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Exodus 37:1-29 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

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1 And Bezaleel H1212 made H6213 the ark H727 of shittim H7848 wood: H6086 two cubits H520 and a half H2677 was the length H753 of it, and a cubit H520 and a half H2677 the breadth H7341 of it, and a cubit H520 and a half H2677 the height H6967 of it:

2 And he overlaid H6823 it with pure H2889 gold H2091 within H1004 and without, H2351 and made H6213 a crown H2213 of gold H2091 to it round about. H5439

3 And he cast H3332 for it four H702 rings H2885 of gold, H2091 to be set by the four H702 corners H6471 of it; even two H8147 rings H2885 upon the one H259 side H6763 of it, and two H8147 rings H2885 upon the other H8145 side H6763 of it.

4 And he made H6213 staves H905 of shittim H7848 wood, H6086 and overlaid H6823 them with gold. H2091

5 And he put H935 the staves H905 into the rings H2885 by the sides H6763 of the ark, H727 to bear H5375 the ark. H727

6 And he made H6213 the mercy seat H3727 of pure H2889 gold: H2091 two cubits H520 and a half H2677 was the length H753 thereof, and one cubit H520 and a half H2677 the breadth H7341 thereof.

7 And he made H6213 two H8147 cherubims H3742 of gold, H2091 beaten out of one piece H4749 made H6213 he them, on the two H8147 ends H7098 of the mercy seat; H3727

8 One H259 cherub H3742 on the end H7098 on this side, and another H259 cherub H3742 on the other end H7098 on that side: out of the mercy seat H3727 made H6213 he the cherubims H3742 on the two H8147 ends H7098 H7099 thereof.

9 And the cherubims H3742 spread out H6566 their wings H3671 on high, H4605 and covered H5526 with their wings H3671 over the mercy seat, H3727 with their faces H6440 one H376 to another; H251 even to the mercy seatward H3727 were the faces H6440 of the cherubims. H3742

10 And he made H6213 the table H7979 of shittim H7848 wood: H6086 two cubits H520 was the length H753 thereof, and a cubit H520 the breadth H7341 thereof, and a cubit H520 and a half H2677 the height H6967 thereof:

11 And he overlaid H6823 it with pure H2889 gold, H2091 and made H6213 thereunto a crown H2213 of gold H2091 round about. H5439

12 Also he made H6213 thereunto a border H4526 of an handbreadth H2948 round about; H5439 and made H6213 a crown H2213 of gold H2091 for the border H4526 thereof round about. H5439

13 And he cast H3332 for it four H702 rings H2885 of gold, H2091 and put H5414 the rings H2885 upon the four H702 corners H6285 that were in the four H702 feet H7272 thereof.

14 Over against H5980 the border H4526 were the rings, H2885 the places H1004 for the staves H905 to bear H5375 the table. H7979

15 And he made H6213 the staves H905 of shittim H7848 wood, H6086 and overlaid H6823 them with gold, H2091 to bear H5375 the table. H7979

16 And he made H6213 the vessels H3627 which were upon the table, H7979 his dishes, H7086 and his spoons, H3709 and his bowls, H4518 and his covers H7184 to cover H5258 withal, H2004 of pure H2889 gold. H2091

17 And he made H6213 the candlestick H4501 of pure H2889 gold: H2091 of beaten work H4749 made H6213 he the candlestick; H4501 his shaft, H3409 and his branch, H7070 his bowls, H1375 his knops, H3730 and his flowers, H6525 were of the same:

18 And six H8337 branches H7070 going out H3318 of the sides H6654 thereof; three H7969 branches H7070 of the candlestick H4501 out of the one H259 side H6654 thereof, and three H7969 branches H7070 of the candlestick H4501 out of the other H8145 side H6654 thereof:

19 Three H7969 bowls H1375 made after the fashion of almonds H8246 in one H259 branch, H7070 a knop H3730 and a flower; H6525 and three H7969 bowls H1375 made like almonds H8246 in another H259 branch, H7070 a knop H3730 and a flower: H6525 so throughout the six H8337 branches H7070 going out H3318 of the candlestick. H4501

20 And in the candlestick H4501 were four H702 bowls H1375 made like almonds, H8246 his knops, H3730 and his flowers: H6525

21 And a knop H3730 under two H8147 branches H7070 of the same, and a knop H3730 under two H8147 branches H7070 of the same, and a knop H3730 under two H8147 branches H7070 of the same, according to the six H8337 branches H7070 going out H3318 of it.

22 Their knops H3730 and their branches H7070 were of the same: all of it was one H259 beaten work H4749 of pure H2889 gold. H2091

23 And he made H6213 his seven H7651 lamps, H5216 and his snuffers, H4457 and his snuffdishes, H4289 of pure H2889 gold. H2091

24 Of a talent H3603 of pure H2889 gold H2091 made H6213 he it, and all the vessels H3627 thereof.

25 And he made H6213 the incense H7004 altar H4196 of shittim H7848 wood: H6086 the length H753 of it was a cubit, H520 and the breadth H7341 of it a cubit; H520 it was foursquare; H7251 and two cubits H520 was the height H6967 of it; the horns H7161 thereof were of the same.

26 And he overlaid H6823 it with pure H2889 gold, H2091 both the top H1406 of it, and the sides H7023 thereof round about, H5439 and the horns H7161 of it: also he made H6213 unto it a crown H2213 of gold H2091 round about. H5439

27 And he made H6213 two H8147 rings H2885 of gold H2091 for it under the crown H2213 thereof, by the two H8147 corners H6763 of it, upon the two H8147 sides H6654 thereof, to be places H1004 for the staves H905 to bear H5375 it withal.

28 And he made H6213 the staves H905 of shittim H7848 wood, H6086 and overlaid H6823 them with gold. H2091

29 And he made H6213 the holy H6944 anointing H4888 oil, H8081 and the pure H2889 incense H7004 of sweet spices, H5561 according to the work H4639 of the apothecary. H7543

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Exodus 37

Commentary on Exodus 37 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill   Keil & Delitzsch   Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible  

Chapter 37

Bezaleel and his workmen are still busy, making

  • I. The ark with the mercy-seat and the cherubim (v. 1-9).
  • II. The table with its vessels (v. 10-16).
  • III. The candlestick with its appurtenances (v. 17-24).
  • IV. The golden altar for incense (v. 25-28).
  • V. The holy oil and incense (v. 29).

The particular appointment concerning each of which we had before the 25th and 30th chapters.

Exd 37:1-9

  • I. It may be thought strange that Moses, when he had recorded so fully the instructions given him upon the mount for the making of all these things, should here record as particularly the making of them, when it might have sufficed only to have said, in a few words, that each of these things was made exactly according to the directions before recited. We are sure that Moses, when he wrote by divine inspiration, used no vain repetitions; there are no idle words in scripture. Why then are so many chapters taken up with this narrative, which we are tempted to think needless and tedious? But we must consider,
    • 1. That Moses wrote primarily for the people of Israel, to whom it would be of great use to read and hear often of these divine and sacred treasures with which they were entrusted. These several ornaments wherewith the tabernacle was furnished they were not admitted to see, but the priests only, and therefore it was requisite that they should be thus largely described particularly to them. That which they ought to read again (lest they should fail of doing it) is written again and again: thus many of the same passages of the history of Christ are in the New Testament related by two or three, and some by four of the evangelists, for the same reason. The great things of God's law and gospel we need to have inculcated upon us again and again. To write the same (says St. Paul) to me is not grievous, but for you it is safe, Phil. 3:1.
    • 2. Moses would thus show the great care which he and his workmen took to make every thing exactly according to the pattern shown him in the mount. Having before given us the original, he here givers us the copy, that we may compare them, and observe how exactly they agree. Thus he appeals to every reader concerning his fidelity to him that appointed him, in all his house, and in all the particulars of it, Heb. 3:5. And thus he teaches us to have respect to all God's commandments, even to every iota and tittle of them.
    • 3. It is intimated hereby that God takes delight in the sincere obedience of his people, and keeps an exact account of it, which shall be produced to their honour in the resurrection of the just. None can be so punctual in their duty, but God will be as punctual in his notices of it. He is not unrighteous to forget the work and labour of love, in any instance of it, Heb. 6:10.
    • 4. The spiritual riches and beauties of the gospel tabernacle are hereby recommended to our frequent and serious consideration. Go walk about this Zion, view it and review it: the more you contemplate the glories of the church, the more you will admire them and be in love with them. The charter of its privileges, and the account of its constitution, will very well bear a second reading.
  • II. In these verses we have an account of the making of the ark, with its glorious and most significant appurtenances, the mercy-seat and the cherubim. Consider these three together, and they represent the glory of a holy god, the sincerity of a holy heart, and the communion that is between them, in and by a Mediator.
    • 1. It is the glory of a holy god that he dwells between the cherubim; that is, is continually attended and adored by the blessed angels, whose swiftness was signified by their faces being one towards another.
    • 2. It is the character of an upright heart that, like the ark of the testimony, it has the law of God hid and kept in it.
    • 3. By Jesus Christ, the great propitiation, there is reconciliation made, and a communion settled, between us and God: he interposes between us and God's displeasure; and not only so, but through him we become entitled to God's favour. If he write his law in our heart, he will be to us a God and we shall be to him a people. From the mercy-seat he will teach us, there he will accept us, and show himself merciful to our unrighteousness; and under the shadow of his wings we shall be safe and easy.

Exd 37:10-24

Here is,

  • 1. The making of the table on which the show-bread was to be continually placed. God is a good householder, that always keeps a plentiful table. Is the world his tabernacle? His providence in it spreads a table for all the creatures: he provides food for all flesh. Is the church his tabernacle? His grace in it spreads a table for all believers, furnished with the bread of life. But observe how much the dispensation of the gospel exceeds that of the law. Though here was a table furnished, it was only with show-bread, bread to be looked upon, not to be fed upon, while it was on this table, and afterwards only by the priests; but to the table which Christ has spread in the new covenant all real Christians are invited guests; and to them it is said, Eat, O friends, come eat of my bread. What the law gave but a sight of at a distance, the gospel gives the enjoyment of, and a hearty welcome to.
  • 2. The making of the candlestick, which was not of wood overlaid with gold, but all beaten work of pure gold only, v. 17, 22. This signified that light of divine revelation with which God's church upon earth (which is his tabernacle among men) has always been enlightened, being always supplied with fresh oil from Christ the good Olive, Zec. 4:2, 3. God's manifestations of himself in this world are but candle-light compared with the daylight of the future state. The Bible is a golden candlestick; it is of pure gold, Ps. 19:10. From it light is diffused to every part of God's tabernacle, that by it his spiritual priests may see to minister unto the Lord, and to do the service of his sanctuary. This candlestick has not only its bowls for necessary use, but its knops and flowers for ornament; there are many things which God saw fit to beautify his word with which we can no more give a reason for than for these knops and flowers, and yet we are sure that they were added for a good purpose. Let us bless God for this candlestick, have an eye to it continually, and dread the removal of it out of its place.

Exd 37:25-29

Here is,

  • 1. The making of the golden altar, on which incense was to be burnt daily, which signified both the prayers of saints and the intercession of Christ, to which are owing the acceptableness and success of those prayers. The rings and staves, and all the appurtenances of this altar, were overlaid with gold, as all the vessels of the table and candlestick were of gold, for these were used in the holy place. God is the best, and we must serve him with the best we have; but the best we can serve him with in his courts on earth is but as brass, compared with the gold, the sinless and spotless perfection, with which his saints shall serve him in his holy place above.
  • 2. The preparing of the incense which was to be burnt upon this altar, and with it the holy anointing oil (v. 29), according to the dispensatory, ch. 30:22, etc. God taught Bezaleel this art also; so that though he was not before acquainted with it yet he made up these things according to the work of the apothecary, as dexterously and exactly as if he had been bred up to the trade. Where God gives wisdom and grace, it will make the man of God perfect, thoroughly furnished to every good work.