Exodus 37

1 And they made ten curtains for the tabernacle;

2 of eight and twenty cubits the length of one curtain: the same was to all, and the breadth of one curtain was of four cubits.

3 And they made the veil of blue, and purple, and spun scarlet, and fine linen twined, the woven work with cherubs.

4 And they put it on four posts of incorruptible overlaid with gold; and their chapiters were gold, and their four sockets were silver.

5 And they made the veil of the door of the tabernacle of witness of blue, and purple, and spun scarlet, and fine linen twined, woven work with cherubs,

6 and their posts five, and the rings; and they gilded their chapiters and their clasps with gold, and they had five sockets of brass.

7 And they made the court toward the south; the curtains of the court of fine linen twined, a hundred every way,

8 and their posts twenty, and their sockets twenty;

9 and on the north side a hundred every way, and on the south side a hundred every way, and their posts twenty and their sockets twenty.

10 And on the west side curtains of fifty cubits, their posts ten and their sockets ten.

11 And on the east side curtains of fifty cubits of fifteen cubits behind,

12 and their pillars three, and their sockets three.

13 And at the second back on this side and on that by the gate of the court, curtains of fifteen cubits, their pillars three and their sockets three;

14 all the curtains of the tabernacle of fine linen twined.

15 And the sockets of their pillars of brass, and their hooks of silver, and their chapiters overlaid with silver, and all the posts of the court overlaid with silver:

16 and the veil of the gate of the court, the work of an embroiderer of blue, and purple, and spun scarlet, and fine linen twined; the length of twenty cubits, and the height and the breadth of five cubits, made equal to the curtains of the court;

17 and their pillars four, and their sockets four of brass, and their hooks of silver, and their chapiters overlaid with silver.

18 And all the pins of the court round about of brass, and they overlaid with silver.

19 And this was the construction of the tabernacle of witness, accordingly as it was appointed to Moses; so that the public service should belong to the Levites, through Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

20 And Beseleel the son of Urias of the tribe of Juda, did as the Lord commanded Moses.

21 And Eliab the son of Achisamach of the tribe of Dan , who was chief artificer in the woven works and needle-works and embroideries, in weaving with the scarlet and fine linen.

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]. on each side.
• [b]. appointment.
• [c]. to weave.

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