Exodus 37:1-21

The Ark

1 Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.^[a]

2 He overlaid it with pure gold, both inside and out, and made a gold molding around it.

3 He cast four gold rings for it and fastened them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other.

4 Then he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.

5 And he inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it.

6 He made the atonement cover of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.

7 Then he made two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover.

8 He made one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; at the two ends he made them of one piece with the cover.

9 The cherubim had their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the cover.

The Table

10 They^[b] made the table of acacia wood—two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high.^[c]

11 Then they overlaid it with pure gold and made a gold molding around it.

12 They also made around it a rim a handbreadth^[d] wide and put a gold molding on the rim.

13 They cast four gold rings for the table and fastened them to the four corners, where the four legs were.

14 The rings were put close to the rim to hold the poles used in carrying the table.

15 The poles for carrying the table were made of acacia wood and were overlaid with gold.

16 And they made from pure gold the articles for the table—its plates and dishes and bowls and its pitchers for the pouring out of drink offerings.

The Lampstand

17 They made the lampstand of pure gold. They hammered out its base and shaft, and made its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them.

18 Six branches extended from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other.

19 Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms were on one branch, three on the next branch and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand.

20 And on the lampstand were four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms.

21 One bud was under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair—six branches in all.

Exodus 37:1-21 Meaning and Commentary

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

Cross References

• 1. S Exodus 31:2
• 2. Exodus 30:6; Exodus 39:35; Deuteronomy 10:3
• 3. ver 11,26
• 4. S Exodus 26:34; S Exodus 31:7; Hebrews 9:5
• 5. Ezekiel 41:18
• 6. Hebrews 9:5
• 7. Deuteronomy 10:3
• 8. Hebrews 9:2
• 9. S ver 2
• 10. ver 27
• 11. Hebrews 9:2; Revelation 1:12

Footnotes

• [a]. That is, about 3 3/4 feet long and 2 1/4 feet wide and high or about 1.1 meters long and 68 centimeters wide and high; similarly in verse 6
• [b]. Or "He" ; also in verses 11-29
• [c]. That is, about 3 feet long, 1 1/2 feet wide and 2 1/4 feet high or about 90 centimeters long, 45 centimeters wide and 68 centimeters high
• [d]. That is, about 3 inches or about 7.5 centimeters