The term "badger" appears in the context of the construction of the Tabernacle in the wilderness, as described in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word often translated as "badger" is "tachash," which has been the subject of much debate among scholars and translators. In the Berean Standard Bible, the term is rendered as "fine leather" or "durable leather," reflecting the uncertainty about the exact animal or material referenced.

Biblical References:

1. Exodus 25:5 : "ram skins dyed red and fine leather; acacia wood." This verse lists materials to be used in the construction of the Tabernacle, with "fine leather" being one of the coverings.

2. Exodus 26:14 : "Also make for the tent a covering of ram skins dyed red, and over that a covering of fine leather." Here, the "fine leather" serves as an outer protective layer for the Tabernacle, indicating its importance in safeguarding the sacred space.

3. Numbers 4:6 : "Then they are to cover it with fine leather, spread a cloth of solid blue over it, and insert its poles." This instruction pertains to the transportation of the Ark of the Covenant, emphasizing the use of "fine leather" for protection during movement.

Interpretation and Significance:

The use of "tachash" or "fine leather" in the construction of the Tabernacle underscores the importance of durability and protection in the sacred architecture. The material's role as an outer covering suggests a need for resilience against the harsh desert environment, symbolizing God's provision and care for His dwelling place among the Israelites.

The ambiguity surrounding the exact nature of "tachash" has led to various interpretations. Some suggest it could refer to a marine animal, such as a dolphin or porpoise, given the Israelites' proximity to the Red Sea. Others propose it might be a type of antelope or a now-extinct creature. Despite the uncertainty, the emphasis remains on the quality and protective function of the material.

Theological Implications:

From a theological perspective, the use of "fine leather" in the Tabernacle construction can be seen as a reflection of God's desire for beauty and excellence in worship. The meticulous instructions for the Tabernacle's materials and construction highlight the holiness and reverence due to God. The protective nature of the "fine leather" covering also symbolizes God's safeguarding presence over His people and His dwelling place.

In the broader narrative of Scripture, the Tabernacle serves as a precursor to the Temple and ultimately points to the incarnation of Christ, who "tabernacled" among us (John 1:14). The materials used, including the "fine leather," contribute to this rich tapestry of symbolism, illustrating God's unfolding plan of redemption and His desire to dwell with His people.Badger

A small inoffensive animal, of the bear genus, which remains torpid all winter. It is an inhabitant of cold countries, and is not found in Palestine. Hence many think the "badgers' skins" mentioned Exodus 25:5; 26:14; Ezekiel 16:10, and elsewhere, as being used for covering the tabernacle and for shoes, were the skins not of this animal, but of a species of seal found in the Red Sea. Burckhardt remarks that he "saw parts of the skin of a large fish, killed on the coast, which was an inch in thickness, and is employed by the Arabs instead of leather for sandals." Others think it was an animal of the antelope species, the skins of which the Jews had obtained in Egypt.

This word is found in Exodus 25:5; 26:14; 35:7, 23; 36:19; 39:34; Numbers 4:6, etc. The tabernacle was covered with badgers' skins; the shoes of women were also made of them (Ezek. 16:10). Our translators seem to have been misled by the similarity in sound of the Hebrew tachash_ and the Latin _taxus, "a badger." The revisers have correctly substituted "seal skins." The Arabs of the Sinaitic peninsula apply the name tucash to the seals and dugongs which are common in the Red Sea, and the skins of which are largely used as leather and for sandals. Though the badger is common in Palestine, and might occur in the wilderness, its small hide would have been useless as a tent covering. The dugong, very plentiful in the shallow waters on the shores of the Red Sea, is a marine animal from 12 to 30 feet long, something between a whale and a seal, never leaving the water, but very easily caught. It grazes on seaweed, and is known by naturalists as Halicore tabernaculi. 1. (v.) To pester, bother

2. (n.) A carnivorous quadruped of the genus Meles or of an allied genus. It is a burrowing animal, with short, thick legs, and long claws on the fore feet. One species (M. vulgaris), called also brock, inhabits the north of Europe and Asia; another species (Taxidea Americana / Labradorica) inhabits the northern parts of North America. See Teledu.

3. (n.) A brush made of badgers' hair, used by artists.

4. (v. t.) To tease or annoy, as a badger when baited; to worry or irritate persistently.

5. (v. t.) To beat down; to cheapen; to barter; to bargain.

BADGER

baj'er: tachash: The word tachash occurs in the descriptions of the tabernacle in Exodus 25; Exodus 26; Exodus 26 35; 36; 39, in the directions for moving the tabernacle as given in Numbers 4, and in only one other passage, Ezekiel 16:10, where Jerusalem is spoken of as a maiden clothed and adorned by her Lord. In nearly all these passages the word tachash occurs with `or, "skin," rendered: the King James Version "badgers' skins," the Revised Version (British and American) "sealskin," the Revised Version, margin "porpoise-skin," Septuagint dermata huakinthina. In all the passages cited in Exodus and Numbers these skins are mentioned as being used for coverings of the tabernacle; in Ezekiel 16:10, for shoes or sandals. The Septuagint rendering would mean purple or blue skins, which however is not favored by Talmudic writers or by modern grammarians, who incline to believe that tachash is the name of an animal. The rendering, "badger," is favored by the Talmudic writers and by the possible etymological connection of the word with the Latin taxus and the German Dachs. The main objection seems to be that badgers' skins would probably not have been easily available to the Israelites. The badger, Meles taxus, while fairly abundant in Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon, does not seem to occur in Sinai or Egypt.

A seal, Monachus albiventer (Arabic fukmeh), the porpoise, Phocoena comrnunis, and the common dolphin, Delphinus delphis, are all found in the Mediterranean. The dugong, Halicore dugong, inhabits the Indian Ocean and adjoining waters from the Red Sea to Australia. The Arabic tukhas or dukhas is near to tachash and is applied to the dolphin, which is also called delfin. It may be used also for the porpoise or even the seal, and is said by Tristram and others to be applied to the dugong. The statement of Gesenius (Boston, 1850, under the word "tachash") that the Arabs of Sinai wear sandals of dugong skin is confirmed by recent travelers, and is of interest with reference to Ezekiel 16:10, ". shod thee with badgers' skin" (King James Version). The dugong is a marine animal from 5 to 9 ft. in length, frequenting the shore and feeding upon seaweed. It belongs to the order Sirenia. While outwardly resembling Cetacea (whales and porpoises), the Sirenia are really more allied to the Ungulata, or hoofed animals. The dugong of the Indian Ocean and the manatee of the Atlantic and of certain rivers of Africa and South America, are the only living representatives of the Sirenia. A third species, the sea-cow of Behring Sea, became extinct in the 18th century. The seal and porpoise of the Revised Version (British and American), the dolphin, and the dugong are all of about the same size and all inhabit the seas bordering on Egypt and Sinai, so that all are possible candidates for identification with the tachash. Of the four, recent opinion seems most to favor the dugong.

Mr. S. M. Perlmann has suggested (Zoologist, set. 4, XII, 256, 1908) that the okapi is the animal indicated by tachash.

Gesenius (Leipzig, 1905) cites Bondi (Aegyptiaca, i.ff) who adduces the Egyptian root t-ch-s and makes the expression `or tachash mean "soft-dressed skin." This suits the context in every passage and is very promising explanation.

Alfred Ely-Day

8476. tachash -- perhaps porpoise (a kind of leather or skin)
... Tahrea. Probably of foreign derivation; a (clean) animal with fur, probably a species
of antelope -- badger. 8475, 8476. tachash. 8477 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/8476.htm - 6k

8477. Tachash -- a son of Nahor
... badger. The same as tachash; Tachash, a relative of Abraham -- Thahash. see HEBREW
tachash. 8476, 8477. Tachash. 8478 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/8477.htm - 6k

Elucidations.
... He was the first bishop of the people now called "Nestorians," but whom Dr.
Badger [4281] prefers to call "the Christians of Assyria.". ...
//christianbookshelf.org/various/early liturgies/elucidations.htm

The Liturgy of the Blessed Apostles.
... [But the Malabar Liturgy and Dr. Badger's translation insert before this,
according to Hammond, the Sanctus Deus, Sanctus fortis, etc.]. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/various/early liturgies/the liturgy of the blessed.htm

Methodist Book Concern
... Though Mr. Badger was the editor of this paper, yet the editorial matter was chiefly
furnished by the senior editor of the establishment, even before he was ...
/.../chapter 16 methodist book concern.htm

The Eastern Sects: Nestorians, Jacobites, Copts, Armenians.
... Lond.1846. Geo. Percy Badger: The Nestorians and their Rituals, Illustrated
(with colored plates), 2 vols. Lond.1852. H. Newcomb ...
/.../ 21 the eastern sects .htm

June 14. "The Secret of the Lord is with them that Fear Him" (Ps. ...
... The costly things were all within, and its outward covering of rough badger
skin gave no hint of the valuable things which it contained. ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /june 14 the secret of.htm

Obedience
... Matthew 23:23. The badger has one foot shorter than the other; so these
are shorter in some duties than in others. God likes not ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/the ten commandments/1 1 obedience.htm

The Contemptuous Rejection.
... The most that their minds, steeped in jealousies and rivalries, ever watching with
badger eyes to undercut some one else, could see, was a rivalry between ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks about jesus/the contemptuous rejection.htm

How to Tell a Story
... Untold treasures are in our hands. We are doing the very best we can.
Don't badger us. Keep silence, and we'll get you safe across.". ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kleiser/talks on talking/how to tell a story.htm

The Evolution of a Father
... and, in Asiatic Russia, in September or October; the wild Yak in Tibet in September;
the reindeer in Norway at the end of September; the badger in October; the ...
/.../the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/chapter ix the evolution of.htm

The Assumption of Moses
... As for the word "Taxo," it is probably the Low-Latin word meaning "a badger,"
equivalent to the Hebrew ths, tachash, which is very similar to the German "Dachs ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the assumption of moses.htm

Badger (9 Occurrences)
... Our translators seem to have been misled by the similarity in sound of the Hebrew
tachash_ and the Latin _taxus, "a badger." The revisers have correctly ...BADGER. ...
/b/badger.htm - 14k

Rock-badger (2 Occurrences)
Rock-badger. Rockbadger, Rock-badger. Rock-badgers . Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia ROCK-BADGER. r.-baj'-er: This term ...
/r/rock-badger.htm - 7k

Badger's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Badger's (1 Occurrence). Ezekiel 16:10 And I
clothe thee with embroidery, And I shoe thee with badger's...
/b/badger's.htm - 6k

Badgers (16 Occurrences)

/b/badgers.htm - 11k

Zoology
... a) Felidae, Cat, Lion, Leopard (b) Hyaenidae, Hyena (c) Canidae, Dog (including
Greyhound), Fox, Jackal, Wolf (d) Mustelidae, Ferret, Badger, Marten (sv CAT) (e ...
/z/zoology.htm - 18k

Rockbadger
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ROCK-BADGER. r.-baj'-er: This term is found
in the Revised Version margin for "coney," shaphan (Leviticus ...
/r/rockbadger.htm - 6k

Garment (143 Occurrences)
... Numbers 4:6 and have put on it a covering of badger skin, and have spread a garment
completely of blue above, and have placed its staves. (YLT). ...
/g/garment.htm - 37k

Hoofs (18 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 11:5 and the rock-badger, for it cheweth the cud, but hath not
cloven hoofs it shall be unclean unto you; (DBY). Leviticus ...
/h/hoofs.htm - 12k

Covered (325 Occurrences)
... Numbers 4:8 and they have spread over them a garment of scarlet, and have covered
it with a covering of badger skin, and have placed its staves, (YLT). ...
/c/covered.htm - 37k

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