Verses 15-16 are practically identical with 26.8-9a. Verse 15 has no verb in the Hebrew, and neither does 26.8, so the context must determine the tense of the verbs was and had in place of “shall be” and “shall have” in 26.8.

He coupled replaces “you shall couple” in 26.9, but it is better to translate “they joined” (New International Version), using the plural instead of the singular he, on the basis of verse 8. Contemporary English Version translates this as “were joined,” again using the passive voice. Good News Translation‘s “they sewed five of them together” is the correct meaning.

The last part of 26.9 is not repeated here, probably because it simply involved the folding over the excess material when the tent was erected. This was not a detail for the construction but for the final assembly.

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .