Shemot 37

1 7 And Bezalel made the Aron of acacia wood; two cubits and a half was the length of it, and a cubit and a half the width of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it;

2 And he overlaid it with zahav tahor within and without, and made a crown of zahav all around.

3 And he cast for it four rings of zahav, to be set by the four corners of it; even two rings upon the one side of it, and two rings upon the other side of it.

4 And he made carrying poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with zahav.

5 And he put the carrying poles into the rings on the sides of the Aron, to bear the Aron.

6 And he made the Kapporet of zahav tahor; two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and one cubit and a half the width thereof.

7 And he made two keruvim of zahav, hammered out of one piece made he them, on the two ends of the Kapporet;

8 One keruv on the end on this side, and another keruv on the other end on that side; from the Kapporet made he the keruvim on the two ends thereof.

9 And the keruvim spread out their wings on high, and covered with their wings over the Kapporet, with their faces one to another; even toward the Kapporet were the faces of the keruvim.

10 And he made the Shulchan of acacia wood: two cubits was the length thereof, and a cubit the width thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof;

11 And he overlaid it with zahav tahor, and made thereunto a crown of zahav all around.

12 Also he made thereunto a misgeret (moulding, rim) of a handbreadth all around; and made a crown of zahav for the misgeret thereof all around.

13 And he cast for it four rings of zahav, and put the rings upon the four corners of its four legs thereof.

14 Over against the misgeret were the rings, the housing for the carrying poles to bear the Shulchan.

15 And he made the carrying poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with zahav, to bear the Shulchan.

16 And he made the utensils which were upon the Shulchan, its dishes, and its pans, and its bowls, and its pitchers for pouring nesekh, of zahav tahor.

17 And he made the Menorah of zahav tahor; of hammered-out work made he the Menorah; its base and its shaft, and its cups, its knobs, its flowers, were of the same;

18 And six branches going out of the sides thereof; three branches of the Menorah out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the Menorah out of the other side thereof;

19 Shloshah cups made like almonds in one branch, a knob and a flower; and three cups made like almonds in another branch, a knob and a flower; so throughout the six branches going out of the Menorah.

20 And in the Menorah were four cups made like almonds, its knobs, and its flowers;

21 And a knob under two branches of the same, and a knob under two branches of the same, and a knob under two branches of the same, according to the six branches going out of it.

22 Their knobs and their branches were of the same: all of it was one hammered-out work of zahav tahor.

23 And he made its seven nerot (lamps), and its tongs, and its spoons, of zahav tahor.

24 Of a talent of zahav tahor made he it, and all the utensils thereof.

25 And he made the Mizbe’ach HaKetoret of acacia wood; the length of it was a cubit, and the width of it a cubit; it was ravu’a (square, foursquare); and two cubits was the height of it; from it were its karenot.

26 And he overlaid it with zahav tahor, both the top of it, and the sides thereof all around, and the karenot of it; also he made unto it a crown of zahav all around.

27 And he made two rings of zahav for it under the crown thereof, by the two corners of it, upon the two sides thereof, to be housing for the carrying poles to bear it withal.

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

29 And he made the Shemen HaMishchah Kodesh, and the ketoret spices, tahor, according to the artistic work of a perfumer.

Shemot 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.

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