Exodus 26:4

And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) From the selvedge in the coupling.—Rather, at the coupling. The selvedge, i.e., nearest to the place where the two curtains were to be coupled together.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

26:1-6 God manifested his presence among the Israelites in a tabernacle or tent, because of their condition in the wilderness. God suits the tokens of his favour, and the gifts of his grace, to his people's state and wants. The curtains of the tabernacle were to be very rich. They were to be embroidered with cherubim, signifying that the angels of God pitch their tents round about the church, Ps 34:7.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The meaning appears to be, "And thou shalt make loops of blue on the edge of the one breadth (which is) on the side (of the one curtain) at the coupling; and the same shalt thou do in the edge of the outside breadth of the other (curtain) at the coupling." The "coupling" is the uniting together of the two curtains: ("selvedge" is the translation of a word signifying extremity or end).

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

3. The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another, &c.—so as to form two grand divisions, each eleven yards wide.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Loops together with the taches were for the joining the curtains together, as appears from Exodus 26:11, which way of conjunction was most convenient for the often taking them down and setting them up.

From the selvage, or from, or in the extremity, or end, or edge, Heb. lip. In the coupling, i.e. in the place where the two curtains are coupled together. And likewise the second curtain is to be made exactly like the first.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And thou shall make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain,.... The first large curtain, consisting of five sewed together, at the edge of that:

from the selvedge in the coupling; where it was to be coupled with the other great curtain; "loops" or "eyelet holes" (h), were to be made: these were not wove with the curtains, for they were not to be upon all of them, only at the two outermost of the largest ones, and therefore were made afterwards, probably with the needle:

and likewise shall thou make in the uppermost edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second; loops also were to be made on the outermost edge of another curtain belonging to the second great curtain, where it was to be coupled with the first.

(h) "ocellos", Vatablus.

Geneva Study Bible

And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge {b} in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second.

(b) On the side that the curtains might be tied together.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4–6. These sets were to be coupled together so as to form a single large curtain 28 cubits (42 ft.) broad, and 40 cubits (60 ft.) long. The coupling was to be effected by 50 loops of violet tape being attached to one of the outer edges of each set, and fastened to the loop opposite to it by golden clasps.

4. from the selvedge, &c.] at the extremity.

in the (first) set] ‘Coupling’ = things coupled together, i.e. ‘set.’

4 end, 5b. coupling] set (RVm.).

6 and the Dwelling shall be one] it will be formed by one single curtain.

Exodus 26:4

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

They were also to make 50 hyacinth loops "on the border of the one piece of tapestry, from the end in the join," i.e., on the extreme edge of the five pieces that were sewed together; and the same "on the border of the last piece in the second joined tapestry." Thus there were to be fifty loops in each of the two large pieces, and these loops were to be מקבּילת "taking up the loops one the other;" that is to say, they were to be so made that the loops in the two pieces should exactly meet.