Exodus 37

Making the Ark

1 Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood, 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high.^[a]

2 He overlaid it with pure gold inside and out and made a gold molding all around it.

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

4 He made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.

5 He inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark for carrying the ark.

6 He made a mercy seat of pure gold, 45 inches long and 27 inches wide.^[b]

7 He made two cherubim of gold; he made them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat,

8 one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end. He made the cherubim [of one piece] with the mercy seat, [a cherub] at each end.

9 They had wings spread out, covering the mercy seat with their wings and facing each other. The faces of the cherubim were looking toward the mercy seat.^[c]

Making the Table

10 He constructed the table of acacia wood, 36 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 27 inches high.^[d]

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

12 He made a three-inch^[e] frame all around it and made a gold molding all around its frame.

13 He cast four gold rings for it and attached the rings to the four corners at its four legs.

14 The rings were next to the frame as holders for the poles to carry the table.

15 He made the poles for carrying the table from acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.

16 He also made the utensils that would be on the table out of pure gold: its plates and cups, as well as its bowls and pitchers for pouring drink offerings.^[f]

Making the Lampstand

17 Then he made the lampstand out of pure hammered gold. He made it [all] of one piece: its base and shaft, its [ornamental] cups, and its calyxes^[g] and petals.

18 Six branches extended from its sides, three branches of the lampstand from one side and three branches of the lampstand from the other side.

19 There were three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with a calyx and petals, on the first branch, and three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with a calyx and petals, on the next branch. It was this way for the six branches that extended from the lampstand.

20 On the lampstand shaft there were four cups shaped like almond blossoms with its calyxes and petals.

21 For the six branches that extended from it, a calyx was under the first pair of branches from it, a calyx under the second pair of branches from it, and a calyx under the third pair of branches from it.

22 Their calyxes and branches were of one piece.^[h] All of it was a single hammered piece of pure gold.

23 He also made its seven lamps, snuffers, and firepans of pure gold.

24 He made it and all its utensils of 75 pounds^[i] of pure gold.^[j]

Making the Altar of Incense

25 He made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, 18 inches long and 18 inches wide; it was 36 inches high.^[k] Its horns were of one piece.^[l]

26 He overlaid it, its top, all around its sides, and its horns with pure gold. Then he made a gold molding all around it.

27 He made two gold rings for it under the molding on two of its sides; [he put these] on opposite sides of it to be holders for the poles to carry it with.

28 He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.

29 He also made the holy anointing oil and the pure, fragrant, and expertly blended incense.^[m]

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit two and a half cubits its length, one and a half cubits its width, and one and a half cubits its height
• [b]. Lit two and a half cubits its length and one and a half cubits its width
• [c]. Ex 25:10-20
• [d]. Lit two cubits its length, one cubit its width, and one and a half cubits its height
• [e]. Lit a handbreadth
• [f]. Ex 25:23-29
• [g]. the outer covering of a flower
• [h]. Lit piece with it
• [i]. Lit a talent
• [j]. Ex 25:31-39
• [k]. Lit a cubit its length, a cubit its width, and two cubits its height
• [l]. Lit piece with it
• [m]. Ex 30:1-5,23-28,34

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