Exodus 38

Making the Altar of Burnt Offering

1 Bezalel constructed the altar of burnt offering from acacia wood. It was square, seven and a half feet long and seven and a half feet wide,^[a] and was four and a half feet^[b] high.

2 He made horns for it on its four corners; the horns were of one piece.^[c] Then he overlaid it with bronze.

3 He made all the altar's utensils: the pots, shovels, basins, meat forks, and firepans; he made all its utensils of bronze.

4 He constructed for the altar a grate of bronze mesh under its ledge,^[d] halfway up from the bottom.

5 At the four corners of the bronze grate he cast four rings as holders for the poles.

6 He also made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with bronze.

7 Then he inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar in order to carry it with them. He constructed the altar with boards so that it was hollow.^[e]

Making the Bronze Basin

8 He made the bronze basin and its stand from the [bronze] mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.^[f]

Making the Courtyard

9 Then he made the courtyard. The hangings on the south side of the courtyard were of finely spun linen, 150 feet in length,^[g]

10 including their 20 posts and 20 bronze bases. The hooks and bands^[h] of the posts were silver.

11 [The hangings] on the north side were also 150 feet in length,^[i] including their 20 posts and 20 bronze bases. The hooks and bands^[j] of the posts were silver.

12 The hangings on the west side were 75 feet in length,^[k] including their 10 posts and 10 bases. The hooks and bands of the posts were silver.

13 [The hangings] on the east toward the sunrise were also 75 feet in length.^[l]

14 The hangings on one side [of the gate] were 22 and a half feet,^[m] including their three posts and three bases.

15 It was the same for the other side. The hangings were 22 and a half feet,^[n] including their three posts and three bases on both sides of the courtyard gate.

16 All the hangings around the courtyard were of finely spun linen.

17 The bases for the posts were bronze; the hooks and bands^[o] of the posts were silver; and the plating for the tops of the posts was silver. All the posts of the courtyard were banded with silver.

18 The screen for the gate of the courtyard was embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It was 30 feet^[p] long, and like the hangings of the courtyard, seven and a half feet^[q] high.^[r]

19 It had four posts, including their four bronze bases. Their hooks were silver, and the bands^[s] as well as the plating of their tops were silver.

20 All the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the surrounding courtyard were bronze.^[t]

Inventory of Materials

21 This is the inventory for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the testimony, that was recorded at Moses' command. It was the work of the Levites under the direction of^[u] Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.

22 Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made everything that the Lord commanded Moses.

23 With him was Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, a gem cutter, a designer, and an embroiderer with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen.

24 All the gold of the presentation offering that was used for the project in all the work on the sanctuary, was 2,193 pounds,^[v] according to the sanctuary shekel.

25 The silver from those of the community who were registered was 7,544 pounds,^[w] according to the sanctuary shekel-

26 two-fifths of an ounce^[x] per man, that is, half a shekel according to the sanctuary shekel, from everyone 20 years old or more who had crossed over to the registered group, 603,550 men.

27 There were 7,500 pounds^[y] of silver [used] to cast the bases of the sanctuary and the bases of the veil-100 bases from 7,500 pounds,^[z] 75 pounds^[aa] for each base.

28 With the [remaining] 44 pounds^[ab] he made the hooks for the posts, overlaid their tops, and supplied bands^[ac] for them.

29 The bronze of the presentation offering totaled 5,310 pounds.^[ad]

30 He made with it the bases for the entrance to the tent of meeting, the bronze altar and its bronze grate, all the utensils for the altar,

31 the bases for the surrounding courtyard, the bases for the gate of the courtyard, all the tent pegs for the tabernacle, and all the tent pegs for the surrounding courtyard.

Exodus 38 Commentary

Chapter 38

The brazen altar and laver. (1-8) The court. (9-20) The offerings of the people. (21-31)

Verses 1-8 In all ages of the church there have been some persons more devoted to God, more constant in their attendance upon his ordinances, and more willing to part even with lawful things, for his sake, than others. Some women, devoted to God and zealous for the tabernacle worship, expressed zeal by parting with their mirrors, which were polished plates of brass. Before the invention of looking-glasses, these served the same purposes.

Verses 9-20 The walls of the court being of curtains only, intimated that the state of the Jewish church itself was movable and changeable; and in due time to be taken down and folded up, when the place of the tent should be enlarged, and its cords lengthened, to make room for the Gentile world.

Verses 21-31 The foundation of massy pieces of silver showed the solidity and purity of the truth upon which the church is founded. Let us regard the Lord Jesus Christ while reading of the furniture of the tabernacle. While looking at the altar of burnt-offering, let us see Jesus. In him, his righteousness, and salvation, is a full and sufficient offering for sin. In the laver of regeneration, by his Holy Spirit, let our souls be washed, and they shall be clean; and as the people offered willingly, so may our souls be made willing. Let us be ready to part with any thing, and count all but loss to win Christ.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit five cubits its length and five cubits its width
• [b]. Lit three cubits
• [c]. Lit piece with it
• [d]. Or rim
• [e]. Ex 27:1-8
• [f]. Ex 30:17-21; 1 Sm 2:22
• [g]. Lit 100 cubits
• [h]. Or connecting rods
• [i]. Lit 100 cubits
• [j]. Or connecting rods
• [k]. Lit 50 cubits
• [l]. Lit 50 cubits
• [m]. Lit 15 cubits
• [n]. Lit 15 cubits
• [o]. Or connecting rods
• [p]. Lit 20 cubits
• [q]. Lit five cubits
• [r]. Lit high in width
• [s]. Or connecting rods
• [t]. Ex 27:9-19
• [u]. Lit Levites by the hand of
• [v]. Lit 29 talents and 730 shekels
• [w]. Lit 100 talents and 1,775 shekels
• [x]. Lit a beka
• [y]. Lit 100 talents
• [z]. Lit 100 talents
• [aa]. Lit one talent
• [ab]. Lit 1,775 (shekels)
• [ac]. Or connecting rods
• [ad]. Lit 70 talents and 2,400 shekels

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 38

This chapter is a continuation of the account of the making of the things belonging to the tabernacle, particularly the altar of burnt offering, Ex 38:1-7 the laver of brass, and the things it was made of, Ex 38:8 the court and its hangings, pillars, sockets, hooks and pins, Ex 38:9-20 then follows an account of the quantities of gold, silver, and brass, expended in the making of the several things appertaining to the sanctuary, Ex 38:21-31.

Bezaleel made it, or it was made by his direction, he having the care and oversight of it, wherefore the making of it is ascribed to him, 2Ch 1:5 the account of this, its horns, vessels, rings, and staves, is carried on to Ex 38:2-7 of which \\see Gill on "Ex 27:1"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:2"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:3"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:4"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:5"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:6"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:7"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:8"\\. 10593-941108-1338-Ex38.2