Exodus 40:18 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

Bible Comments

Moses... fastened his sockets. — The stability of the Tabernacle must have depended almost entirely upon the sockets. These were of some considerable weight (Exodus 38:27), but they cannot by their mere weight have sustained the fabric in an upright position. It is reasonable to suppose that they were let into the ground to a depth of some feet. The erection necessarily commenced with this operation.

Set up the boards. — When the sockets had been firmly fixed, the upright boards and tiie pillars were inserted into them by means of the “tenons” in which they terminated, and so stood erect. The coupling by “bars” rivetted the three walls into one firm and compact structure.

Exodus 40:18

18 And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and fastened his sockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared up his pillars.