Exodus 37

1 And Bezaleel made the ark [of] shittim wood: two cubits and a half [was] the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the hight of it:
2 And he overlaid it with pure gold within and without, and made a crown of gold to it round about.
3 And he cast for it four rings of gold, [to be set] by the four corners of it; even two rings upon the one side of it, and two rings upon the other side of it.
4 And he made staffs [of] shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.
5 And he put the staffs into the rings by the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.
6 And he made the mercy-seat [of] pure gold: two cubits and a half [was] the length of it, and one cubit and a half the breadth of it.
7 And he made two cherubim [of] gold, beaten out of one piece he made them, on the two ends of the mercy-seat;
8 One cherub on the end on this side, and another cherub on the [other] end on that side: out of the mercy-seat made he the cherubim on the two ends of it.
9 And the cherubim spread out [their] wings on high, [and] covered with their wings over the mercy-seat, with their faces one to another; [even] towards the mercy-seat were the faces of the cherubim.
10 And he made the table [of] shittim wood: two cubits [was] its length, and a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its hight:
11 And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made to it a crown of gold round about.
12 Also he made to it a border of a hand-breadth round about; and made a crown of gold for its border round about.
13 And he cast for it four rings of gold, and put the rings upon the four corners that [were] in its four feet.
14 Over against the border were the rings, the places for the staffs, to bear the table.
15 And he made the staffs [of] shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold, to bear the table.
16 And he made the vessels which [were] upon the table, its dishes, and its spoons, and its bowls, and its covers to cover with, [of] pure gold.
17 And he made the candlestick of pure gold; [of] beaten work he made the candlestick; its shaft, and its branch, its bowls, its knobs, and its flowers were of the same:
18 And six branches proceeding from its sides; three branches of the candlestick from the one side of it, and three branches of the candlestick from the other side of it.
19 Three bowls made after the fashion of almonds in one branch, a knob and a flower; and three bowls made like almonds in another branch, a knob and a flower: so throughout the six branches proceeding from the candlestick.
20 And in the candlestick [were] four bowls made like almonds, its knobs, and its flowers:
21 And a knob under two branches of the same, and a knob under two branches of the same, and a knob under two branches of the same, according to the six branches proceeding from it.
22 Their knobs and their branches were of the same: all of it [was] one beaten work [of] pure gold.
23 And he made its seven lamps, and its snuffers, and its snuff-dishes, [of] pure gold.
24 [Of] a talent of pure gold he made it, and all its vessels.
25 And he made the incense-altar [of] shittim wood: the length of it [was] a cubit, and the breadth of it a cubit; [it was] foursquare; and two cubits [was] the hight of it; the horns of it were of the same.
26 And he overlaid it with pure gold, [both] the top of it, and its sides round about, and its horns: also he made to it a crown of gold round about.
27 And he made two rings of gold for it under its crown, by the two corners of it, upon its two sides, to be places for the staffs to bear it with.
28 And he made the staffs [of] shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.
29 And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary.

Exodus 37 Commentary

Chapter 37

The making of the ark, and the furniture of the tabernacle.

- In the furniture of the tabernacle were emblems of a spiritual and acceptable service. The incense represented the prayers of the saints. The sacrifice of the alter represented the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. The golden pot with manna, or bread from heaven, the flesh of Jesus Christ, which he gave for the life of the world. The candlestick, with its lights, the teaching and enlightening of the Holy Spirit. The shew-bread represented that provision for those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, which the gospel, the ordinances and the sacraments of the house of prayer, abundantly bestow. The exactness of the workmen to their rule, should be followed by us; seeking for the influences of the Holy Spirit, that we may rejoice in and glorify God while in this world, and at length be with him for ever.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 37

This chapter continues the account of the making of the tabernacle, and the furniture of it, particularly the ark, mercy seat, and cherubim, Ex 37:1-9 the shewbread table, and what appertained to that, Ex 37:10-16 the candlestick, and all the vessels of it, Ex 37:17-24 and the altar of incense, together with the anointing oil, and pure incense, Ex 37:25-29.

because he gave his mind to this work more than the rest of the wise men, it is called by his name. It is a notion of some Jewish writers that the ark was made by Bezaleel, without the help of others; but there is no sufficient reason to be given for it; for other things are equally ascribed to him in this and the following chapter, as the mercy seat with the cherubim, the shewbread table, the candlestick of pure gold, the two altars, the laver of brass, with other things, which are only said to be made by him, because they were made by his direction, and he having the oversight of them while making; wherefore Aben Ezra observes, that this is particularly said for the glory of the ark. Of the ark, and all other things mentioned in this chapter, \\see Gill on "Ex 25:1"\\ &c. to end of chapter, \\see Gill on "Ex 30:1"\\ &c. to end of chapter. 10564-941108-1324-Ex37.2

Exodus 37 Commentaries

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