Exodus 25:10 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

They shall make an ark of shittim-wood— The furniture of the most sacred part of the tabernacle, the Holy of holies, the immediate residence of the Divinity, is first appointed. Of this, the ark or chest was the principal; which, made of shittim-wood, Exodus 25:5 was about four feet five inches in length, and two feet six inches in height and breadth, overlaid with pure gold within and without; with a crown or circular rim of gold round about it, Exodus 25:11 and was to have two golden rings on each end, [see 1 Kings 8:8. 2 Chronicles 5:9.] in which were to be put staves of shittim-wood overlaid with gold, for the convenience of carrying the ark; and which, the Hebrews say, were about ten cubits long. Into the ark, the testimony, i.e. the tables of the covenant, instruments attesting the covenant between God and the people, were to be put, (see ch. Exodus 31:18. Deuteronomy 10:2.) as well as the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded. Numbers 17:10. Hebrews 9:4. A cover was to be made for this ark of pure gold, which is called the mercy-seat, Exodus 25:17. כפרת caporet, from כפר coper, to cover. The LXX generally render it by ιλαστηριον, the propitiatory; by which name St. Paul also calls it, Hebrews 9:5 and applies this name to Christ, Romans 3:25 whom God hath set forth ιλαστηριον, as a propitiatory or mercy-seat; and thereby he assures us that Christ was the true mercy-seat, the reality of what the כפרת caporet represented to the ancient believers. Upon the two ends of the mercy-seat, and of the same matter with it, Exodus 25:19 two cherubims were to be placed; between which, from above the mercy-seat, the LORD was pleased to discover himself, and to deliver his sacred commands, Exodus 25:22. We meet with imitations of this divinely instituted emblem among several heathen nations.