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Exodus 37

Exodus37

World English Bible · Public Domain

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1 Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Its length was two and a half cubits, and its width 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 around it.

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

4 He made poles of acacia 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 width.

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

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

9 The cherubim spread out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one another. The faces of the cherubim were toward the mercy seat.

10 He made the table of acacia wood. Its length was two cubits, and its width 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 hand’s width 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 acacia 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 lamp stand of pure gold. He made the lamp stand 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 lamp stand out of its one side, and three branches of the lamp stand 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 lamp stand.

20 In the lamp stand 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 acacia wood. It was square: its length was a cubit, and its width 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 acacia 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.

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Exodus 37

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Exodus 37. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.

Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The making of the ark, and the furniture of the tabernacle. (1-29).

vv1-29

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.

Cross References

Exodus 37
v1Exodus 25:10-16thematic

The original instructions and blueprint for constructing the ark of shittim wood.

Supported by JFB, Matthew Poole

v6Exodus 25:17-22thematic

The original instructions for crafting the mercy seat and the beaten-gold cherubims.

Supported by JFB, Matthew Poole

v10Exodus 25:23-30thematic

The original instructions for the table of showbread and its vessels.

Supported by JFB

v17Exodus 25:31-39thematic

The original design specifications for the golden candlestick, branches, and bowls.

Supported by JFB

v25Exodus 30:1-5thematic

The original command and measurements for the golden altar of incense.

Supported by JFB

v29Exodus 30:23-38thematic

The divine recipes and restrictions for the holy anointing oil and sweet incense.

Supported by JFB

v6Hebrews 9:5thematic

New Testament description of the cherubims of glory overshadowing the mercy seat.

Supported by JFB

v10Hebrews 9:2thematic

Epistle to the Hebrews outlining the table and candlestick in the sanctuary.

Supported by JFB

v29Psalms 141:2thematic

Thematic link between the burning of sweet incense and acceptable prayers of the saints.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v91 Peter 1:12thematic

Symbolized by cherubims looking toward the mercy seat, angels desire to look into salvation.

Supported by JFB