Exodus Chapter 37

Constructing the Ark

(Exodus 25:10-16)

1And Bezaleel made the ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half was the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it: 2And he overlaid it with pure gold within and without, and made a crown of gold to it round about. 3And he cast for it four rings of gold, to be set by the four corners of it; even two rings upon the one side of it, and two rings upon the other side of it. 4And he made staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold. 5And he put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, to bear the ark. 6And he made the mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and one cubit and a half the breadth thereof. 7And he made two cherubims of gold, beaten out of one piece made he them, on the two ends of the mercy seat; 8One cherub on the end on this side, and another cherub on the other end on that side: out of the mercy seat made he the cherubims on the two ends thereof. 9And the cherubims spread out their wings on high, and covered with their wings over the mercy seat, with their faces one to another; even to the mercy seatward were the faces of the cherubims.

The Table of Showbread

(Exodus 25:23-30; Leviticus 24:5-9)

10And he made the table of shittim wood: two cubits was the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof: 11And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made thereunto a crown of gold round about. 12Also he made thereunto a border of an handbreadth round about; and made a crown of gold for the border thereof round about. 13And he cast for it four rings of gold, and put the rings upon the four corners that were in the four feet thereof. 14Over against the border were the rings, the places for the staves to bear the table. 15And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold, to bear the table. 16And he made the vessels which were upon the table, his dishes, and his spoons, and his bowls, and his covers to cover withal, of pure gold.

The Lampstand

17And he made the candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work made he the candlestick; his shaft, and his branch, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, were of the same: 18And six branches going out of the sides thereof; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side thereof: 19Three bowls made after the fashion of almonds in one branch, a knop and a flower; and three bowls made like almonds in another branch, a knop and a flower: so throughout the six branches going out of the candlestick. 20And in the candlestick were four bowls made like almonds, his knops, and his flowers: 21And a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches going out of it. 22Their knops and their branches were of the same: all of it was one beaten work of pure gold. 23And he made his seven lamps, and his snuffers, and his snuffdishes, of pure gold. 24Of a talent of pure gold made he it, and all the vessels thereof.

The Altar of Incense

(Exodus 30:1-10)

25And he made the incense altar of shittim wood: the length of it was a cubit, and the breadth of it a cubit; it was foursquare; and two cubits was the height of it; the horns thereof were of the same. 26And he overlaid it with pure gold, both the top of it, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns of it: also he made unto it a crown of gold round about. 27And he made two rings of gold for it under the crown thereof, by the two corners of it, upon the two sides thereof, to be places for the staves to bear it withal. 28And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold. 29And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

Constructing the Ark
(Exodus 25:10–16)

1 Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Its length was two and a half cubits, and its breadth a cubit and a half, and a cubit and a half its height. 2 He overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold for it around it. 3 He 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. 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 bear the ark.

The Mercy Seat
(Exodus 25:17–22)

6 He made a mercy seat of pure gold. Its length was two and a half cubits, and a cubit and a half its breadth. 7 He made two cherubim of gold. He made them of beaten 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 its two ends. 9 The 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.

The Table of Showbread
(Exodus 25:23–30; Leviticus 24:5–9)

10 He made the table of acacia wood. Its length was two cubits, and its breadth was a cubit, and its height was a cubit and a half. 11 He overlaid it with pure gold, and made a gold molding around it. 12 He made a border of a handbreadth around it, and made a golden molding on its border around it. 13 He cast four rings of gold for it, and put the rings in the four corners that were on its four feet. 14 The rings were close by the border, the places 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 vessels which were on the table, its dishes, its spoons, its bowls, and its pitchers with which to pour out, of pure gold.

The Lampstand
(Exodus 25:31–40; Numbers 8:1–4)

17 He made the lampstand of pure gold. He made the lampstand of beaten work. Its base, its shaft, its cups, its buds, and its flowers were of one piece with it. 18 There were six branches going out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of its one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of its other side: 19 three 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 lampstand. 20 In the lampstand were four cups made like almond blossoms, its buds and its flowers; 21 and 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. 22 Their buds and their branches were of one piece with it. The whole thing was one beaten work of pure gold. 23 He made its seven lamps, and its snuffers, and its snuff dishes, of pure gold. 24 He made it of a talent of pure gold, with all its vessels.

The Altar of Incense
(Exodus 30:1–10)

25 He made the altar of incense of acacia wood. It was square: its length was a cubit, and its breadth a cubit. Its height was two cubits. Its horns were of one piece with it. 26 He overlaid it with pure gold, its top, its sides around it, and its horns. He made a gold molding around it. 27 He 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. 28 He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold. 29 He made the holy anointing oil and the pure incense of sweet spices, after the art of the perfumer.

Constructing the Ark
(Exodus 25:10–16)

1 Bezalel went on to construct the ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. a 2 He overlaid it with pure gold, both inside and out, and made a gold molding around it. 3 And he cast four gold rings for its four feet, two rings on one side and two on the other. 4 Then he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. 5 He inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry it.

The Mercy Seat
(Exodus 25:17–22)

6 He constructed a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. b 7 He made two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat, 8 one cherub on one end and one on the other, all made from one piece of gold. 9 And the cherubim had wings that spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the mercy seat.

The Table of Showbread
(Exodus 25:23–30; Leviticus 24:5–9)

10 He also made the table of acacia wood two cubits long, a cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high. c 11 He overlaid it with pure gold and made a gold molding around it. 12 And he made a rim around it a handbreadth wide d and put a gold molding on the rim.

13 He cast four gold rings for the table and fastened them to the four corners at its four legs. 14 The rings were placed close to the rim, to serve as holders for the poles used to carry the table. 15 He made the poles of acacia wood for carrying the table and overlaid them with gold.

16 He also made the utensils for the table out of pure gold: its plates and dishes, as well as its bowls and pitchers for pouring drink offerings.

The Lampstand
(Exodus 25:31–40; Numbers 8:1–4)

17 Then he made the lampstand out of pure hammered gold, all of one piece: its base and shaft, its cups, and its buds and petals. 18 Six branches extended from the sides, three on one side and three on the other. 19 There were three cups shaped like almond blossoms on the first branch, each with buds and petals, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches that extended from the lampstand.

20 And on the lampstand were four cups shaped like almond blossoms with buds and petals. 21 A bud was under the first pair of branches that extended from the lampstand, a bud under the second pair, and a bud under the third pair. 22 The buds and branches were all of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.

23 He also made its seven lamps, its wick trimmers, and trays of pure gold. 24 He made the lampstand and all its utensils from a talent of pure gold. e

The Altar of Incense
(Exodus 30:1–10)

25 He made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high. f Its horns were of one piece. 26 And he overlaid with pure gold the top and all the sides and horns. Then he made a molding of gold around it.

27 He made two gold rings below the molding on opposite sides to hold the poles used to carry it. 28 And he made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.

29 He also made the sacred anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense, the work of a perfumer.

Footnotes:

1 a The ark was approximately 3.75 feet long, 2.25 feet wide, and 2.25 feet high (114.3 centimeters long, 68.6 centimeters wide, and 68.6 centimeters high).
6 b The mercy seat was approximately 3.75 feet long and 2.25 feet wide (114.3 centimeters long and 68.6 centimeters wide).
10 c The table was approximately 3 feet long, 1.5 feet wide, and 2.25 feet high (91.4 centimeters long, 45.7 centimeters wide, and 68.6 centimeters high).
12 d A handbreadth  is approximately 2.9 inches or 7.4 centimeters.
24 e A talent  is approximately 75.4 pounds or 34.2 kilograms of gold.
25 f The altar was approximately 1.5 feet in length and width, and 3 feet high (45.7 centimeters in length and width, and 91.4 centimeters high).

Constructing the Ark

(Exodus 25:10-16)

1And Bezaleel maketh the ark of shittim wood, two cubits and a half its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height; 2and he overlayeth it with pure gold within and without, and maketh for it a wreath of gold round about; 3and he casteth for it four rings of gold, on its four feet, even two rings on its one side, and two rings on its second side; 4and he maketh staves of shittim wood, and overlayeth them with gold, 5and he bringeth in the staves into the rings, by the sides of the ark, to bear the ark. 6And he maketh a mercy-seat of pure gold, two cubits and a half its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth; 7and he maketh two cherubs of gold, of beaten work he hath made them, at the two ends of the mercy-seat; 8one cherub at the end on this side, and one cherub at the end on that, out of the mercy-seat he hath made the cherubs, at its two ends; 9and the cherubs are spreading out wings on high, covering over the mercy-seat with their wings, and their faces are one towards another; towards the mercy-seat have the faces of the cherubs been.

The Table of Showbread

(Exodus 25:23-30; Leviticus 24:5-9)

10And he maketh the table of shittim wood; two cubits its length, and a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height, 11and overlayeth it with pure gold, and maketh for it a wreath of gold round about. 12And he maketh for it a border of a handbreadth round about, and maketh a wreath of gold for its border round about; 13and he casteth for it four rings of gold, and putteth the rings on the four corners which are to its four feet; 14over-against the border have the rings been, places for staves to bear the table. 15And he maketh the staves of shittim wood, and overlayeth them with gold, to bear the table; 16and he maketh the vessels which are upon the table, its dishes, and its bowls, and its cups, and the cups by which they pour out, of pure gold.

The Lampstand

17And he maketh the candlestick of pure gold; of beaten work he hath made the candlestick, its base, and its branch, its calyxes, its knops, and its flowers, have been of the same; 18and six branches are coming out of its sides, three branches of the candlestick out of its one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of its second side; 19three calyxes, made like almonds, in the one branch, a knop and a flower; and three calyxes, made like almonds, in another branch, a knop and a flower; so to the six branches which are coming out of the candlestick. 20And in the candlestick are four calyxes, made like almonds, its knops, and its flowers, 21and a knop under the two branches of the same, and a knop under the two branches of the same, and a knop under the two branches of the same, are to the six branches which are coming out of it; 22their knops and their branches have been of the same; all of it one beaten work of pure gold. 23And he maketh its seven lamps, and its snuffers, and its snuff-dishes, of pure gold; 24of a talent of pure gold he hath made it, and all its vessels.

The Altar of Incense

(Exodus 30:1-10)

25And he maketh the perfume-altar of shittim wood; a cubit its length, and a cubit its breadth (square), and two cubits its height; its horns have been of the same; 26and he overlayeth it with pure gold, its top and its sides round about, and its horns; and he maketh for it a wreath of gold round about; 27and two rings of gold he hath made for it under its wreath, at its two corners, at its two sides, for places for staves to bear it with them. 28And he maketh the staves of shittim wood, and overlayeth them with gold; 29and he maketh the holy anointing oil, and the pure spice-perfume -- work of a compounder.

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of Exodus 37?

1.1Introduction to Exodus 37

1.2Context of Exodus 37

1.3Ancient Key Word Study

1.4Compare & Contrast

1.5Exodus 37 Unique Insights

1.6Exodus 37 Connections to Yeshua

1.7Exodus 37 Scriptural Echoes

1.8Exodus 37 Devotional

1.9Did You Know

What is the meaning of Exodus 37?

Introduction to Exodus 37

Exodus 37 presents a masterful description of the sacred furnishings for the Tabernacle, focusing on Bezalel’s craftsmanship in creating the most holy objects that would serve in Israel’s worship. This chapter stands as a testament to the precise attention to detail in implementing יהוה (Yahweh)’s divine blueprint for His dwelling place among His people. The careful execution of these sacred items demonstrates both the skill of the artisans and their faithful adherence to the divine specifications.

The meticulous detail in this chapter reveals how each element of the Tabernacle’s furnishings was crafted with extraordinary care and spiritual significance, pointing to deeper theological truths about God’s presence among His people and the future work of the Messiah.

Context of Exodus 37

This chapter falls within the larger narrative of the Tabernacle’s construction (Exodus 35-40), specifically detailing the creation of its most sacred furniture. It follows directly after the appointment of skilled craftsmen and the collection of materials in Exodus 36, and precedes the making of the priestly garments in Exodus 38-39.

Within the broader context of Exodus, this chapter represents the faithful implementation of the divine instructions given to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 25-31). The parallel between the instructions and their execution demonstrates Israel’s obedience and restoration of covenant relationship after the golden calf incident. This restoration theme echoes throughout Scripture, from the Garden of Eden to the New Jerusalem, where God’s presence dwells perfectly among His people.

The precision in crafting these sacred objects sets a precedent for how God’s people should approach worship and service, emphasizing both the beauty and holiness required in approaching the Divine Presence. This attention to detail foreshadows the exacting requirements that would later be fulfilled perfectly in the Messiah’s redemptive work.

Ancient Key Word Study

Bezalel (בְּצַלְאֵל) – Meaning “in the shadow of God,” this craftsman’s name itself suggests divine protection and inspiration. His selection and filling with the Spirit of God (Exodus 31:2-3) prefigures the spiritual gifting of believers in the New Covenant.
Ark (אָרוֹן) – More than just a box, this term connects to the root meaning “to gather” or “to harvest,” suggesting its role as the gathering place of God’s testimony and presence. The same word is used for Joseph’s coffin, creating a linguistic link between death, preservation, and hope.
Mercy Seat (כַּפֹּרֶת) – From the root כפר (kaphar), meaning “to cover” or “to atone,” this was literally the “place of atonement.” Its position above the Ark symbolizes God’s mercy triumphing over judgment.
Cherubim (כְּרֻבִים) – These angelic beings represent both guardians and worshippers. Their faces toward the mercy seat picture creation’s longing gaze toward redemption, while their wings form a throne for the invisible presence of יהוה.
Pure Gold (זָהָב טָהוֹר) – The repeated use of “pure gold” emphasizes both material and spiritual purity. The root טהר (tahar) connects to ceremonial and moral cleanliness, pointing to the perfect purity required in God’s presence.
Overlay (צָפָה) – This verb, meaning “to cover” or “to overlay,” carries connotations of protection and transformation. The wood covered in gold pictures humanity clothed in divine glory.
Acacia Wood (עֲצֵי שִׁטִּים) – This durable, incorruptible wood symbolizes the imperishable nature of God’s covenant. Its use in the desert tabernacle points to life sustained in barren places through divine provision.
Incense (קְטֹרֶת) – From the root קטר (qatar), meaning “to smoke” or “to offer sacrifice,” the incense altar represents prayer and intercession rising before God.

Compare & Contrast

The Ark’s construction combines wood and gold, not purely one material, teaching that God’s dwelling with man requires both divine glory (gold) and human nature (wood) – a prophetic picture of the incarnation where deity and humanity perfectly unite in the Messiah.
The Mercy Seat is described as “pure gold” without any wood base, emphasizing that atonement is purely a divine work. Alternative materials would have diminished this theological truth about salvation being entirely of God.
The Cherubim are “hammered work” (מִקְשָׁה), not cast or carved separately and attached. This specific technique emphasizes their organic unity with the mercy seat, showing how divine justice and mercy are inseparable in God’s nature.
The Table’s crown molding is described using the term זֵר (zer), which shares its root with נֵזֶר (nezer), the word for a king’s crown. This linguistic choice points to the royal aspects of fellowship with God.
The Lampstand’s description uses the term ירך (yarek) for its base, a word also meaning “thigh” or “side,” emphasizing its anthropomorphic design as representing the light-bearing function of God’s people.
The Incense Altar’s horns were made “of one piece” (מִמֶּנּוּ), emphasizing organic unity rather than assembled parts, teaching that prayer and intercession must flow naturally from worship rather than being artificially attached.
The precise measurements given for each item demonstrate that approaching God requires careful attention to His standards rather than human innovation or approximation.

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Exodus 37 Unique Insights

The Rabbinical tradition notes that while most of the Tabernacle’s construction is described using the plural “they made,” the creation of the sacred furnishings in this chapter often uses singular verbs, highlighting Bezalel’s personal responsibility and expertise. The Midrash Tanchuma suggests that Bezalel’s unique wisdom included understanding the mystical significance of each item he crafted, seeing them as physical representations of spiritual realities.

Early Christian writers, such as Origen and Gregory of Nyssa, saw in the pure gold overlaying wood a picture of the divine nature clothing human nature – a prefiguring of both the incarnation and the glorification of believers. The medieval Jewish commentator Rashi notes that the phrase “on its four feet” regarding the table suggests stability in all circumstances, teaching that God’s provision remains steady even in times of upheaval.

The measurements of the Ark incorporate the divine number seven in various ways: its length (2.5 cubits) and height (1.5 cubits) sum to 4, while its width (1.5 cubits) completes the seven. This mathematical harmony suggests the perfect divine order underlying creation and redemption.

The location of the Incense Altar’s description in this chapter, rather than with the other altar in Exodus 38, emphasizes its connection to the Holy Place items, teaching that prayer (symbolized by incense) should arise from communion with God (the table) and illumination by His Spirit (the lampstand).

Exodus 37 Connections to Yeshua

The craftsmanship of Bezalel, filled with the Spirit of God, prefigures how the Messiah would be filled with the Spirit without measure (John 3:34). Just as Bezalel constructed the earthly dwelling place for God’s presence, Yeshua prepared a living temple through His redemptive work.

The Ark of the Covenant, containing the law and covered by the mercy seat, beautifully pictures how the Messiah would fulfill the law while providing atonement cover for those who trust in Him. The cherubim gazing at the mercy seat foreshadow the angels’ desire to look into the mysteries of redemption (1 Peter 1:12). The pure gold mercy seat, untouched by human hands in its formation, points to the divine origin of salvation through the Messiah’s perfect sacrifice.

Exodus 37 Scriptural Echoes

This chapter resonates with Solomon’s Temple construction in 1 Kings 6-7, where the same attention to detail and materials appears on a grander scale. The careful preservation of the Ark’s design elements shows how God’s redemptive patterns remain consistent through biblical history.

The golden lampstand prefigures the seven churches in Revelation 1:20, showing God’s people as light-bearers. The incense altar connects to Revelation 8:3-4, where prayers rise before God’s throne like incense.

The showbread table points forward to Yeshua as the Bread of Life (John 6:35) and the fellowship believers have in Him. The entire chapter anticipates the heavenly tabernacle described in Hebrews 8:1-5.

Exodus 37 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to consider the quality and care we bring to our worship and service to God. Just as every detail of the Tabernacle’s furnishings was crafted with excellence and purpose, we should approach our spiritual lives with intentionality and dedication.

The pure gold covering every sacred item reminds us that God calls us to pursue holiness in every aspect of life. Yet, the wood beneath the gold encourages us that God uses ordinary human materials, transformed by His grace, to accomplish His purposes.

Consider how the incense altar’s perpetual sweet aroma before the Lord parallels Paul’s call for our lives to be a “fragrant offering” (Ephesians 5:2). Let this inspire you to live each day as an offering of worship to God.

Did You Know

The total amount of gold used in these furnishings would be worth millions in today’s currency, showing the immense value ancient Israel placed on proper worship.
The specific acacia wood used was known for being virtually impervious to insects and rot, making it ideal for desert conditions and symbolizing incorruptibility.
The cherubim on the Ark faced each other but also slightly downward, creating a perfect triangle of focus on the mercy seat below them.
The lampstand required such intricate craftsmanship that according to Jewish tradition, Bezalel had to cast it four times before achieving the perfect form.
The table’s measurements ensured it was at the perfect height for priests to eat the showbread while standing in service, combining practicality with ceremonial significance.
The rings for carrying the Ark were permanently attached, teaching that God’s presence and testimony should always be ready to move with His people.
Ancient Jewish sources suggest that the pure gold of the mercy seat was so perfectly hammered that despite its complexity, it had no joints or solder points.
The incense altar’s position made it the closest piece of furniture to the Holy of Holies that was used daily, highlighting the importance of prayer in approaching God.
The crown moldings on the furniture used a unique Hebrew term that appears nowhere else in Scripture except in Tabernacle descriptions.

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