Exodus 37 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

The Making of the Furniture - The Work Overseen By Bezalel (Exodus 37:1 to Exodus 38:20).

Bezalel had responsibility for all the sacred furniture. We may assume, however, that he obtained assistance in the more general work. We note that the order of furniture made commences from the Holy of Holies and moves through the Holy Place to the outer court.

There is here a continual general pattern commencing with the making and description of the item of furniture, followed by the making of the means of its transportation (rings and staves) (Exodus 37:1 to Exodus 38:8).

The Making of the Ark (Exodus 37:1-9).

Exodus 37:1-9

‘And Bezalel made the ark of acacia 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: and he overlaid it with pure gold within and without, and made a crown of gold to it round about. And he cast for it four rings of gold, in on its four feet; even two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it. And he made staves of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold. And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the ark, to bear the ark. And he made a mercy-seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. And he made two cherubim of gold; he made them of beaten work, at the two ends of the mercy-seat; 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. And the cherubim spread out their wings on high, covering the mercy-seat with their wings, with their faces one to another; the faces of the cherubim were towards the mercy-seat.'

Note that it is stressed that the Ark was made by Bezalel himself. The best was made by the best. For details of the Ark see on Exodus 25:10-22.

The Making Of Table For The Showbread (Exodus 37:10-16).

Exodus 37:10-16

‘And he made the table of acacia wood: two cubits was its length, and a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height: and he overlaid it with pure gold, and made for it a crown of gold round about. And he made for it a border of a handbreadth round about, and made a golden crown for its border round about. And he cast for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that were on its four feet. Close by the border were the rings, the places for the staves to bear the table. And he made the staves of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold, to bear the table. And he made the vessels which were on the table, its dishes and its spoons, and its bowls, and its flagons, with which to pour out, of pure gold.'

For the Table details see on Exodus 25:23-30.

The Making Of The Golden Lampstand (Exodus 37:17-24).

Exodus 37:17-24

‘And he made the lampstand of pure gold: of beaten work he made the lampstand, even its base, and its shaft; its cups, its knops, and its flowers, were of one piece with it. And there were six branches going out of its sides; three branches of the lampstand out of one of its sides, and three branches of the lampstand out of its other side: three cups made like almond-blossoms in one branch, a knop and a flower, and three cups made like almond-blossoms in the other branch, a knop and a flower: so for the six branches going out of the lampstand. And in the lampstand were four cups made like almond-blossoms, the its knops, and its flowers; and a knop under two branches of one piece with it, and a knop under two branches of one piece with it, and a knop under two branches of one piece with it, for the six branches going out of it. Their knops and their branches were of one piece with it: the whole of it was one beaten work of pure gold. And he made its lamps, seven, and its snuffers, and its snuffdishes, of pure gold. he made it of a talent of pure gold, and all its vessels.'

For the lampstand details see on 25:31-40.

The Making Of The Altar of Incense (Exodus 37:25-28).

Exodus 37:25-28

‘And he made the altar of incense of acacia wood: a cubit was its length, and a cubit its breadth, foursquare; and two cubits its height. Its horns were of one piece with it. And he overlaid it with pure gold, its top, and its sides round about, and its horns: and he made for it a raised ridge of gold round about. And he made for it two golden rings under its ridge, on its two ribs, on the two sides of it, for places for staves with which to bear it. And he made the staves of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold.

For the altar of incense details see on Exodus 30:1-10. These verses were omitted by LXX possibly because the fact of the non-appearance of the Altar of Incense with the Table and the Lampstand in Exodus 25 influenced their thinking.

The Making Of The Anointing Oil And The Incense.

Exodus 37:29

‘And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, after the art of the perfumer.'

For details of these see on Exodus 30:22-38.