371 And Bezaleel made the ark of acacia-wood; two cubits and a half the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. 2 And he overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a border of gold upon it round about. 3 And he cast for it four rings of gold, for its four corners: two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it. 4 And he made staves of acacia-wood and overlaid them with gold. 5 And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry the ark. 6 —And he made a mercy-seat of pure gold; two cubits and a half the length thereof, and one cubit and a half the breadth thereof. 7 And he made two cherubim of gold; of beaten work did he make them, at the two ends of the mercy-seat; 8 one cherub at the end of one side, and one cherub at the end of the other side; out of the mercy-seat he made the two cherubim at the two ends thereof. 9 And the cherubim spread out [their] wings over it, covering over with their wings the mercy-seat; and their faces were opposite to one another: the faces of the cherubim were [turned] toward the mercy-seat.
10 And he made the table of acacia-wood; two cubits 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 upon it a border of gold round about. 12 And he made for it a margin of a hand-breadth round about; and made a border of gold for the margin thereof round about. 13 And he cast for it four rings of gold, and put the rings on the four corners that were on the four feet thereof. 14 Close to the margin were the rings, as receptacles of the staves to carry the table. 15 And he made the staves of acacia-wood, and overlaid them with gold, to carry the table. 16 And he made the utensils that were on the table, the dishes thereof, and the cups thereof, and the bowls thereof, and the goblets with which to pour out, of pure gold.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 37:1-16
Chapter Contents
The making of the ark, and the furniture of the tabernacle.
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.