Exodus 37:1-11

1 Betzal'el made the ark of shittim wood. Its length was two and a half cubits, and its breadth a cubit and a half, and a cubit and a half its height.

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

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

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

5 He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.

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

7 He made two Keruvim of gold. He made them of beaten work them, at the two ends of the mercy seat;

8 one Keruv at the one end, and one Keruv at the other end. He made the Keruvim of one piece with the mercy seat at its two ends.

9 The Keruvim spread out their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one another. The faces of the Keruvim were toward the mercy seat.

10 He made the table of shittim wood. Its length was two cubits, and its breadth was a cubit, and its height was a cubit and a half.

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

Exodus 37:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

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