שמות, פרק כ״ו, פסוק י״ז

Building a portable sanctuary in the desert required precise architectural planning to ensure the heavy wooden boards remained stable, would not collapse, and could be easily assembled and taken apart. To achieve this, a specific connection mechanism was designed for the base of the boards and the sockets they stood on. At the bottom of every board, two peg-like extensions protruded. These extensions were inserted into hollow silver sockets, which acted as bases. This design kept the wood from touching the ground and rotting, while also reinforcing the entire structure [רלב״ג, קאסוטו]. Two extensions were carved into each board rather than just one to keep the board from spinning on a single axis like a door, locking it firmly in place with absolute stability [קאסוטו].

The primary approach among commentators is that the bottom center of each board was cut out, leaving two protrusions on the outer edges [רשב״ם, ביאור יש״ר]. Additionally, the sides of these extensions were carved down and thinned. This allowed the main, wide body of the board to completely cover the top edge of the silver socket. By hiding the thickness of the sockets, the boards could stand flush against one another without any gaps forming between them [רש״י, חזקוני, שפתי חכמים]. While some scholars calculate the exact fractions of a cubit required for these cuts [רש״י, הדר זקנים, מלבי״ם], others maintain that absolute measurements were not dictated for these grooves; instead, they were simply carved to match the specific thickness of the socket edges [רמב״ן].

Regarding how the boards and extensions were joined together, there are two main perspectives. One approach suggests the extensions resembled the parallel rungs of a ladder. Carved to perfectly align with one another, these extensions slid smoothly into the hollow sockets. This precise, parallel alignment ensured the boards stood perfectly straight, without leaning inward or outward [רש״י, רשב״ם, רלב״ג, ביאור יש״ר, קאסוטו]. A second approach views the connection horizontally rather than vertically. In this view, the boards were locked together side-by-side using a male-and-female joint system. Wooden pins extended from the side of one board and fit tightly into matching holes on the adjacent board, linking them into a single, continuous, and solid wall [רמב״ן, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

To ensure uniformity across the entire Tabernacle, the very first board that was cut served as the master architectural prototype. Every subsequent board was crafted to match its precise measurements and design [העמק דבר].