1 And Bezaleel made the ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half was the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it:
2 And he overlaid it with pure gold within and without, and made a crown of gold to it round about.
3 And he cast for it four rings of gold, to be set by the four corners of it; even two rings upon the one side of it, and two rings upon the other side of it.
4 And he made staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.
5 And he put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.
6 And he made the mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and one cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
7 And he made two cherubim of gold, beaten out of one piece made he them, on the two ends of the mercy seat;
8 One cherub on the end on this side, and another cherub on the other end on that side: out of the mercy seat made he the cherubim on the two ends thereof.
9 And the cherubim spread out their wings on high, and covered with their wings over the mercy seat, with their faces one to another; even to the mercy seatward were the faces of the cherubim.
10 And he made the table of shittim wood: two cubits was the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof:
11 And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made thereunto a crown of gold round about.
12 Also he made thereunto a border of an handbreadth round about; and made a crown of gold for the border thereof round about.
13 And he cast for it four rings of gold, and put the rings upon the four corners that were in the four feet thereof.
14 Over against the border were the rings, the places for the staves to bear the table.
15 And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold, to bear the table.
16 And he made the vessels which were upon the table, his dishes, and his spoons, and his bowls, and his covers to cover withal, of pure gold.
17 And he made the candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work made he the candlestick; his shaft, and his branch, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, were of the same:
18 And six branches going out of the sides thereof; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side thereof:
19 Three bowls made after the fashion of almonds in one branch, a knop and a flower; and three bowls made like almonds in another branch, a knop and a flower: so throughout the six branches going out of the candlestick.
20 And in the candlestick were four bowls made like almonds, his knops, and his flowers:
21 And 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 going out of it.
22 Their knops and their branches were of the same: all of it was one beaten work of pure gold.
23 And he made his seven lamps, and his snuffers, and his snuffdishes, of pure gold.
24 Of a talent of pure gold made he it, and all the vessels thereof.
25 And he made the incense altar of shittim wood: the length of it was a cubit, and the breadth of it a cubit; it was foursquare; and two cubits was the height of it; the horns thereof were of the same.
26 And he overlaid it with pure gold, both the top of it, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns of it: also he made unto it a crown of gold round about.
27 And he made two rings of gold for it under the crown thereof, by the two corners of it, upon the two sides thereof, to be places for the staves to bear it withal.
28 And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.
29 And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary.
Exodus Chapter 37 is a continuation of the detailed instructions given to Moses by God for the construction of the Tabernacle. This chapter specifically focuses on the creation of the Ark of the Covenant, the Table of Showbread, the Golden Lampstand, and the Altar of Incense. These items were essential components of the Tabernacle, which served as a sacred dwelling place for God among the Israelites during their journey in the wilderness.
The first item described in this chapter is the Ark of the Covenant. This was a sacred chest made of acacia wood and covered in pure gold. It was approximately 3.75 feet long, 2.25 feet wide, and 2.25 feet high. The Ark was to be carried by poles inserted into rings on its sides, and it was to be placed in the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle.
The Ark of the Covenant was a symbol of God's presence among the Israelites. Inside the Ark, Moses was instructed to place the stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments, which were given to him by God on Mount Sinai. This represented the covenant between God and the Israelites, and the importance of following His commandments.
The lid of the Ark, known as the Mercy Seat, was made of pure gold and adorned with two cherubim facing each other. This was where God's presence would manifest itself, and it was here that the High Priest would sprinkle blood on the Day of Atonement to make atonement for the sins of the people.
The next item described in this chapter is the Table of Showbread. This was a table made of acacia wood and covered in pure gold. It was approximately 3 feet long, 1.5 feet wide, and 2.25 feet high. The Table was to be placed in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle, and it was to hold twelve loaves of bread, representing the twelve tribes of Israel.
The bread on the Table of Showbread was to be replaced every Sabbath, and the old loaves were to be eaten by the priests. This symbolized the provision and sustenance of God for His people, as well as the importance of regular worship and fellowship with Him.
The third item described in this chapter is the Golden Lampstand. This was a seven-branched lampstand made of pure gold, with each branch adorned with almond blossoms and buds. It was approximately 5 feet high and was to be placed in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle, opposite the Table of Showbread.
The Golden Lampstand was to be kept burning continuously, with the priests responsible for trimming the wicks and replenishing the oil. This represented the light of God's presence among His people, as well as the importance of spiritual illumination and guidance.
The final item described in this chapter is the Altar of Incense. This was a small altar made of acacia wood and covered in pure gold. It was approximately 1.5 feet square and 3 feet high and was to be placed in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle, in front of the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.
The Altar of Incense was used to burn fragrant incense, representing the prayers of the people rising up to God. This symbolized the importance of communication and communion with God, as well as the sweet aroma of worship and devotion.
Exodus Chapter 37 holds great significance for Christians, as it not only provides a detailed account of the construction of the Tabernacle but also contains important spiritual symbolism and lessons for believers today.
Firstly, the Ark of the Covenant represents the presence of God among His people. In the New Testament, this presence is manifested in the person of Jesus Christ, who is described as the "Word made flesh" (John 1:14) and the "Immanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us" (Matthew 1:23). Through His death and resurrection, Jesus has made a new covenant with His followers, and His presence now dwells within them through the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). The Ark also serves as a reminder of the importance of following God's commandments and living a life of obedience to Him.
The Table of Showbread represents the provision and sustenance of God for His people. In the New Testament, Jesus declares Himself as the "bread of life" (John 6:35), and through His sacrifice, He provides spiritual nourishment and sustenance for believers. The regular replacement of the bread on the Table also symbolizes the importance of regularly partaking in communion and fellowship with God.
The Golden Lampstand represents the light of God's presence among His people. In the New Testament, Jesus is described as the "light of the world" (John 8:12), and through Him, believers are called to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). The lampstand also serves as a reminder of the importance of spiritual illumination and guidance in the life of a Christian.
The Altar of Incense represents the importance of communication and communion with God. In the New Testament, believers are encouraged to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and to "come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). The burning of incense also symbolizes the sweet aroma of worship and devotion that pleases God.
Overall, Exodus Chapter 37 emphasizes the importance of God's presence, provision, guidance, and communication in the life of a believer. It also serves as a reminder of the covenant between God and His people and the importance of living a life of obedience and devotion to Him. As Christians, we can draw strength and encouragement from this chapter, knowing that God's presence is always with us and that He will provide for our every need as we seek to follow Him and His commandments.
Exodus Chapter 37 provides a detailed account of the construction of the Tabernacle and the items within it, including the Ark of the Covenant, the Table of Showbread, the Golden Lampstand, and the Altar of Incense. These items hold great spiritual significance and symbolism for Christians, reminding us of God's presence, provision, guidance, and communication in our lives. As we study this chapter, may we be encouraged to seek a deeper relationship with God and to live a life of obedience and devotion to Him.
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