On to the tabernacle, or “dwelling place”. Here we have the symbolic home of God’s presence among His people. It was to be situated in the middle of the Israelite camps (entrance facing east). So, although in battle or travel, God’s presence went before His people, when they were at rest, His presence was to be in the very center, residing among them. And when they moved, He moved with them and settled again where they did.
Chapter 26 provides instructions for the “building” itself, designed to be quickly assembled and disassembled, while also withstanding the elements, protecting the sanctity of the elements and proceedings within, and being up to snuff as a place where YAHWEH would reside. Broadly, it was a rectangle with two disproportionate rooms. The first room, taking up 2/3 of the tabernacle and being closest to the entrance on the east was the Holy Place, which was 30′ x 15′ x 15′ and contained a food/utensil table, the lampstand and an incense altar.
The remaining 1/3 was the Holiest Place or the Holy of Holies which was separated from the first room by an ornate curtain that did not have a door (the High Priest would have to move one of the poles to the side to enter. This was intentionally prohibitive). The curtain was wide enough and tall enough that it was attached to both the walls and the ceiling coverings so someone could not see past it from any angle. Unless you’re the high priest, it’s not your business. The ark of the covenant was in there and it was a cube (15x15x15).
Everything was held up by a series of ladder-like pole structures that sit upon silver bases, the poles covered in gold (a single ounce of gold can be hammered out to nearly 100 sq ft of covering so, although it seems like they would have needed a lot of gold for this action, it wasn’t all that much. And, they got some from the Egyptians anyhow). Only exception to the gold and silver here was for the poles that held up the curtain that covered the entrance, no gilding was required and the stands were brass or copper. They were farther away from God’s presence so didn’t require the extra bump in style (same will be true for the elements in the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle.
The tabernacle had four coverings on it. One was a sweet, stylish cherubim-infused action that was the initial cover so that when you walked in the walls and ceiling had this ornate look to it. On top of that was goat hair, adding thickness and providing protection for the more delicate, stylish layer from the courser layers that were yet to come. To ensure covering, the goat hair layer was bigger than the style layer. On top of the goat hair layer was tanned ram skins. This adds weight and some protection from the elements (weight was important, you can’t have the Lord’s dwelling tumbling away). Finally, translations vary on the top layer but it’s quite likely the skins of sea cows (or dolphins or some other sea animal). This final layer provides waterproofing, protection from the sun, dew, frost, dust, and whatever else may come.
We should probably be careful not to look too far into the design elements. Just because God is specific doesn’t mean there is secret meaning to everything. Most of the design appears to be a combination of function (here’s why I need clasps and proper support and two rooms, etc.) and design (it’s gold because YAHWEH is a king, same reason why the fancy cloth faces in and the boring cloth faces out).
Finally, don’t miss the note in 26:30 that Moses appears to be privy to the whole design whereas this chapter is not hitting up every detail. Moses seems to know how things should look when they come out, there isn’t enough here in all instances to do that (some of the pole spacing, for example). The point is, God showed him what He wanted. The people weren’t creating something and offering it to God, God had designed something and was graciously inviting His people to be part of implementing it, much like how Jesus uses us today in being part of spreading the Good News of His Kingdom.