The Partition/Paroches. What Was In Front and In Back of It. The Entrance Screen.

G-d instructs a partition to be made, referred to as a Paroches. The kind partition which separates between a king and his people. The Paroches should be woven out of turquoise, purple and scarlet wool as well as twisted linen. Each strand of this Paroches should be made out of 6 strands of each of these materials stranded together. The Paroches should be woven in such a way that each side has a different image woven into it - of the supernal creatures surrounding G-d's throne on High (see also earlier in Shmos 26:1).

Four pillars made out of shittim wood covered in gold were to be inserted into four silver foundation sockets. Golden hooks (shaped like the Hebrew letter vav) were to be fixed into the tops of these four pillars. Into these hooks were placed poles upon which the Paroches was hung .

The Paroches was 10 cubits long (i.e. as wide as the Mishkan) and 10 cubits wide (i.e the height of the walls).

It was hung 1/ 3 of the way into the Mishkan from the back (i.e. west) so that from the back to the Paroches was 10 cubits and the Paroches to the front was 20 cubits.

The Ark was then to be placed behind the Paroches (towards the back) and its lid placed upon it. This area was what we know of as the Kodesh Kedoshim (Holy of Holies) which from here we learn was 10x10 cubits.

The Table (Shulchan), Menorah and golden alter should all be placed in front of the Paroches (i.e. outside of the Kodesh Kedoshim) 10 cubits from the entrance (i.e halfway through the Mishkan without counting the Kodesh Kedoshim). The Shulchan would be on the northern side, 2.5 cubits away from the northern wall and the Menorah opposite it on the southern side, 2.5 cubits away from the southern wall.

The golden alter was to be placed slightly in front of the Shulchan and the Menorah (i.e. towards the east).

They should make a protective screen for the entrance of the Mishkan. This screen should be embroidered* out of turquoise, purple and scarlet wool and twisted linen. It should be the same size as the Paroches, i.e. 10x10 cubits.

*Side note: So unlike the Paroches and the cover of the Mishkan which were woven, since this screen was embroidered the designs were identical in the front and in back.

**Another side note: The word used for "embroiderer" in the text is רקם (i.e. Rokem). Rashi explains that this is not the typical word used to describe this profession, thus it is naming a specific embroidery artist.

This screen should be hung from 5 golden hooks attached to 5 pillars of shittim wood covered in gold, inserted into 5 copper foundation sockets.

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