Exodus 25 Study Notes

25:10-22 The ark, a rectangular wooden box covered inside and out with gold, sat in the most sacred area in the tabernacle. It symbolized the Lord’s presence with the Israelites in at least three ways: (1) It was a repository for the stone tablets given to Moses, which were a witness, or testimony to the requirements the Israelites had agreed to. (2) On the annual Day of Atonement, the high priest sprinkled blood on the mercy seat, the ark’s cover, in keeping with the Lord’s provision for dealing with the sins of the people (Lv 16:13-15,29-34). (3) The ark was also where the Lord met with Moses and spoke with him (Nm 7:89). This was in keeping with his earlier assurance of his presence with Moses (Ex 3:11-12; 4:11-15).

25:10 Many measurements for the tabernacle and its furnishings used a unit called ammah in Hebrew, traditionally rendered “cubit,” an anglicized version of the Latin cubitus. The Hebrew word also meant “forearm,” and an ammah measured from the tip of a man’s fingers to his elbow, roughly eighteen inches. The CSB makes the conversions United States customary units.

25:14 Repeatedly the tabernacle and its furnishings are described as having rings on them (25:26; 27:4; 30:4). This emphasizes the portable nature of this center of worship. God will be on the move and so will be his people—ready to go at any time.

25:16 Recording a covenant on tablets and placing them in a sanctuary in the presence of a deity were common practices for preserving covenants. Certain Hittite covenant documents mention doing this.

25:18 The cover of the ark was to be decorated with two cherubim. Elsewhere the Lord is spoken of as enthroned above the cherubim, so that the ark was his footstool (1Sm 4:4; 2Sm 6:2; 2Kg 19:15; Ps 99:1,5; 132:7). “Cherubim” is the plural for “cherub,” and both are anglicized Hebrew words. Winged beings of this sort were commissioned “to guard the way to the tree of life” (Gn 3:24), and they were described by the prophet Ezekiel, who saw them transporting God’s throne (Ezk 10).

25:23-29 Generally thought to be for the bread of the Presence, the table was also for pouring drink offerings. To present drink offerings, a priest would pour out a liquid—wine, for example—to be burned along with certain animal sacrifices (29:40-41; Lv 23:9-13).

25:30 The Bread of the Presence consisted of twelve loaves made with fine flour and arranged in two rows on the gold-covered table located just outside the most holy area of the tabernacle (Lv 24:5-9). Unlike foodstuffs that were placed in pagan temples for the gods to eat, this bread was for the Israelite priests to eat as a symbolic provision for them from the Lord’s table.

25:31-40 The highly decorated lampstand (Hb menorah) resembled the almond tree, noted for its early blossoming. The Hebrew word for “almond” is associated with a verb that means “watch over” or “keep watch,” so that almond blossoms seem an appropriate decoration for an item that enhanced visibility. Aaron’s staff was made of almond wood (Nm 17:8). In Jr 1:11-12 it is a symbol of God watching over his word to accomplish his purpose.