DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.67419#0048
26
NEEDLEWORK OF THE TABERNACLE.
to the skill, the taste, and the industry of the “ wise-
hearted” daughters of Israel. The outer covering
of the Tabernacle, or that which lay directly over
the framework of boards of which it was con-
structed, and hung from the roof down the sides
and west end, was formed of tabash skins ; over this
was another covering of ram-skins dyed red; a
hanging made of goats’ hair, such as is still used
in the tents of the Bedouin Arabs, had been spun
and woven by the matrons of the congregation, to
hang over the skins; and these substantial dra-
peries were beautifully concealed by a first or inner
covering of fine linen. On this the more youthful
women had embroidered figures of cherubim in
scarlet, purple, and light blue, entwined with gold.
They had made also sacerdotal vestments, the
“ coats of fine linen’’ worn by all the priests, which,
when old, were unravelled, and made into wicks
burnt in the feast of tabernacles. They had made
the “girdles of needlework,” which were long, very
long pieces of fine twined linen (carried several
times round the body), and were embroidered with
flowers in blue, and purple, and scarlet: the “ robe
of the ephod” also for the high priest, of light blue,
and elaborately wrought round the bottom in pome-
granates ; and the plain ephods for the priests.
But now the sun was declining in the western sky,
and the busy artificers of all sorts were relaxing
from the toil of the day.
In a retired spot, apart from the noise of the
camp, paced one in solitary meditation. Stalwart
he was in frame, majestic in bearing; he trod the
earth like one of her princes; but the loftiness of his
NEEDLEWORK OF THE TABERNACLE.
to the skill, the taste, and the industry of the “ wise-
hearted” daughters of Israel. The outer covering
of the Tabernacle, or that which lay directly over
the framework of boards of which it was con-
structed, and hung from the roof down the sides
and west end, was formed of tabash skins ; over this
was another covering of ram-skins dyed red; a
hanging made of goats’ hair, such as is still used
in the tents of the Bedouin Arabs, had been spun
and woven by the matrons of the congregation, to
hang over the skins; and these substantial dra-
peries were beautifully concealed by a first or inner
covering of fine linen. On this the more youthful
women had embroidered figures of cherubim in
scarlet, purple, and light blue, entwined with gold.
They had made also sacerdotal vestments, the
“ coats of fine linen’’ worn by all the priests, which,
when old, were unravelled, and made into wicks
burnt in the feast of tabernacles. They had made
the “girdles of needlework,” which were long, very
long pieces of fine twined linen (carried several
times round the body), and were embroidered with
flowers in blue, and purple, and scarlet: the “ robe
of the ephod” also for the high priest, of light blue,
and elaborately wrought round the bottom in pome-
granates ; and the plain ephods for the priests.
But now the sun was declining in the western sky,
and the busy artificers of all sorts were relaxing
from the toil of the day.
In a retired spot, apart from the noise of the
camp, paced one in solitary meditation. Stalwart
he was in frame, majestic in bearing; he trod the
earth like one of her princes; but the loftiness of his