371 Now 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 e 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 ; he made the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at the 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 .
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 by 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 bowls and its jars , with which to pour out drink offerings , 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.