Exodus 37:1-9

Making the Ark of the Covenant

1 And Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits its length and a cubit and a half its width and a cubit and a half its height.

2 And he overlaid it [with] pure gold inside and outside, and he made for it a gold molding all around.

3 And he cast for it four gold rings on its four feet; and two rings were on its one side, and two rings were on its second side.

4 And he made poles of acacia wood, and he overlaid them [with] gold.

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

6 And he made an atonement cover of pure gold, two and a half cubits its length and a cubit and a half its width.

7 And he made two cherubim of gold; he made them of hammered work at the two ends of the atonement cover.

8 One cherub [was] {at one end}, and one cherub [was] {at the other end} of the atonement cover; he made the cherubim at its two ends.

9 And the cherubim were [with] outspread wings above, covering with their wings over the atonement cover {and facing each other}; the faces of the cherubim were toward the atonement cover.

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]. Literally "from end from this"
• [b]. Literally "from end from this"
• [c]. Literally "and their faces a man to his brother"