Exodus 37:17-24

The Lampstand

17 Then he made the lampstand out of pure hammered gold, all of one piece: its base and shaft, its cups, and its buds and petals. ¹

18 Six branches extended from the sides, three on one side and three on the other.

19 There were three cups shaped like almond blossoms on the first branch, each with buds and petals, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches that extended from the lampstand.

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

21 A bud was under the first pair of branches that extended from the lampstand, a bud under the second pair, and a bud under the third pair.

22 The buds and branches were all of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.

23 He also made its seven lamps, its wick trimmers, and trays of pure gold.

24 He made the lampstand and all its utensils from a talent of pure gold. ^[a]

Exodus 37:17-24 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. (Exodus 25:31–40; Numbers 8:1–4)

Footnotes

• [a] A talent is approximately 75.4 pounds or 34.2 kilograms of gold.