Exodus 25:8-40

8 “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.
9 Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.

The Ark

10 “Have them make an ark[a] of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.[b]
11 Overlay it with pure gold, both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it.
12 Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other.
13 Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.
14 Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it.
15 The poles are to remain in the rings of this ark; they are not to be removed.
16 Then put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law, which I will give you.
17 “Make an atonement cover of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.
18 And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover.
19 Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends.
20 The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover.
21 Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law that I will give you.
22 There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.

The Table

23 “Make a table of acacia wood—two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high.[c]
24 Overlay it with pure gold and make a gold molding around it.
25 Also make around it a rim a handbreadth[d] wide and put a gold molding on the rim.
26 Make four gold rings for the table and fasten them to the four corners, where the four legs are.
27 The rings are to be close to the rim to hold the poles used in carrying the table.
28 Make the poles of acacia wood, overlay them with gold and carry the table with them.
29 And make its plates and dishes of pure gold, as well as its pitchers and bowls for the pouring out of offerings.
30 Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before me at all times.

The Lampstand

31 “Make a lampstand of pure gold. Hammer out its base and shaft, and make its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them.
32 Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other.
33 Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand.
34 And on the lampstand there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms.
35 One bud shall be 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.
36 The buds and branches shall all be of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.
37 “Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it.
38 Its wick trimmers and trays are to be of pure gold.
39 A talent[e] of pure gold is to be used for the lampstand and all these accessories.
40 See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.

Exodus 25:8-40 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.

Cross References 28

  • 1. Exodus 36:1-5; Leviticus 4:6; Leviticus 10:4,7; Leviticus 21:12,23; Numbers 3:28; Hebrews 9:1-2
  • 2. Exodus 29:45; Leviticus 26:11-12; Numbers 5:3; Deuteronomy 12:11; 1 Kings 6:13; Zechariah 2:10; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Revelation 21:3
  • 3. ver 40; Exodus 26:30; Exodus 27:8; Exodus 31:11; Exodus 39:32,42,43; Numbers 8:4; 1 Chronicles 28:11,19; Acts 7:44; Hebrews 8:5
  • 4. Deuteronomy 10:1-5; 1 Kings 6:19; Hebrews 9:4
  • 5. ver 24; Exodus 30:3
  • 6. ver 26; Exodus 30:4
  • 7. ver 28; Exodus 27:6; Exodus 30:5; Exodus 37:28
  • 8. Exodus 27:7; Exodus 40:20; 1 Chronicles 15:15
  • 9. 1 Kings 8:8
  • 10. S Exodus 16:34; Deuteronomy 31:26; Hebrews 9:4
  • 11. ver 21; Leviticus 16:13; Romans 3:25
  • 12. Exodus 26:1,31; Exodus 36:35; 1 Kings 6:23,27; 1 Kings 8:6; 2 Chronicles 3:10-13; Hebrews 9:5
  • 13. S Genesis 3:24
  • 14. Exodus 37:9; 1 Kings 8:7; 1 Chronicles 28:18; Hebrews 9:5
  • 15. ver 10-15; Exodus 26:34; Exodus 40:20; Deuteronomy 10:5
  • 16. ver 16; S Exodus 16:34; Hebrews 9:4
  • 17. Numbers 7:89; 1 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 6:2; 2 Samuel 22:11; 2 Kings 19:15; 1 Chronicles 13:6; 1 Chronicles 28:18; Psalms 18:10; Psalms 80:1; Psalms 99:1; Isaiah 37:16
  • 18. S Exodus 19:3; Exodus 29:42; Exodus 30:6,36; Leviticus 1:1; Leviticus 16:2; Numbers 17:4; Ex Exodus 29:42-43
  • 19. Jeremiah 3:16
  • 20. ver 30; Exodus 26:35; Exodus 40:4,22; Leviticus 24:6; Numbers 3:31; 1 Kings 7:48; 1 Chronicles 28:16; 2 Chronicles 4:8,19; Ezekiel 41:22; Ezekiel 44:16; Hebrews 9:2
  • 21. S ver 13
  • 22. Numbers 4:7
  • 23. Exodus 35:13; Exodus 39:36; Exodus 40:4,23; Leviticus 24:5-9; Numbers 4:7; 1 Samuel 21:4-6; 1 Kings 7:48; 1 Chronicles 23:29
  • 24. Exodus 26:35; Exodus 31:8; Exodus 35:14; Exodus 39:37; Exodus 40:4,24; Leviticus 24:4; Numbers 3:31; 1 Kings 7:49; 2 Chronicles 4:7; Zechariah 4:2; Hebrews 9:2; Revelation 1:12
  • 25. ver 18; Numbers 8:4
  • 26. Exodus 27:21; Exodus 30:8; Leviticus 24:3-4; Numbers 8:2; 1 Samuel 3:3; 2 Chronicles 13:11
  • 27. S ver 37; Numbers 4:9
  • 28. S ver 9; Exodus 26:30; Numbers 8:4; Acts 7:44; Hebrews 8:5*

Footnotes 5

  • [a]. That is, a chest
  • [b]. 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 17
  • [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
  • [e]. That is, about 75 pounds or about 34 kilograms
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