Exodus 37:19-29

19 three cups in the manner of a nut by each rod, and little roundels together, and lilies; and three cups at the likeness of a nut in the tother rod, and little roundels together, and lilies; forsooth the work of (the) six shafts that came forth of the stock of the candlestick, was even. (with three cups shaped like almonds, and little balls, and a lily together on the first rod; and three cups shaped like almonds, and little balls, and a lily together on the next rod, and so on; all the work of the six rods that came forth from the shaft of the lamp-stand, was the same.)
20 Soothly in that stock were four cups, in the manner of a nut, and little roundels and lilies were by all the cups; (And on the shaft were four cups, shaped like almonds, and there were little balls, and lilies, by all the cups;)
21 and [the] little roundels were under the two shafts by three places, which (al)together be made six shafts coming forth of one stock; (and a little ball was under each pair of rods, that is, in three places, and altogether there were six rods coming forth from the one shaft;)
22 therefore the little roundels, or balls, and the shafts thereof, were all beaten out with hammer, of purest gold. (and so the little balls, and its rods, were all made out of pure gold, beaten out with a hammer.)
23 He made also seven lanterns, with their snuffing tongs, and the vessels where the snuffs be quenched, of cleanest gold. (And he made seven lanterns, with their snuffing tongs, and the firepans where those tongs be quenched, out of pure gold.)
24 The candlestick with all his vessels weighed a talent of gold. (The lamp-stand, and all its vessels, were made out of one talent of pure gold.)
25 He made also the altar of incense, of the wood of shittim, having a cubit by square, that is, on each side one cubit, and two cubits in height, of whose corners came forth horns. (And he made the altar of incense out of shittim wood, one cubit square, that is, one cubit on each side, and two cubits in height, out of whose corners the horns came forth.)
26 And he covered it with cleanest gold, and the griddle, and (the) walls, and the horns (thereof); and he made to it a little golden crown by compass, (And he covered it with pure gold, yea, its top, and its walls, and its horns; and he put a gold band all around it,)
27 and two golden rings under the crown, by each side, that [the] bars be put into those, and the altar may be borne. (and he made two gold rings to be fastened under the band, on each side of the altar, for bars to be put through, so that the altar could be carried.)
28 Forsooth he made those bars (out) of the wood of shittim, and covered them with golden plates.
29 He made also oil to the ointment of hallowing, and [the] incense of sweet smelling spiceries, most clean, by the work of (the) apothecary. (And he made the holy oil for anointing, and the pure incense of sweet smelling spices, by the work of an apothecary.)

Exodus 37:19-29 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

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.