Exodus 37:4-14

4 Then he made poles from acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.

5 He inserted the poles into the rings at the sides of the Ark to carry it.

6 Then he made the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—from pure gold. It was 45 inches long and 27 inches wide.

7 He made two cherubim from hammered gold and placed them on the two ends of the atonement cover.

8 He molded the cherubim on each end of the atonement cover, making it all of one piece of gold.

9 The cherubim faced each other and looked down on the atonement cover. With their wings spread above it, they protected it.

10 Then Bezalel made the table of acacia wood, 36 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 27 inches high.

11 He overlaid it with pure gold and ran a gold molding around the edge.

12 He decorated it with a 3-inch border all around, and he ran a gold molding along the border.

13 Then he cast four gold rings for the table and attached them at the four corners next to the four legs.

14 The rings were attached near the border to hold the poles that were used to carry the table.

Exodus 37:4-14 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

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew 2.5 cubits [115 centimeters] long and 1.5 cubits [69 centimeters] wide.
• [b]. Hebrew he; also in 37:17, 25 .
• [c]. Hebrew 2 cubits [92 centimeters] long, 1 cubit [46 centimeters] wide, and 1.5 cubits [69 centimeters] high.
• [d]. Hebrew a border of a handbreadth [8 centimeters].