1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.
3 And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,
4 And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair,
5 And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood,
6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,
7 Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.
8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
9 According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.
10 And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
11 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.
12 And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it.
13 And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.
14 And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them.
15 The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it.
16 And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.
17 And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
18 And thou shalt make two cherubim of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.
19 And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubim on the two ends thereof.
20 And the cherubim shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be.
21 And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.
22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
23 Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
24 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about.
25 And thou shalt make unto it a border of an hand breadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about.
26 And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof.
27 Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the table.
28 And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them.
29 And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them.
30 And thou shalt set upon the table showbread before me always.
31 And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.
32 And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:
33 Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.
34 And in the candlesticks shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers.
35 And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick.
36 Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold.
37 And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.
38 And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.
39 Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.
40 And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in the mount.
Exodus chapter 25 is a continuation of the instructions given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. In this chapter, God commands Moses to collect offerings from the Israelites in order to build a tabernacle, a portable sanctuary that will serve as a place of worship for the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness. The chapter also details the specific materials and furnishings that are to be used in the construction of the tabernacle, as well as the instructions for its design and layout.
The tabernacle was a central part of Israelite worship and played a significant role in their relationship with God. It was a physical representation of God's presence among His people and served as a reminder of His covenant with them. The construction of the tabernacle was a way for the Israelites to show their devotion and obedience to God, as well as a means for them to approach and worship Him.
The tabernacle was also a symbol of God's dwelling place among His people. The Israelites were a nomadic people, constantly on the move, and the tabernacle was a portable sanctuary that could be taken down and set up as they journeyed through the wilderness. This symbolized God's presence with them wherever they went and His faithfulness in leading them to the promised land.
God commands Moses to collect offerings from the Israelites in order to build the tabernacle. These offerings were to be given willingly and from the heart, and were to include materials such as gold, silver, bronze, fine linen, and precious stones. These materials were to be used in the construction of the tabernacle and its furnishings, emphasizing the importance of using the best and most valuable resources for the worship of God.
The Israelites were also instructed to give offerings of specific items, such as oil for the lamps and spices for the incense. These offerings were to be given in exact measurements, highlighting the importance of precision and attention to detail in the worship of God.
God gives Moses detailed instructions for the design and layout of the tabernacle. The tabernacle was to be divided into two main sections: the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. The Holy Place was to contain the table for the bread of the Presence, the lampstand, and the altar of incense. The Most Holy Place, also known as the Holy of Holies, was to contain the ark of the covenant, which symbolized God's presence among His people.
The tabernacle was to be covered with a tent made of fine linen and dyed skins, and was to be surrounded by a courtyard with a fence made of linen curtains. The entrance to the courtyard was to face east, and the altar for burnt offerings was to be placed in front of the entrance. This layout and design served as a visual representation of the Israelites' journey towards God's presence, with the altar representing the first step towards approaching Him.
For Christians, Exodus chapter 25 holds great significance as it foreshadows the coming of Jesus Christ and His role as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. The tabernacle and its furnishings were a foreshadowing of the true tabernacle, which is Jesus Christ Himself. Just as the tabernacle was a physical representation of God's presence among His people, Jesus is the physical manifestation of God's presence on earth.
The offerings given by the Israelites for the construction of the tabernacle were a foreshadowing of the ultimate offering that Jesus would make on the cross. Just as the Israelites were instructed to give their best and most valuable possessions for the worship of God, Jesus gave His life as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. His death and resurrection opened the way for us to approach God and have a personal relationship with Him.
The design and layout of the tabernacle also hold significance for Christians. The entrance to the courtyard facing east symbolizes the direction of the rising sun, which is a symbol of new beginnings and the coming of the Messiah. The altar for burnt offerings in front of the entrance represents the first step towards approaching God, just as Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6).
The Most Holy Place, where the ark of the covenant was kept, was separated from the rest of the tabernacle by a thick curtain. This curtain symbolized the separation between God and man due to sin. However, when Jesus died on the cross, this curtain was torn in two, symbolizing the removal of the barrier between God and man and the access we now have to His presence through Jesus.
Exodus chapter 25 is a significant chapter in the Bible as it details the construction of the tabernacle, which played a crucial role in the worship of God by the Israelites. The tabernacle and its furnishings were not only a physical representation of God's presence among His people, but also a foreshadowing of the coming of Jesus Christ and His ultimate sacrifice for our sins. As Christians, we can look to the tabernacle as a reminder of God's faithfulness and His desire for us to approach Him through Jesus, the true tabernacle and mediator between God and man.
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