Exodus 37

Building the chest containing the covenant document

1 Bezalel made the chest of acacia wood. It was forty-five inches long, twenty-seven inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high.

2 He covered the chest with pure gold inside and out, and made a gold molding all around it.

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

4 He made acacia-wood poles and covered them with gold.

5 He put the poles into the rings on the chest's sides to use to carry the chest.

6 He made a cover for the chest out of pure gold, forty-five inches long and twenty-seven inches wide.

7 He made two winged heavenly creatures of hammered gold for the two ends of the cover,

8 one winged heavenly creature at one end and one winged heavenly creature at the other. He placed the winged heavenly creatures at the cover's two ends.

9 The winged heavenly creatures spread out their wings above, shielding the cover with their wings. The winged heavenly creatures faced each other toward the cover's center.

Constructing the table and lampstand

10 He also made the table of acacia wood, three feet long, eighteen inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high.

11 He covered it with pure gold and made a gold molding all around it.

12 He made a frame around it that was four inches wide and gold molding around the frame.

13 He made four gold rings for the table. He fastened the rings to the four corners at its four legs.

14 The rings that housed the poles used for carrying the table were close to the frame.

15 He made the poles used to carry the table out of acacia wood, and he covered them with gold.

16 He made the containers of pure gold that were to be on the table: its plates, dishes, bowls, and jars for pouring drink offerings.

17 He also made the lampstand of pure, hammered gold. The lampstand's base, branches, cups, flowers, and petals were all attached to it.

18 It had six branches growing out from its sides, three branches on one side of the lampstand and three branches on the other side of the lampstand.

19 One branch had three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with a flower and petals, and the next branch also had three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with a flower and petals. A total of six branches grew out of the lampstand.

20 In addition, on the lampstand itself there were four cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with its flower and petals.

21 There was a flower attached under the first pair of branches, a flower attached under the next pair of branches, and a flower attached under the last pair of branches.

22 Their flowers and their branches were attached to it. The whole lampstand was one piece of pure hammered gold.

23 He made its seven lamps and its tongs and its fire pans out of pure gold.

24 He made the lampstand and all its equipment from pure gold weighing one kikkar.

Making the incense altar, incense, and oil

25 He made the incense altar out of acacia wood. The altar was square, eighteen inches long by eighteen inches wide. It was three feet high, and its horns were permanently attached.

26 He covered it with pure gold, including its top, all its sides, and its horns. He also made a gold molding all around it.

27 He made two gold rings, and he attached them under the molding on two opposite sides of the altar. They housed the poles used to carry it.

28 He made the poles of acacia wood, and he covered them with gold.

29 He also made the holy anointing oil and the pure sweet-smelling incense like a skilled perfume maker.

Exodus 37 Commentary

Chapter 37

The making of the ark, and the furniture of the tabernacle.

- In the furniture of the tabernacle were emblems of a spiritual and acceptable service. The incense represented the prayers of the saints. The sacrifice of the alter represented the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. The golden pot with manna, or bread from heaven, the flesh of Jesus Christ, which he gave for the life of the world. The candlestick, with its lights, the teaching and enlightening of the Holy Spirit. The shew-bread represented that provision for those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, which the gospel, the ordinances and the sacraments of the house of prayer, abundantly bestow. The exactness of the workmen to their rule, should be followed by us; seeking for the influences of the Holy Spirit, that we may rejoice in and glorify God while in this world, and at length be with him for ever.

Chapter Summary

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