Badger
The Translation Mystery
Few biblical translation questions have generated more debate than the identity of the animal behind the Hebrew word tachash. The King James Version translates it as "badger," while other versions offer "sealskin," "porpoise-skin," "fine leather," or simply "durable leather." The word appears primarily in the instructions for building the tabernacle, where tachash skins served as the outermost protective covering (Exodus 25:5; 26:14; 36:19), and in Ezekiel's allegory of Jerusalem, where God is said to have shod the city with tachash skin sandals (Ezekiel 16:10).
The Tabernacle Covering
The tachash skins formed the outermost layer of the tabernacle's four-layer covering system. Beneath them lay a covering of ram skins dyed red, then goat hair curtains, and finally the inner linen curtains embroidered with cherubim (Exodus 26:1-14). As the outer layer, the tachash covering needed to be tough, weather-resistant, and durable enough to protect the sacred structure during Israel's wilderness travels. This practical requirement has guided modern efforts to identify the animal.
The skins were valuable enough to be listed among the materials the Israelites contributed for the tabernacle's construction (Exodus 25:5; 35:7, 23). During travel, the priests used tachash skins to wrap sacred objects including the ark of the covenant, the table of showbread, the lampstand, and the altar (Numbers 4:6-14).
Candidates for Identification
Several animals have been proposed as the source of tachash skins. The European badger, favored by the KJV translators and supported by some Talmudic scholars, faces a significant objection: badgers are not native to the Sinai Peninsula or Egypt, making their skins unlikely to have been available in large quantities during the wilderness period.
The dugong, a large marine mammal found in the Red Sea, is perhaps the most popular modern identification. The Arabic word tukhas or dukhas is phonetically similar to the Hebrew tachash and is applied to the dugong or dolphin. Arab Bedouin of the Sinai region have traditionally used dugong skin for sandals, which connects well with the reference in Ezekiel 16:10. The dugong can reach 5-9 feet in length and has tough, durable hide.
Other candidates include the common dolphin, the porpoise, and the Mediterranean monk seal, all of which inhabit the waters bordering Egypt and Sinai. Each would have provided durable, water-resistant hides suitable for protecting the tabernacle.
Significance for Worship
Regardless of the precise animal, the tachash covering carries important symbolic weight. The tabernacle's outer covering was deliberately plain and utilitarian, protecting the extraordinary beauty within. The finest artistry — the embroidered cherubim, the gold-covered furniture, the intricate lampstand — was hidden from public view beneath this rough, durable exterior. This design choice communicated that the glory of God's dwelling was not for outward display but for intimate encounter.
The use of tachash skins to individually wrap each sacred object during transport (Numbers 4:6-14) further emphasizes the theme of protecting holy things. The ordinary concealed the extraordinary, just as God's presence dwelt among a nomadic people in a portable tent rather than a grand temple.
The Sandals of Ezekiel
In Ezekiel's extended allegory of God's love for Jerusalem, the Lord says, "I shod you with tachash" (Ezekiel 16:10). This detail places tachash leather among luxurious gifts including fine linen, silk, and embroidered garments. If the skins were from a marine animal, they would have been an imported luxury in an inland city like Jerusalem, adding to the extravagance of God's provision for His beloved people. The passage transforms a material used for the tabernacle's humblest covering into a symbol of divine generosity.
Biblical Context
The Hebrew word tachash appears in the tabernacle construction narratives (Exodus 25:5; 26:14; 35:7, 23; 36:19), in the instructions for transporting sacred objects (Numbers 4:6-14), and in Ezekiel's allegory of Jerusalem (Ezekiel 16:10). In every case, tachash skins are associated with protection, covering, and the care of holy things.
Theological Significance
The tachash covering illustrates the biblical principle that God's glory is often concealed beneath humble appearances. The tabernacle's outer covering was plain and functional, hiding the magnificent artistry within. This pattern of hidden glory recurs throughout Scripture, culminating in the incarnation, where divine majesty was veiled in human flesh. The careful wrapping of sacred objects in tachash skins during transport also teaches reverence for holy things.
Historical Background
The identification of the tachash remains uncertain. The KJV rendering 'badger' follows certain Talmudic interpretations, but the European badger is not native to Sinai or Egypt. Modern scholars generally favor a marine animal: the dugong, dolphin, porpoise, or seal, all found in the Red Sea and Mediterranean. The Arabic word tukhas, applied to the dugong or dolphin, is phonetically close to the Hebrew tachash. Bedouin of the Sinai Peninsula traditionally used dugong skin for sandals, matching the description in Ezekiel 16:10.