Exodus 25:10-22

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.

Exodus 25:10-22 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.