The white linen fence around the tabernacle was the outer boundary of the court, made of linen and standing about seven and a half feet high to keep the things of God from the view of the casual onlooker.
Les Feldick teaches that the fence, which was all around the outside of the tabernacle court, was high enough that nobody could simply look in. Its purpose was to keep all that was taking place within from the casual onlooker. Scripture records the court hangings as fine twined linen, five cubits high (Exodus 27:18).
Exodus 27:18 — This verse records that the court of the tabernacle was enclosed with hangings of fine twined linen five cubits high—matching the fence Les describes as keeping the tabernacle from the casual onlooker.
The book of Exodus describes the construction of the tabernacle court. The court itself was enclosed with hangings of fine twined linen. Exodus 27:9 states, "And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long for one side:" The entire court measured one hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide, with the hangings five cubits high, set in sockets of brass (Exodus 27:18). The gate of the court was a hanging of twenty cubits, made of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework (Exodus 27:16). Scripture provides the physical measurements and materials of the fence but does not in these passages assign a symbolic meaning to the linen fence itself.
Les Feldick teaches that the outer fence of the tabernacle was made of linen and enclosed the entire tabernacle court. He points out that the fence stood about 75 feet wide and about seven and a half feet high—high enough that nobody could simply look in. Its purpose was to keep all the things of God from the view of the casual onlooker. He also notes that the gate in the fence always faced east, and when Israel journeyed, the tribe of Judah led the way, even though Reuben was the oldest, because Reuben had sinned. Les does not, in these clips, assign a symbolic meaning such as "righteousness" to the fence itself. Instead, he emphasizes its function as a boundary that prevented casual observation. He does connect other elements of the tabernacle with symbolic meanings—such as the veil picturing the body of Christ and the acacia wood covered with gold speaking of Christ's humanity and deity.
According to Les Feldick, the outer fence was about 75 feet wide and about seven and a half feet high. It was made high enough that nobody could simply look in, and it was there to keep all the things of God from the view of the casual onlooker. The gate in the fence always faced east, with the tribe of Judah leading whenever Israel journeyed.
Les Feldick states that the outside fence was made of linen, just like the inside curtains of the tabernacle. The fence surrounded the whole outer court. Scripture records the court hangings as fine twined linen (Exodus 27:9, 18).
Les Feldick teaches that the tabernacle was always set with the door or gate in the outer fence set to the east. Whenever Israel journeyed, the tribe of Judah led the way, even though Reuben was the oldest, because Reuben had sinned and God brought Judah into that leading position.
Tabernacle Setup and Moving Timeline
Les notes from Numbers 10:11 that Israel only stayed about seven weeks after first setting up the tabernacle before God led them to move, showing the portable nature of the tabernacle.
The Outer Fence Was Linen
Les confirms the outside fence was made of linen, and he connects it with the inside linen curtains that were blue, purple, scarlet, and embroidered with cherubim.
The Linen Fence Around the Courts
Les identifies the linen fence as the outer boundary surrounding the tabernacle, then contrasts it with the goat's hair and ram-skin coverings over the acacia wood frame covered with gold.
What the Tabernacle Reveals About Christ Most People Miss
They were seal skins, which was a sea animal, and it was a real tough material, had no beauty to it, it was very plain, but it was also capable of withstanding the weather and the heat and the rain and so forth. Now that was the construction then of that little tent. Then, dividing it, of course, was, you all know what that was, what do we call it? The veil.
What Saves You? Head Knowledge vs. Heart Belief
Well, it was rent from the top to the bottom. Not from the bottom to the top, but from the top to the bottom, signifying that no man had anything to do with it. It was an act of God. But anyway, the veil back here in this little tent was that which separated the Holy of Holies from the main sanctuary. Verse 35 of chapter 36, "...
What the Tabernacle Reveals About Christ Most People Miss
Now then, as we see this frame, and I'm going to start with the inside first and then work out, because after all, that's probably the way they would construct it. After the wood frame was set up, then on the inside, that which we saw as they came in, was this beautiful hand-woven linen, and woven throughout it, not only were the colors again of the blue and the purple and the red and the white, w…
What the Tabernacle Reveals About Christ Most People Miss
Another thing, there was no windows within this whole complex, because who alone can be the light? God Himself or Christ, again, as the light of the world. So as you came in then to this sanctuary, now I think we'll go again to how this little building or this little tent was constructed.
Height and Purpose of the Outer Fence
Les explains the outer fence was about 75 feet wide and seven and a half feet high—high enough that nobody could simply look in—and that it kept all the tabernacle activities from the view of the casual onlooker.
Exodus 27:9: And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long for one side:
Shows that the court hangings, including the fence, were made of fine twined linen.
Exodus 27:16: And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework: and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four.
Describes the gate of the court, made of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen.
Exodus 27:18: The length of the court shall be an hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty every where, and the height five cubits of fine twined linen, and their sockets of brass.
Gives the height of the linen hangings as five cubits, the fence Les describes as keeping out casual onlookers.
Numbers 10:11: And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony.
Les cites this verse to show how soon Israel journeyed after setting up the tabernacle, illustrating the portable nature of the whole complex.
The white linen fence was the outer boundary of the tabernacle court. Les Feldick describes it as made of linen, about 75 feet wide and seven and a half feet high, and designed to keep the things of God from the view of the casual onlooker.
Les Feldick says the fence stood about seven and a half feet high—high enough that nobody could simply look in. Its purpose was to keep all that took place within the tabernacle court from the casual onlooker.
Scripture gives the physical description of the court hangings as fine twined linen, five cubits high (Exodus 27:18), but it does not assign a specific symbolic meaning. In the clip evidence, Les teaches the fence's function of separation from casual observers rather than a symbolic meaning.