Rams' Skins
Rams' Skins in the Bible
Rams' skins are mentioned repeatedly in the book of Exodus as one of the materials used in constructing the tabernacle, Israel's portable place of worship in the wilderness. God specifically instructed Moses to include "rams' skins dyed red" among the offerings the people were to bring for the tabernacle's construction (Exodus 25:5). These skins formed one of the protective outer layers of the tabernacle structure.
The Tabernacle Coverings
The tabernacle had multiple layers of covering over its wooden framework. According to Exodus 26:14, the rams' skins dyed red were placed over the inner curtains of goat hair, forming the third layer. Above the rams' skins was an additional covering of fine leather (sometimes translated as "porpoise skins" or "badger skins"). This layered construction provided weatherproofing and protection for the holy space within, where God's presence dwelt among His people.
The People's Offering
The materials for the tabernacle came from the voluntary contributions of the Israelites. Exodus 35:7 lists rams' skins dyed red among the items the people brought willingly. The response was so generous that Moses eventually had to restrain the people from giving more (Exodus 36:6). The fact that the Israelites possessed these materials in the wilderness likely reflects the spoils they took from Egypt at the time of the Exodus (Exodus 12:36).
The Dyeing Process
The red dye used on rams' skins was significant both practically and symbolically. Ancient leather workers used various substances to produce red coloring, including plant-based tannins and mineral compounds. The red color was visually striking and durable. In the biblical context, the color red naturally evokes associations with blood and sacrifice, connecting the tabernacle's very covering to the atoning sacrifices performed within it.
Rams' Skins in Daily Life
Beyond the tabernacle, rams' skins were common in everyday life throughout the ancient Near East. Shepherds and peasants wore roughly tanned sheepskins as winter garments, with the wool left on for warmth. Hebrews 11:37 describes persecuted people of faith who "went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated." The ram's skin thus served as both a practical garment for the poor and a sacred material for the house of God.
Symbolic Significance
The use of rams' skins in the tabernacle carries rich symbolic meaning. The ram was a common sacrificial animal, most memorably provided by God as a substitute for Isaac on Mount Moriah (Genesis 22:13). The covering of God's dwelling place with the skins of sacrificial animals pointed forward to the ultimate sacrifice that would provide covering for human sin. Just as the rams' skins protected the tabernacle from the elements, so the sacrificial system provided a covering for the people's sins before a holy God.
Biblical Context
Rams' skins dyed red are mentioned in Exodus 25:5, 26:14, 35:7, 35:23, 36:19, and 39:34 as materials for the tabernacle coverings. Hebrews 11:37 references sheepskins worn by persecuted believers. The ram as a sacrificial animal connects these skins to the broader theme of atonement.
Theological Significance
Rams' skins covering the tabernacle symbolize the connection between sacrifice and God's dwelling among His people. The skins of slain animals protecting the sacred space point to the necessity of blood atonement for approaching a holy God. This foreshadows Christ's sacrifice, which provides the ultimate covering for sin.
Historical Background
Leather working was one of the oldest crafts in the ancient Near East. Tanning processes using plant materials and mineral compounds were well developed by the second millennium BC. Archaeological evidence from Egypt shows sophisticated leather dyeing techniques, consistent with the Israelites' ability to produce red-dyed rams' skins after their departure from Egypt.