17 Then he made the lampstand of pure gold . He made the lampstand of hammered work , its base and its shaft ; its cups , its bulbs and its flowers were of one piece with it. 18 There were six branches going out of its sides ; three branches of the lampstand from the one side of it and three branches of the lampstand from the other side of it; 19 three cups shaped like almond blossoms, a bulb and a flower in one branch , and three cups shaped like almond blossoms, a bulb and a flower in the other branch -so for the six branches going out of the lampstand . 20 In the lampstand there were four cups shaped like almond blossoms, its bulbs and its flowers ; 21 and a bulb was under the first pair of branches coming out of it, and a bulb under the second pair of branches coming out of it, and a bulb under the third pair of branches coming out of it, for the six branches coming out of the lampstand. 22 Their bulbs and their branches were of one piece with it; the whole of it was a single hammered work of pure gold . 23 He made its seven lamps with its snuffers and its trays of pure gold . 24 He made it and all its utensils from a talent of pure gold .
25 Then he made the altar of incense of acacia wood : a cubit long and a cubit wide , square , and two cubits high ; its horns were of one piece with it.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 37:17-25
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.