ckets, as is
said, "two sockets under one board for its two tenons."(595) The pins
extended from the boards two and two, to every one which was inserted, the
positive into the negative, as it is said,(596) "Set in order one against
the other." The words of Rabbi Nehemiah, when Rabbi Nehemiah said, "there
is no meaning in saying, 'set in order.' " "And what is meant by set in
order?" "It is meant that there should be made for them rungs like an
Egyptian ladder." There was cut out from the board above a finger-breadth
from one side, and a finger-breadth from the other side, and they were put
into the golden ring, that they should not separate one from the other, as
is said, "And they shall be coupled together beneath, and they shall be
coupled together above the head of it unto one ring."(597) There is no
meaning in saying, "unto one ring," and what is meant by saying, "unto one
ring?" "The place where the bar was put in, and every board had in it two
rings of gold, one above, and one below; in them were put in the bars."
And there were two upper bars, and two lower (bars) on the south side; the
length of each of them was fifteen cubits. It follows that two were in
length thirty cubits against twenty boards, and the middle (bar) was in
length thirty cubits against twenty boards, which was inserted in the
middle of the boards from east to west, as is said, "And the middle bar in
the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end."(598) As the boards
were made in the south, so the boards were made in the north, but in the
west they were not so; but the length of the upper bar and the lower one
was six cubits against four boards, and the middle (bar), twelve cubits
against eight boards. And the boards, and the bars, and the pillars, and
the sockets, the place of the thickness of the boards were overlaid with
gold, as is said, "And the boards thou shalt overlay with gold."(599) "The
places for the bars," there is no meaning in saying, "places for the
bars"; and what is the meaning of saying, "places for the bars"? "The
place where the bar entered the boards." "And the bars themselves shall be
overlaid with gold."(600) "How was it done?" "Two pipes of gold were
introduced--the length of each of them was a cubit and a half; and they
were put into the hole of the board, the place where the bars were put
in."

Chapter II

"How was the tabernacle covered?" "There were provided ten curtains of
blue, of purple, and scarlet,