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Exodus 37

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1Bezalel 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. 2He overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold for it around it. 3He 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. 4He made poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold. 5He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to bear the ark. 6He made a mercy seat of pure gold. Its length was two and a half cubits, and a cubit and a half its width. 7He made two cherubim of gold. He made them of beaten work, at the two ends of the mercy seat; 8one 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. 9The cherubim spread out their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one another. The faces of the cherubim were toward the mercy seat. 10He 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. 11He overlaid it with pure gold, and made a gold molding around it. 12He made a border of a hand width around it, and made a golden molding on its border around it. 13He cast four rings of gold for it, and put the rings in the four corners that were on its four feet. 14The rings were close by the border, the places for the poles to carry the table. 15He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold, to carry the table. 16He 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. 17He 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. 18There 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: 19three 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. 20In the lamp stand were four cups made like almond blossoms, its buds and its flowers; 21and 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. 22Their buds and their branches were of one piece with it. The whole thing was one beaten work of pure gold. 23He made its seven lamps, and its snuffers, and its snuff dishes, of pure gold. 24He made it of a talent of pure gold, with all its vessels. 25He 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. 26He overlaid it with pure gold, its top, its sides around it, and its horns. He made a gold molding around it. 27He 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. 28He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold. 29He made the holy anointing oil and the pure incense of sweet spices, after the art of the perfumer.

World English Bible (public domain)

And he made the lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand was made of hammered work. Its base, its stems, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers were of one piece with it.

Exodus 37:17

Summary

Exodus chapter 37 details the meticulous crafting of several critical components for the Tabernacle, under the leadership of Bezalel. This chapter outlines the creation of the ark of the covenant, complete with its mercy seat and cherubim, symbolizing God’s presence among His people. It also describes the construction of the table for the bread of the Presence, emphasizing the importance of fellowship with God, and the golden lampstand, which represents the light of God in the darkness. The craftsmanship demonstrated by Bezalel serves as a reminder of the divine inspiration and skill God imparts to His people for holy purposes.

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Chapter outline

How Exodus 37 unfolds

  1. Exodus 37:1–5 Construction of the Ark

    Bezalel constructs the ark of acacia wood, overlaying it with gold and preparing it for transport with poles and rings.

  2. Exodus 37:6–9 The Mercy Seat and Cherubim

    The mercy seat, crafted from gold, features two cherubim whose wings cover it, symbolizing God's presence among the people.

  3. Exodus 37:10–16 The Table for the Bread of Presence

    Bezalel makes a gold-overlaid table for the bread of the Presence, including vessels for offerings, reinforcing the theme of fellowship.

  4. Exodus 37:17–24 The Golden Lampstand

    The lampstand is meticulously crafted from pure gold, symbolizing divine light and presence, with intricate details reflecting artistic skill.

  5. Exodus 37:25–29 The Altar of Incense

    An altar of incense is constructed, along with holy anointing oil and pure incense, emphasizing worship and sacredness in the Tabernacle.

Key verses

  • Exodus 37:17Exodus 37:17 illustrates the detailed artistry of the lampstand, reflecting the seriousness of worship and God's presence.

Main themes in Exodus 37

God's presence

God's presence is symbolized through the mercy seat and cherubim in verses 6-9. The meticulous construction of these elements signifies the importance of having God dwelling among His people, emphasizing His desire for closeness with them. This theme illustrates the sacredness of the Tabernacle, framing it as a vital space for divine-human interaction and worship.

Worship and fellowship

The table for the bread of the Presence in verses 10-16 highlights the theme of fellowship with God. This table not only serves as a place for offerings but also represents the communal aspect of worship, where the people partake in God's provision together. By emphasizing shared sustenance, this theme underscores the integral relationship between divine nourishment and the community's spiritual life.

Divine craftsmanship

The intricate details in the lampstand's design in verses 17-24 reflect the divine craftsmanship that God imparts to His artisans. This craftsmanship serves both functional and aesthetic purposes, enhancing the overall beauty of the Tabernacle while fulfilling its sacred role. The emphasis on care and precision in creating these sacred objects conveys the importance of excellence in worship and the honoring of God's holiness.

Holiness in community

The construction of holy items, including the altar of incense in verses 25-29, emphasizes the need for holiness in worship. Each item is intentionally designed to facilitate a reverent approach to God, reinforcing the concept of sacred spaces within the community. This theme highlights the broader responsibility of the community to uphold holiness in their collective relationship with the divine, ensuring their worship is acceptable and pleasing to God.

Cross-references

Passages that echo Exodus 37

Study questions

Questions for studying Exodus 37

  1. Who is responsible for crafting the items in this chapter?
  2. What are the dimensions and materials used in the ark's construction?
  3. How do the cherubim relate to the mercy seat in terms of symbolism?
  4. What significance does the table for the bread of Presence have in worship?
  5. How does the lampstand's design reflect its purpose within the Tabernacle?
  6. What role does the altar of incense play in the worship practices described?
  7. How do these crafted items illustrate God's presence among His people?

Exodus 37: frequently asked questions

What is Exodus 37 about?+
Exodus chapter 37 details the meticulous crafting of several critical components for the Tabernacle, under the leadership of Bezalel. This chapter outlines the creation of the ark of the covenant, complete with its mercy seat and cherubim, symbolizing God’s presence among His people. It also describes the construction of the table for the bread of the Presence, emphasizing the importance of fellowship with God, and the golden lampstand, which represents the light of God in the darkness. The craftsmanship demonstrated by Bezalel serves as a reminder of the divine inspiration and skill God imparts to His people for holy purposes.
What is the key verse in Exodus 37?+
Exodus 37:17: "And he made the lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand was made of hammered work. Its base, its stems, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers were of one piece with it."
What are the main themes of Exodus 37?+
The main themes of Exodus 37 are God's presence, Worship and fellowship, Divine craftsmanship, Holiness in community.

Related chapters

Chapters that connect with Exodus 37

Study Notes