Exodus

37.1-29

The four furnishings of the inner tabernacle are described fully in this chapter, as they were in chapter 27. As with the preceding chapter, here, the furnishings are described as having already been made. Bezaleel is referenced here as the maker of these contents, and his craftsmanship seems intended to mark the employment of the highest artistic skill, concentrated on that which is most essential in the Tabernacle. The Hendrickson Pulpit Commentary homiletics associates the four adornments of the inner sanctum with that of the believer's life. The Arc (vv1-9) is the meeting place of righteousness and faith. Here, atonement rests on God's laws - living faith. The Table of Shewbread (vv10-16) is a yielded life, the sacrifice presented before God, body, soul, and spirit. The Lampstand (vv17-24) shows the measure of God's grace shone on all mankind in Christ and demonstrated through our reflection of His love (Mt 5:14 "You are the light of the world..."). The Altar of Incense (vv25-29) is the uplifting of holy desire and intercession for all men, found in us as we are to be a pleasant scent to God in our prayers. These thoughts are worthy of our consideration, but only insomuch as we know that God gave specific instruction of the building of His Tabernacle, and we are to be obedient in all response to His commandments, statutes, and judgments (Deuteronomy 6, 11). A right posture before God is seen demonstrated by those who faithfully serve Him. "And Moses made haste to bow low toward the earth and worship." (34:8). No less is expected of us.

CHAPTER 37

Making the Ark of the Testimony

1 And Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood; its length was two and a half cubits, and its width one and a half cubits, and its height one and a half cubits;
2 and he overlaid it with pure gold inside and out, and made a gold molding for it all around.
3 He cast four rings of gold for it on its four feet; even two rings on one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it.
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 carry it.
6 He made a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide.
7 He made two cherubim of gold; he made them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat;
8 one cherub at the one end and one cherub at the other end; from one piece he made the mercy seat with the cherubim at its two ends.
9 The cherubim had their wings spread upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward each other; the faces of the cherubim were toward the mercy seat.

Making the Table

10 Then he made the table of acacia wood, two cubits long and a cubit wide and one and a half cubits high.
11 He overlaid it with pure gold and made a gold molding for it all around.
12 He made a rim for it of a handbreadth all around and made a gold molding for its rim all around.
13 He cast four gold rings for it and put the rings on the four corners that were on its four feet.
14 Close to the rim were the rings, the holders 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 utensils which were on the table, its dishes and its pans and its offering bowls and its jars, with which to pour out drink offerings, of pure gold.

Making the Lampstand

17 Then he made the lampstand of pure gold. He made the lampstand of hammered work, its base and its shaft; its cups, its bulbs, and its flowers were of the same piece.
18 There were six branches going out of its sides; three branches of the lampstand from the one side of it and three branches of the lampstand from the other side of it;
19 three cups shaped like almond blossoms, a bulb and a flower in one branch, and three cups shaped like almond blossoms, a bulb and a flower in the other branch—so for the six branches coming out of the lampstand.
20 In the lampstand there were four cups shaped like almond blossoms, its bulbs and its flowers;
21 and a bulb was under the first pair of branches coming out of it, and a bulb under the second pair of branches coming out of it, and a bulb under the third pair of branches coming out of it, for the six branches coming out of the lampstand.
22 Their bulbs and their branches were of one piece with it; the whole of it was a single hammered work of pure gold.
23 He made its seven lamps with its tongs and its trays of pure gold.
24 He made it and all its utensils from a talent of pure gold.

Making the Altar of Incense

25 Then he made the altar of incense of acacia wood: a cubit long and a cubit wide, square, and two cubits high; its horns were of one piece with it.
26 He overlaid it with pure gold, its top and its sides all around, and its horns; and he made a gold molding for it all around.
27 He made two golden rings for it under its molding, on its two sides—on opposite sides—as holders for poles with which to carry it.
28 He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.
29 And he made the holy anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense of spices, the work of a perfumer.