Exodus 25:10-22

The Ark

10 "They are to make an ark of acacia wood, 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high.^[a]

11 Overlay it with pure gold; overlay it both inside and out. Also make a gold molding all around it.

12 Cast four gold rings for it and place [them] on its four feet, two rings on one side and two rings on the other side.

13 Make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.

14 Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry the ark with them.

15 The poles are to remain in the rings of the ark; they must not be removed from it.

16 Put the [tablets of the] testimony that I will give you into the ark.

17 Make a mercy seat^[b] of pure gold, 45 inches long and 27 inches wide.^[c]

18 Make two cherubim of gold; make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat.

19 Make one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end. Make the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at its two ends.

20 The cherubim are to have wings spread out above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and are to face one another. The faces of the cherubim should be toward the mercy seat.

21 Set the mercy seat on top of the ark and put the testimony that I will give you into the ark.

22 I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the testimony; I will speak with you from there about all that I command you regarding the Israelites.

Exodus 25:10-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 25

In this chapter an order is given for a freewill offering towards various things for the worship and service of God, and the materials to be offered, which would be useful and acceptable, are mentioned particularly, Ex 25:1-7, as also another order to build a sanctuary for God, after a model that he would give, Ex 25:8,9, and, an ark to put in the law on tables of stone, the fashion of which, and the various things belonging to it, are described, Ex 25:10-16, and a mercy seat with cherubim on it to be set over the ark, where the Lord promises to meet Moses and commune with him, Ex 25:17-22 and a table with various appurtenances to it to place the shewbread on, Ex 25:23-30 and a candlestick of gold, whose parts are described, and all the instruments relative to it, Ex 25:31-40.

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]. Heb 9:5
• [c]. Lit two and a half cubits its length, one and a half cubits its width