Dolphin

This fish-like marine mammal is not mentioned in the Bible per se. Many modern scholars, however, believe that this is the correct identification of the Hebrew word tachash, being a cognate with an Arabic word for a porpoise found in the Red Sea. If this identification is correct then dolphin skin—turned into leather—was, in 13 of its 14 occurrences, the prescribed material for the construction of one of the coverings for the tabernacle (see, e.g., Exo 26:14; 36:19; 39:34). Eze 16, in depicting Yahweh's love for Israel, speaks of Yahweh finding Israel abandoned and thrown out in an open field and how Yahweh cared for her, including clothing her in embroidered dress and shod her in "leather" (tachash) sandals (v10). This suggests that the leather was a prized and high-value material.

NIV translates this word differently, using 'hides of sea cows' instead of 'dolphin/porpoise.' Sea cows, though not as common in the Mediterranean region, have been reported along the eastern coasts of the Red Sea. NKJ identifies it as 'badger skin'; the badger is not much reported in the Mediterranean region.