make.

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And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.

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For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.

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And every wise hearted man among them that wrought the work of the tabernacle made ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work made he them.

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The length of one curtain was twenty and eight cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: the curtains were all of one size.

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And he coupled the five curtains one unto another: and the other five curtains he coupled one unto another.

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And he made loops of blue on the edge of one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling: likewise he made in the uttermost side of another curtain, in the coupling of the second.

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Fifty loops made he in one curtain, and fifty loops made he in the edge of the curtain which was in the coupling of the second: the loops held one curtain to another.

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And he made fifty taches of gold, and coupled the curtains one unto another with the taches: so it became one tabernacle.

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And he made curtains of goats’ hair for the tent over the tabernacle: eleven curtains he made them.

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The length of one curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits was the breadth of one curtain: the eleven curtains were of one size.

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And he coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves.

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And he made fifty loops upon the uttermost edge of the curtain in the coupling, and fifty loops made he upon the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second.

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And he made fifty taches of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one.

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And he made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of badgers’ skins above that.

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And he made boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood, standing up.

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The length of a board was ten cubits, and the breadth of a board one cubit and a half.

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One board had two tenons, equally distant one from another: thus did he make for all the boards of the tabernacle.

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And he made boards for the tabernacle; twenty boards for the south side southward:

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And forty sockets of silver he made under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.

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And for the other side of the tabernacle, which is toward the north corner, he made twenty boards,

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

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And for the sides of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.

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And two boards made he for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.

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And they were coupled beneath, and coupled together at the head thereof, to one ring: thus he did to both of them in both the corners.

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And there were eight boards; and their sockets were sixteen sockets of silver, under every board two sockets.

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And he made bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,

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

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And he made the middle bar to shoot through the boards from the one end to the other.

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And he overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold to be places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.

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And he made a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubims made he it of cunning work.

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And he made thereunto four pillars of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold: their hooks were of gold; and he cast for them four sockets of silver.

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And he made an hanging for the tabernacle door of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, of needlework;

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And the five pillars of it with their hooks: and he overlaid their chapiters and their fillets with gold: but their five sockets were of brass.

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Exodus 36

Exodus 36 records the beginning of construction and one of the most extraordinary problems a leader has ever faced: the people gave too much. Bezalel, Oholiab, and every craftsman whose heart God had given skill came to do the work — and the contributions kept coming, morning after morning, until Moses had to issue a proclamation to the camp: stop bringing offerings. The material was sufficient for all the work, and more than enough. The generosity of chapter 35 is here confirmed and then disciplined — even generosity must be ordered. The craftsmen then begin work on the tabernacle curtains themselves: the ten curtains of fine twisted linen with cherubim, the eleven curtains of goat hair, the coverings of ram skins and fine leather, the frames and crossbars, the inner veil and the entrance screen. The description closely mirrors the instructions of chapter 26, indicating faithful execution rather than improvisation. This precision of obedience — building exactly as commanded — is itself an act of worship. The craftsmen are not celebrated for creativity but for faithfulness, a pattern that runs through the stewardship parables of Jesus in Matthew 25:14–30, where faithfulness to the master's instructions is what constitutes a good servant.

Exodus 36:27

For the far end, that is, the west end of the tabernacle, they made six frames. The six frames for the west end follow Exodus 26:22 exactly. The Most Holy Place is at the far end from the entrance: the worshipper who enters from the east approaches through the Holy Place before reaching the veil. The west-facing Most Holy Place faces away from the direction of ordinary approach — the ultimate divine presence is not found in the direction of ordinary life but beyond it.

Exodus 36:28

And two frames were made for the corners of the tabernacle at the far end. The corner frames that reinforce the west end corners of the Most Holy Place are built exactly as Exodus 26:23 specified. The engineering care applied to the corners of the room where the ark will rest communicates the theological care applied to the most sacred point in the covenant's spatial structure. The place of greatest holiness requires the most careful construction.

Exodus 36:24

And made forty silver bases to go under them — two bases under each frame. Forty silver bases for the south wall — two per frame. The silver bases are the foundation of the entire tabernacle structure, made from the census tax that represented the ransom of every Israelite. The tabernacle stands on the atonement of its worshippers: the silver that ransomed Israel's lives becomes the silver that grounds Israel's sanctuary. The connection between the census tax and the tabernacle bases is the connection between atonement and presence.

Exodus 36:25

For the other side, the north side of the tabernacle, they made twenty frames. The north wall mirrors the south — twenty frames exactly. The bilateral symmetry of the tabernacle's long walls is the symmetry of the covenant's balanced obligations. The God who requires the same of the north and the south of Israel's camp built His dwelling with identical walls on both sides. The equity of the covenant is built into the architecture of the sanctuary.

Exodus 36:26

And forty silver bases — two under each frame. The north wall's forty silver bases match the south wall's forty silver bases. The complete foundation of the tabernacle rests on eighty silver bases for the long walls, sixteen for the west end and corner frames — ninety-six bases total, each representing the ransom paid for a life. The tabernacle's foundation is the ransom of the entire census community: the whole covenant people's atonement bears up the dwelling of God.

Exodus 36:1

So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded. The opening verse establishes the chain of authority: the Lord commanded, Moses transmitted, Bezalel and Oholiab lead, every skilled person works. The phrase just as the Lord has commanded is the standard that the construction chapters will repeat eleven times. The execution of the tabernacle is measured against the specification given on the mountain. Faithfulness in construction is faithfulness to the divine vision.

Exodus 36:2

Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. Moses summons — the human authority that implements the divine appointment. The willing echoes the willing offerers of chapter 35: the same disposition of willingness that characterized the givers characterizes the craftsmen. Skill and willingness together constitute the qualification for the work. The craftsman who is skilled but unwilling and the craftsman who is willing but unskilled are both inadequate. God provides the exact combination required.

Exodus 36:3

They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. The offerings were received — the first act of construction management is stewardship of what the community has given. And then the remarkable problem: the people continued to bring, morning after morning. The generosity of the community outlasts the immediate need. The construction project turns out to be overwhelmingly over-resourced. The morning-after-morning giving is the natural expression of a community transformed by the restoration of covenant relationship after the golden calf.

Exodus 36:4

So all the skilled workers who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left what they were doing. The craftsmen leave the work to deal with the abundance of materials being brought. The interruption of the work by the excess of giving is one of the most remarkable problems in the Old Testament. The craftsmen who were working have to stop to go tell Moses that the community needs to stop giving. The work is interrupted not by scarcity — the normal threat to construction — but by abundance. The reversal of the usual problem is the mark of a community moved by God to give beyond calculation.

Exodus 36:5

And reported to Moses: the people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done. More than enough — the Hebrew yoter means surplus, excess, overflow. The community has given so much that surplus exists beyond what the entire tabernacle requires. The community that gave their gold to the golden calf has given their gold to God's dwelling in such abundance that the project is over-resourced. 2 Corinthians 8:3 says the Macedonians gave beyond their ability, entirely on their own — the giving of the Exodus community is the Old Testament precedent for the Macedonians' extravagant generosity.

Exodus 36:6

Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: no man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary. And so the people were restrained from bringing more. Moses commands the community to stop giving — the only time in Scripture where a leader has to restrain his community from giving too much. Haggai 1:4–9 rebukes Israel for neglecting the temple while building their own houses — the contrast between Haggai's Israel and Exodus Israel could not be sharper. The community restrained from giving too much and the community rebuked for giving too little are the two poles of covenant generosity.

Exodus 36:7

Because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work. The surplus is confirmed: more than enough for all the work. The completeness of the provision is the completeness of the divine enabling. God who specified every detail of the tabernacle also prompted the community to provide every material required — and more. The surplus that remains after the construction is complete will be evident in the accounting of Exodus 38:24–31. God's provision for His purposes is never insufficient. The community that responds to the Spirit's prompting discovers that the Spirit's prompting produces more than enough.

Exodus 36:8

All those who were skilled among the workers made the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim woven into them by skilled hands. The construction narrative begins with the innermost layer — the ten curtains of fine linen with cherubim. The execution description uses the same language as the instruction of Exodus 26:1. The craftsmen do not interpret or improve; they replicate with fidelity. The just as the Lord commanded standard that will be repeated throughout the construction narrative is here first evidenced: what was instructed is what is built.

Exodus 36:9

Each curtain was twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide; all the curtains were the same size. The exact dimensions of Exodus 26:2 — twenty-eight cubits long, four cubits wide — are reproduced exactly. The uniformity of the ten curtains is confirmed: all the same size. Hebrews 8:5 says the tabernacle is a copy of what is in heaven — the copy can only accurately represent the original if the dimensions are exactly reproduced. The craftsmen's precision is the precision of faithful representation. Every cubit matters because every detail of the heavenly pattern matters.

Exodus 36:10

They joined five of the curtains together and did the same with the other five. The joining of the curtains in two sets of five — exactly as Exodus 26:3 instructed — creates the two panels that will be connected by the gold clasps. The construction proceeds in the same order as the instructions: first the curtains, then their joining, then the connecting mechanisms. The sequence of construction matches the sequence of specification. The craftsmen who received both the instructions and the Spirit-filling are building in the same order that God specified.

Exodus 36:11

They made loops of blue material along the edge of the end curtain in one set, and the same was done with the end curtain in the other set. The blue loops along the joining edges — exactly as in Exodus 26:4 — are the connection points for the gold clasps. The blue that runs through the entire tabernacle as the covenant color appears even in the connecting mechanism. The consistency of the covenant color across every element communicates the integrated vision: the tabernacle is not a collection of components but a unified whole, every piece sharing the same vocabulary of color and material.

Exodus 36:12

They also made fifty loops on one curtain and fifty loops on the other curtain, with the loops opposite each other. The fifty loops on each joining edge create one hundred connection points when the two panels are brought together. The precision of fifty and fifty, placed opposite each other, ensures perfect alignment. The precise construction of the connection mechanism is as carefully executed as the construction of the curtains themselves. In the tabernacle, everything that holds the sanctuary together is as carefully made as what it holds.

Exodus 36:13

Then they made fifty gold clasps and used them to fasten the two sets of curtains together so that the tabernacle was a unit. Fifty gold clasps joining fifty loops to fifty loops — the tabernacle becomes a unit, echad. The unity achieved through the gold clasps is the unity of the covenant community gathered under one God. John 17:11 says Jesus prays that his disciples may be one as we are one — the unity of the tabernacle achieved through the gold clasps is the spatial type of the spiritual unity Christ prays for.

Exodus 36:14

They made curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle — eleven curtains in all. The outer tent of eleven goat-hair curtains proceeds exactly as Exodus 26:7 instructed. The transition from the inner linen curtains to the outer goat-hair tent is the transition from the most beautiful to the most durable — the inner beauty of the covenant is protected by the outer practicality of the tent. The layered construction of the tabernacle communicates layered theology: the holiness of the innermost gives way to the protection of the outermost, each layer serving the whole.

Exodus 36:15

All eleven curtains were the same size — thirty cubits long and four cubits wide. The uniform dimensions of the outer curtains — thirty cubits by four cubits — are exactly as Exodus 26:8 specified. The extra two cubits of length provides the overhang that extends beyond the inner curtains for complete coverage. No element of the tabernacle's construction is approximate. The precision of every measurement is the precision of the copy matching the heavenly original.

Exodus 36:16

They joined five of the curtains into one set and the other six into another set. The five-and-six division of the outer curtains — exactly as Exodus 26:9 instructed — creates the asymmetry that provides the front overhang. The extra sixth curtain folded double at the entrance creates extra coverage at the most theologically significant threshold. Transitions matter, and the boundary between ordinary and sacred deserves additional acknowledgment.

Exodus 36:17

Then they made fifty loops along the edge of the end curtain in one set and also along the edge of the end curtain in the other set. The same fifty-loop system used for the inner curtains is used for the outer tent — consistency of connection mechanism across both layers. The structural integrity of both the inner curtains and the outer tent depends on the same fifty-loop, fifty-clasp system. The redundancy ensures that both layers hold together with the same structural principle: fifty points of connection creating unity from two separate panels.

Exodus 36:18

Then they made fifty bronze clasps to fasten the tent together as a unit. The outer tent's clasps are bronze — the material of the courtyard level — rather than the gold of the inner curtains' clasps. The material gradation from gold inside to bronze outside is maintained even in the connecting mechanisms. The unit — echad — achieved through bronze clasps is the same unity achieved through gold clasps, at a different level of holiness. The tabernacle's unity extends from its most sacred core to its most protective outer layer.

Exodus 36:19

They also made for the tent a covering of ram skins dyed red, and over that a covering of the other durable leather. The two outermost coverings — ram skins dyed red and fine leather — are constructed exactly as Exodus 26:14 specified. The blood-red exterior of the tabernacle is the face the wilderness shows to the camp: the dwelling place of God is covered with the color of sacrifice. The layers that cover the sanctuary communicate the theology of approach: the deeper you go, the more precious the material; the outer face is sacrifice and durability.

Exodus 36:20

They made upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle. The structural frames — the skeleton that holds the entire tent structure in place — follow exactly the specification of Exodus 26:15. The acacia wood frames that will be overlaid with gold are the first structural element of the tabernacle's permanent form: the tent coverings cover them, but the frames define the shape. The strength of acacia — resistant to decay and insects — makes it appropriate for the structure that will stand in the wilderness for forty years.

Exodus 36:21

Each frame was ten cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. The standard dimensions of every frame — ten cubits tall, cubit and a half wide — are exactly as Exodus 26:16 specified. The consistency of every frame means that the walls they form will be perfectly regular. The regularity of the tabernacle's construction is the regularity of its theology: the covenant is consistent, its requirements are uniform, its structure is predictable.

Exodus 36:22

With two projections set parallel to each other. They made all the frames of the tabernacle in this way. The parallel projections on every frame — the tenons that fit into the silver bases — are consistent across all forty-eight frames. Every frame is identical in its connecting mechanism. The just as the Lord commanded standard applies to every detail of every component: not most of the frames, but all of them. The consistency no one will ever see is the consistency that holds the entire structure together.

Exodus 36:23

They made twenty frames for the south side of the tabernacle. The twenty frames for the south side begin the specific count that matches the specification of Exodus 26:18. The precise accounting of every frame for every wall confirms the just as commanded standard. The documentary precision of the construction record communicates that the tabernacle that was built is the tabernacle that was specified. What the heavenly pattern required, the earthly construction provided.

Exodus 36:29

At these two corners the frames were double from the bottom all the way to the top, and fitted into a single ring; both were made alike. The doubled construction at the base and the single ring at the top — exactly as Exodus 26:24 specified. The doubling at the base and unity at the top communicates covenant structure: double strength where the weight is greatest, unified at the crown. The corner frames that hold the Most Holy Place together are the most carefully engineered elements in the entire tabernacle's structure.

Exodus 36:30

So there were eight frames and sixteen silver bases — two under each frame. The total west end count — eight frames on sixteen bases — matches Exodus 26:25 exactly. The comprehensive accounting of every frame and base is the documentary evidence that the tabernacle was built exactly as commanded. The tabernacle that houses the God of truth is built with truthful documentation of every component. The counts that match the specifications are the evidence that the craftsmen reproduced the heavenly pattern faithfully.

Exodus 36:31

They also made crossbars of acacia wood: five for the frames on one side of the tabernacle. The crossbars that stabilize the upright frames — five per wall — are constructed exactly as Exodus 26:26–27 specified. The horizontal members that prevent the vertical frames from racking are as carefully specified and executed as the frames themselves. Every element is necessary; none is redundant. The complete structural system works together to create the stable sanctuary that will house the covenant community's worship.

Exodus 36:32

Five for the frames on the other side, and five for the frames on the west end of the tabernacle. Five crossbars for each of the three walls create a consistent horizontal reinforcement system. The entrance end (east) has no wall and no crossbars — it is open for approach. The three closed sides are fully reinforced; the one open side invites entry. The architecture of the tabernacle communicates both the protection of the holy and the accessibility of its entrance.

Exodus 36:33

They made the center crossbar so that it extended from end to end at the middle of the frames. The center crossbar of each wall — the one that runs the full length from end to end — is the structural spine. The full-length center crossbar provides the primary structural continuity of each wall. The spine that runs all the way through is the structural metaphor for the covenant principle that runs through the entire tabernacle: the presence of God is the continuous thread that unifies every element of the sanctuary.

Exodus 36:34

They overlaid the frames with gold and made gold rings to hold the crossbars. They also overlaid the crossbars with gold. The frames and crossbars — the structural skeleton — are overlaid with gold. The gold that covers the walls is continuous with the gold rings that hold them together: structure and surface are both precious, both sacred, both gold. The skeleton of the sanctuary is as precious as its furnishings — there is no tier of the holy that deserves less than the most.

Exodus 36:35

They made the curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim woven into it by a skilled worker. The veil — the most important boundary in the tabernacle — is constructed exactly as Exodus 26:31 specified: the three covenant colors, fine linen, and cherubim woven by skilled hands. Matthew 27:51 records the tearing of this veil at the moment of Jesus' death — the craftsmen who weave the cherubim into the veil are weaving the boundary that the cross will permanently remove.

Exodus 36:36

They made four posts of acacia wood for it and overlaid them with gold. They made gold hooks for them and cast their four silver bases. The four posts of the veil — acacia, gold-overlaid, with gold hooks and silver bases — are constructed exactly as Exodus 26:32 specified. The silver bases of the veil's posts — more precious than the bronze bases of the entrance — communicate the increasing preciousness of materials as one approaches the divine center. The hierarchy of materials mirrors the hierarchy of approach.

Exodus 36:37

For the entrance to the tent they made a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen — the work of an embroiderer. The entrance curtain is constructed exactly as Exodus 26:36 specified. The embroidery technique at the entrance (versus the woven cherubim at the veil) communicates the different character of the two thresholds: the entrance invites with its embroidered beauty; the veil guards with its woven cherubim. The approach to God moves through beauty into gravity — the embroidered entrance gives way to the guarded veil.

Exodus 36:38

They made five posts with hooks for it. They overlaid the tops of the posts and their bands with gold and made their five bases of bronze. The five posts of the entrance screen — with gold hooks, gold-overlaid tops, gold bands, and bronze bases — are constructed exactly as Exodus 26:37 specified. Bronze at the ground, gold at the top and connections: the material gradation moves from earth level upward toward the precious. Five posts for the entrance makes the approach more generous — wider, more welcoming — than the inner boundary. The sanctuary is more accessible at its entrance than at its center.