Exodus 38:1-8

Making the Bronze Altar and the Basin

1 And he made the burnt-offering altar of acacia wood; its length [was] five cubits, and its width [was] five cubits--[it was] square--and its height [was] three cubits.

2 And he made its horns on its four corners; its horns were {of one piece with it}; and he overlaid it [with] bronze.

3 And he made all the equipment of the altar--the pots and the shovels and the sprinkling bowls and the forks and the fire pans--all its equipment he made [with] bronze.

4 And he made for the altar a grating, a work of bronze network under its ledge, below, up to its middle.

5 And he cast four rings on the four ends of the bronze grating [as] {holders} for the poles.

6 And he made the poles of acacia wood, and he overlaid them [with] bronze.

7 And he put the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar to carry it with them. He made it hollow with boards.

8 And he made the basin of bronze and its stand of bronze from the mirrors of the serving women who served [at] the entrance of the tent of assembly.

Exodus 38:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 38

This chapter is a continuation of the account of the making of the things belonging to the tabernacle, particularly the altar of burnt offering, Ex 38:1-7 the laver of brass, and the things it was made of, Ex 38:8 the court and its hangings, pillars, sockets, hooks and pins, Ex 38:9-20 then follows an account of the quantities of gold, silver, and brass, expended in the making of the several things appertaining to the sanctuary, Ex 38:21-31.

Bezaleel made it, or it was made by his direction, he having the care and oversight of it, wherefore the making of it is ascribed to him, 2Ch 1:5 the account of this, its horns, vessels, rings, and staves, is carried on to Ex 38:2-7 of which \\see Gill on "Ex 27:1"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:2"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:3"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:4"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:5"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:6"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:7"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:8"\\. 10593-941108-1338-Ex38.2

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "from it"
• [b]. 1 Samuel 2:13 mentions a fork with "three teeth" used by priests
• [c]. Literally "houses"