Exodus 37

1 Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood; it was two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.

2 He overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold around it.

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

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

5 and put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry the ark.

6 He made a mercy seat of pure gold; two cubits and a half was its length, and a cubit and a half its width.

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

8 one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other end; of one piece with the mercy seat he made the cherubim at its two ends.

9 The cherubim spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings. They faced one another; the faces of the cherubim were turned toward the mercy seat.

10 He also made the table of acacia wood, two cubits long, one cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high.

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

12 He made around it a rim a handbreadth wide, and made a molding of gold around the rim.

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

14 The rings that held the poles used for carrying the table were close to the rim.

15 He made the poles of acacia wood to carry the table, and overlaid them with gold.

16 And he made the vessels of pure gold that were to be on the table, its plates and dishes for incense, and its bowls and flagons with which to pour drink offerings.

17 He also made the lampstand of pure gold. The base and the shaft of the lampstand were made of hammered work; its cups, its calyxes, and its petals were of one piece with it.

18 There were six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it;

19 three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with calyx and petals, on one branch, and three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with calyx and petals, on the other branch—so for the six branches going out of the lampstand.

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

21 There was a calyx of one piece with it under the first pair of branches, a calyx of one piece with it under the next pair of branches, and a calyx of one piece with it under the last pair of branches.

22 Their calyxes and their branches were of one piece with it, the whole of it one hammered piece of pure gold.

23 He made its seven lamps and its snuffers and its trays of pure gold.

24 He made it and all its utensils of a talent of pure gold.

25 He made the altar of incense of acacia wood, one cubit long, and one cubit wide; it was square, and was two cubits high; its horns were of one piece with it.

26 He overlaid it with pure gold, its top, and its sides all around, and its horns; and he made for it a molding of gold all around,

27 and made two golden rings for it under its molding, on two opposite sides of it, to hold the poles with which to carry it.

28 And he made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold.

29 He made the holy anointing oil also, and the pure fragrant incense, blended as by the perfumer.

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]. Or [a cover]
• [b]. Or [the cover]
• [c]. Or [the cover]
• [d]. Or [the cover]
• [e]. Or [the cover]

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