Les Feldick Bible Study

Where were the seal (badger) skins used on the tabernacle?

The seal (badger) skins were used on the outside of the tabernacle tent. They served as an outer covering for the tabernacle structure, placed over the tent. The hides came from seawater animals called seals, not the North American badger, and were among the willingly given offerings for the tabernacle.

Les teaches that the badger skins mentioned in the offering list were actually seal skins, because the North American badger was not known in the Middle East. He explains that the hides of these seals were to be put on the outside of the little tabernacle tent, and he says he will point this out when they come to it. The skins were part of the materials the Israelites brought, along with gold, silver, brass, blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goat's hair, and ram skins dyed red. These materials came from Egypt, where God caused the Egyptians to give willingly of their wealth to the departing Israelites.

Exodus 26:14

And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers’ skins.

More Questions

What were the badger skins in the tabernacle actually made from?

The 'badger' skins of Exodus 25 were actually seal skins, because the North American badger is an animal not known in the Middle East.