And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
Mercyseat - х kaporet (H3727); Septuagint, hilasteerion (G2435), propitiatory (cf. Romans 3:25; Galatians 3:10; Galatians 3:13).] It was a covering of pure gold spread over the ark in which the tables of the law were kept, to serve as a lid, covering it exactly, but not as a mere appendage of the ark. It was a separate article, bearing a deeply interesting and important significance; and therefore the preparation was introduced by a fresh order, "thou shalt make," etc. It was 'the propitiatory cover,' as the term may be rendered; denoting that Christ, our great propitiation, has fully answered all the demands of the law, covers our transgressions, and comes between us and the curse of a violated law.