Exodus 25:5

Badgers’ skins. The Hebrew word here rendered “badger” seems to be a loan word from Egyptian, a term for a kind of leather from unspecified animals; it is also held to be related to an Arabic word for “seal,” particularly the dugong, or sea cow (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 347). This aquatic herbivorous animal, which is 10 to 12 ft. long, has around head, breasts for suckling its young, and a divided tail. It is often found among the coral rocks of the Red Sea. It is supposed that the dugong gave rise to the legendary mermaid. The “badger” skins formed the outer covering of the tabernacle.

Shittim wood. That is, acacia wood. It is hard, durable, and close-grained, and thus most suitable for cabinet work.