Exodus 25:10-40

The Ark of the Covenant

10 "Have them make a chest out of acacia wood. Make it three feet nine inches long and two feet three inches wide and high.
11 Cover it inside and outside with pure gold. Put a strip of gold around it.
12 "Make four gold rings for it. Join them to its four bottom corners. Put two rings on one side and two rings on the other.
13 "Then make poles out of acacia wood. Cover them with gold.
14 Put the poles through the rings on the sides of the chest to carry it.
15 The poles must remain in the rings of the chest. Do not remove them.
16 I will give you the tablets of the covenant. When I do, put them into the chest.
17 "Make its cover out of pure gold. The cover is the place where sin will be paid for. Make it three feet nine inches long and two feet three inches wide.
18 "Make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover.
19 Put one cherub on each end of it. Make the cherubim as part of the cover itself.
20 The cherubim must have their wings spread up over the cover. The cherubim must face each other and look toward the cover.
21 "Place the cover on top of the chest. I will give you the tablets of the covenant. Put them into the chest.
22 "The chest is the ark where the tablets of the covenant are kept. I will meet with you above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark. There I will give you all of my commands for the people of Israel.

The Table for the Holy Bread

23 "Make a table out of acacia wood. Make it three feet long, one foot six inches wide and two feet three inches high.
24 Cover it with pure gold. Put a strip of gold around it.
25 Also make a rim around it that is three inches wide. Put a strip of gold around the rim.
26 "Make four gold rings for the table. Join them to the four corners, where the four legs are.
27 The rings must be close to the rim. They must hold the poles that will be used to carry the table.
28 "Make the poles out of acacia wood. Cover them with gold. Use them to carry the table.
29 "Make its plates and dishes out of pure gold. Also make its pitchers and bowls out of pure gold. Use the pitchers and bowls to pour out drink offerings.
30 "Put the holy bread on the table. It must be near my holy throne on the ark of the covenant at all times.

The Gold Lampstand

31 "Make a lampstand out of pure gold. Hammer out its base and stem. Its buds, blooms and cups must branch out from it.
32 "Six branches must come out from the sides of the lampstand. Make three on one side and three on the other.
33 On one branch make three cups that are shaped like almond flowers with buds and blooms. Then put three on the next branch. Do the same with all six branches that come out from the lampstand.
34 "On the lampstand there must be four cups that are shaped like almond flowers with buds and blooms.
35 One bud must be under the first pair of branches that come out from the lampstand. Put a second bud under the second pair. And put a third bud under the third pair. Make a total of six branches.
36 The buds and branches must come out from the lampstand. "The whole lampstand must be one piece that is hammered out of pure gold.
37 "Then make its seven lamps. Set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it.
38 The trays and wick cutters must be made out of pure gold.
39 Use 75 pounds of pure gold to make the lampstand and everything that is used with it.
40 "Be sure to make everything just like the pattern I showed you on the mountain.

Exodus 25:10-40 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 25

In this chapter an order is given for a freewill offering towards various things for the worship and service of God, and the materials to be offered, which would be useful and acceptable, are mentioned particularly, Ex 25:1-7, as also another order to build a sanctuary for God, after a model that he would give, Ex 25:8,9, and, an ark to put in the law on tables of stone, the fashion of which, and the various things belonging to it, are described, Ex 25:10-16, and a mercy seat with cherubim on it to be set over the ark, where the Lord promises to meet Moses and commune with him, Ex 25:17-22 and a table with various appurtenances to it to place the shewbread on, Ex 25:23-30 and a candlestick of gold, whose parts are described, and all the instruments relative to it, Ex 25:31-40.

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