Exodus 37:1-9

Making the Ark

1 Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood, 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high.^[a]

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

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

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

5 He inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark for carrying the ark.

6 He made a mercy seat of pure gold, 45 inches long and 27 inches wide.^[b]

7 He made two cherubim of gold; he made them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat,

8 one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end. He made the cherubim [of one piece] with the mercy seat, [a cherub] at each end.

9 They had wings spread out, covering the mercy seat with their wings and facing each other. The faces of the cherubim were looking toward the mercy seat.^[c]

Exodus 37:1-9 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

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit two and a half cubits its length, one and a half cubits its width, and one and a half cubits its height
• [b]. Lit two and a half cubits its length and one and a half cubits its width
• [c]. Ex 25:10-20