Exodus 37

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.

12 He made a border of a handbreadth around it, and made a golden molding on its border around it.

13 He cast four rings of gold for it, and put the rings in the four corners that were on its four feet.

14 The rings were close by the border, the places for the poles to carry the table.

15 He made the poles of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold, to carry the table.

16 He made the vessels which were on the table, its dishes, its spoons, its bowls, and its pitchers with which to pour out, of pure gold.

17 He made the menorah of pure gold. He made the menorah of beaten work. Its base, its shaft, its cups, its buds, and its flowers were of one piece with it.

18 There were six branches going out of its sides: three branches of the menorah out of its one side, and three branches of the menorah out of its other side:

19 three cups made like almond-blossoms in one branch, a bud and a flower, and three cups made like almond-blossoms in the other branch, a bud and a flower: so for the six branches going out of the menorah.

20 In the menorah were four cups made like almond-blossoms, its buds and its flowers;

21 and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, for the six branches going out of it.

22 Their buds and their branches were of one piece with it. The whole thing was one beaten work of pure gold.

23 He made its seven lamps, and its snuffers, and its snuff dishes, of pure gold.

24 He made it of a talent of pure gold, with all its vessels.

25 He made the altar of incense of shittim wood. It was square: its length was a cubit, and its breadth a cubit. Its height was two cubits. Its horns were of one piece with it.

26 He overlaid it with pure gold, its top, its sides around it, and its horns. He made a gold molding around it.

27 He made two golden rings for it under its molding crown, on its two ribs, on its two sides, for places for poles with which to carry it.

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

29 He made the holy anointing oil and the pure incense of sweet spices, after the art of the perfumer.

Exodus 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