Exodus 25:5

“And rams’ skins died red, etc.] Of these were made a covering for the tent or tabernacle: and badgers’ skins, which were for the same use: the Septuagint version calls them hyacinth or blue skins; according to which, they seem to be the rams’ skins died blue; and so Josephus f750 seems to have understood it; and it is much questionable whether the same creature is meant we call the badger, since that with the Israelites was an unclean creature; nor is its skin made use of for shoes, or well could be, as the skin of this creature is said to be, (<261610>Ezekiel 16:10). Jarchi says it was a kind of beast only at that time; and Aben Ezra says, it was known in those days but not now: and shittim…”

“badgers' skins--The badger was an unclean animal, and is not a native of the East--rather some kind of fish, of the leather of which sandals are made in the East. [See on Exo 39:34 and Eze 16:10.] shittim wood--or Shittah (Isa 41:19), the acacia, a shrub which grows plentifully in the deserts of Arabia, yielding a light, strong, and beautiful wood, in long planks.”

“Yahweh had redeemed the Israelites from bondage. He had made a covenant with them and had given them laws. He had promised, on condition of their obedience, to accept them as His own “peculiar treasure,” as “a kingdom of priests and an holy nation” Exodus 19:5-6. And now He was ready visibly to testify that He made his abode with them. He claimed to have a dwelling for Himself, which was to be in external form a tent of goats’ hair Exodus 19:4, to take its place among their own tents, and formed out of the same material (see Exodus 26:7 note). The special mark of His presence within the tent was to be the ark or chest containing the Ten Commandments on two tables of stone Exodus 31:18,…”

“Shittim - wood - A kind of wood growing in Egypt and the deserts of Arabia, very durable and precious. Exodus 25:8”

“Exo 26:14 shittim wood: Exo 26:15, Exo 26:26, Exo 26:37, Exo 27:1, Exo 36:20 Exodus 25:6”