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Texts -- Exodus 37:1-29 (NET)

Context
The Making of the Ark
37:1 Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood ; its length was three feet nine inches , its width two feet three inches , and its height two feet three inches . 37:2 He overlaid it with pure gold , inside and out , and he made a surrounding border of gold for it. 37:3 He cast four gold rings for it that he put on its four feet , with two rings on one side and two rings on the other side . 37:4 He made poles of acacia wood , overlaid them with gold , 37:5 and put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry the ark . 37:6 He made an atonement lid of pure gold ; its length was three feet nine inches , and its width was two feet three inches . 37:7 He made two cherubim of gold ; he made them of hammered metal on the two ends of the atonement lid , 37:8 one cherub on one end and one cherub on the other end . He made the cherubim from the atonement lid on its two ends . 37:9 The cherubim were spreading their wings upward , overshadowing the atonement lid with their wings . The cherubim faced each other , looking toward the atonement lid .
The Making of the Table
37:10 He made the table of acacia wood ; its length was three feet , its width one foot six inches , and its height two feet three inches . 37:11 He overlaid it with pure gold , and he made a surrounding border of gold for it. 37:12 He made a surrounding frame for it about three inches wide , and he made a surrounding border of gold for its frame . 37:13 He cast four gold rings for it and attached the rings at the four corners where its four legs were. 37:14 The rings were close to the frame to provide places for the poles to carry the table . 37:15 He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold , to carry the table . 37:16 He made the vessels which were on the table out of pure gold , its plates , its ladles , its pitchers , and its bowls , to be used in pouring out offerings.
The Making of the Lampstand
37:17 He made the lampstand of pure gold . He made the lampstand of hammered metal ; its base and its shaft , its cups , its buds , and its blossoms were from the same piece. 37:18 Six branches were extending from its sides , three branches of the lampstand from one side of it, and three branches of the lampstand from the other side of it. 37:19 Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms were on the first branch , and three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms were on the next branch , and the same for the six branches that were extending from the lampstand . 37:20 On the lampstand there were four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms , 37:21 with a bud under the first two branches from it, and a bud under the next two branches from it, and a bud under the third two branches from it; according to the six branches that extended from it. 37:22 Their buds and their branches were of one piece; all of it was one hammered piece of pure gold . 37:23 He made its seven lamps , its trimmers , and its trays of pure gold . 37:24 He made the lampstand and all its accessories with seventy-five pounds of pure gold .
The Making of the Altar of Incense
37:25 He made the incense altar of acacia wood . Its length was a foot and a half and its width a foot and a half – a square – and its height was three feet . Its horns were of one piece with it. 37:26 He overlaid it with pure gold – its top , its four walls , and its horns – and he made a surrounding border of gold for it. 37:27 He also made two gold rings for it under its border , on its two sides , on opposite sides , as places for poles to carry it with. 37:28 He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold . 37:29 He made the sacred anointing oil and the pure fragrant incense , the work of a perfumer .

Pericope

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Bible Dictionary

  • Tabernacle

    [ebd] (1.) A house or dwelling-place (Job 5:24; 18:6, etc.). (2.) A portable shrine (comp. Acts 19:24) containing the image of Moloch (Amos 5:26; marg. and R.V., "Siccuth"). (3.) The human body (2 Cor. 5:1, 4); a tent, as opposed ...
    [nave] TABERNACLE One existed before Moses received the pattern authorized on Mount Sinai, Ex. 33:7-11. The one instituted by Moses was called Sanctuary, Ex. 25:8; Tabernacle, Ex. 27:21; 33:7; 2 Chr. 5:5; of Testimony, Ex. 38:21; ...

  • Israel

    [nave] ISRAEL 1. A name given to Jacob, Gen. 32:24-32; 2 Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3, 4. 2. A name of the Christ in prophecy, Isa. 49:3. 3. A name given to the descendants of Jacob, a nation. Called also Israelites, and Hebrews, Gen. 4...

  • Gold

    [nave] GOLD Exported from Havilah, Gen. 2:11, 12. From Ophir, 1 Kin. 9:28; 10:11; 1 Chr. 29:4; 2 Chr. 8:18; Job 22:24; Tarshish, 1 Kin. 22:48; Parvaim, 2 Chr. 3:6; Sheba, 1 Kin. 10:10; 2 Chr. 9:9; Psa. 72:15; Uphaz, Jer. 10:9. Re...

  • CANDLESTICK

    [ebd] the lamp-stand, "candelabrum," which Moses was commanded to make for the tabernacle, according to the pattern shown him. Its form is described in Ex. 25:31-40; 37:17-24, and may be seen represented on the Arch of Titus at Ro...
    [smith] which Moses was commanded to make for the tabernacle, is described (Exodus 25:31-37; 37:17-24) It was not strictly a "candlestick," as it held seven richly-adorned lamps. With its various appurtenances it required a talent of...

  • Ark

    [ebd] Noah's ark, a building of gopher-wood, and covered with pitch, 300 cubits long, 50 cubits broad, and 30 cubits high (Gen. 6:14-16); an oblong floating house of three stories, with a door in the side and a window in the roof....
    [nave] ARK 1. Noah's. Directions for building of, Gen. 6:14-16. Noah and family preserved in, Gen. 6:18; 7:8; Matt. 24:38; Heb. 11:7; 1 Pet. 3:20. Animals saved in, Gen. 6:19, 20; 7:1-16. 2. Of Bulrushes, Ex. 2:3. 3. In the Tab...

  • Holy place

    [ebd] one of the two portions into which the tabernacle was divided (Ex. 26:31; 37:17-25; Heb. 9:2). It was 20 cubits long and 10 in height and breadth. It was illuminated by the golden candlestick, as it had no opening to admit t...

  • CANDLESTICK, THE GOLDEN

    [isbe] CANDLESTICK, THE GOLDEN - kan'-d'-l-stik, gold'-'-n (menorah, literally "lamp-stand"): An important part of the furniture of the tabernacle and temples. See TABERNACLE; TEMPLE; LAMP. 1. The Tabernacle: The candlestick is fir...

  • Lampstand

    [nave] LAMPSTAND Of the Tabernacle Made after divine pattern, Ex. 25:31-40; 37:17-24; Num. 8:4. Place of, Ex. 26:35; 40:24, 25; Heb. 9:2. Furniture of, Ex. 25:38; 37:23; Num. 4:9, 10. Burned every night, Ex. 27:20, 21. Trimmed...

  • Altar

    [ebd] (Heb. mizbe'ah, from a word meaning "to slay"), any structure of earth (Ex. 20:24) or unwrought stone (20:25) on which sacrifices were offered. Altars were generally erected in conspicuous places (Gen. 22:9; Ezek. 6:3; 2 Kin...
    [nave] ALTAR Built by Noah, Gen. 8:20; Abraham, Gen. 12:7, 8; 13:18; 22:9; Isaac, Gen. 26:25; Jacob, Gen. 33:20; 35:1-7; Moses, Ex. 17:15; 24:4; Balaam, Num. 23:1, 14, 29; Joshua, Deut. 27:4-7; Josh. 8:30-32; Reubenites and Gadites...

  • SHEWBREAD, THE

    [isbe] SHEWBREAD, THE - sho'-bred lechem ha-panim, "bread of the presence"; he prothesis ton arton (Heb 9:2); the American Standard Revised Version "showbread"). See SHEW: 1. The Term: The marginal reading of Ex 25:30; 35:13, the R...

  • Consecrated Bread

    [nave] CONSECRATED BREAD Heb. 9:2. Called Hallowed Bread, 1 Sam. 21:6. Ordinance concerning, Lev. 24:5-9. Required to be kept before the Lord continually, Ex. 25:30; 2 Chr. 2:4. Provided by a yearly per capita tax, Neh. 10:32,...

  • Lamp

    [nave] LAMP Miraculously appeared at Abraham's sacrifice, Gen. 15:17. For the tabernacle, Ex. 25:31-40; 37:17-22. Kept burning at night in the tabernacle and cared for by priests, Ex. 27:20, 21; Lev. 24:2-4. Figurative Job 18:6...

  • CROWN

    [isbe] CROWN - kroun: The word crown in the Old Testament is a translation of five different Hebrew words, and in the New Testament of two Greek words. These express the several meanings, and must be examined to ascertain the same....

  • Bowl

    [ebd] The sockets of the lamps of the golden candlestick of the tabernacle are called bowls (Ex. 25:31, 33, 34; 37:17, 19, 20); the same word so rendered being elsewhere rendered "cup" (Gen. 44:2, 12, 16), and wine "pot" (Jer. 35:...
    [nave] BOWL Made of gold: For the tabernacle, Ex. 25:29; 37:16; temple, 1 Kin. 7:50; 1 Chr. 28:17; 2 Chr. 4:8; of silver, Num. 4:7; 7:13, 19, 25, 31, 37, 43, 49, 55, 61, 67, 73, 79, 84. Stamped "Holiness to the Lord,'' Zech. 14:20...

  • Mercy Seat

    [nave] MERCY SEAT Description of, Ex. 25:17-22. Placed on the ark of the testimony, Ex. 26:34; 30:6; 31:7; 40:20; Heb. 9:5. Materials of, to be a freewill offering, Ex. 35:4-12. Made by Bezaleel, Ex. 37:1, 6-9. Sprinkled with b...

  • Cherubim

    [nave] CHERUBIM Eastward of the garden of Eden, Gen. 3:24. In the tabernacle, Ex. 25:18-20; 37:7-9. Ark rested beneath the wings of, 1 Kin. 8:6, 7; 2 Chr. 5:7, 8; Heb. 9:5. Figures of, embroidered on walls of tabernacle, Ex. 26:...

  • CHERUBIM (1)

    [isbe] CHERUBIM (1) - cher'-u-bim, cher'-oo-bim (kerubhim, plural of cherub, kerubh): Through the influence of the Septuagint, "cherubim" was used in the earlier English versions, also as a singular, hence, the plural was made to s...

  • FIREPAN

    [ebd] (Ex. 27:3; 38:3), one of the vessels of the temple service (rendered "snuff-dish" Ex. 25:38; 37:23; and "censer" Lev. 10:1; 16:12). It was probably a metallic cinder-basin used for the purpose of carrying live coal for burni...
    [isbe] FIREPAN - fir'-pan (machtah, "firepan," "censer," "snuffdish," from chathah, "to snatch up"): A vessel for carrying coals. Brazen firepans were part of the furnishings of the altar of burnt offerings (Ex 27:3; 38:3, and in N...
    [smith] one of the vessels of the temple service. (Exodus 27:3; 38:3; 2 Kings 25:15; Jeremiah 52:19) The same word is elsewhere rendered "snuff-dish," (Exodus 25:38; 37:23; Numbers 4:9) and "censer." (Leviticus 10:1; 16:12; Number...

  • Metal Work of Gold

    [nave] METAL WORK OF GOLD Ex. 25:18, 31, 36; 37:7, 17, 22; 39:3; Num. 8:4; 1 Kin. 6:35; 10:16, 17; 2 Chr. 9:15, 15, 16; Isa. 41:7; Jer. 10:4, 9 See: Arts and Crafts

  • Ointment

    [smith] (An oily or unctuous substance, usually compounded of oil with various spices and resins and aromatics, and preserved in small alabaster boxes or cruses, in which the delicious aroma was best preserved. Some of the ointments ...
    [nave] OINTMENT. Not Sacred 2 Kin. 20:13; Esth. 2:12; Eccl. 7:1; 10:1; Song 1:3; 4:10; Amos 6:6; Mark 14:3-5; John 12:3-5. The alabaster box of, Matt. 26:7. Sacred Formula for, Ex. 30:23-25. Uses of, Ex. 30:26-33. Compounded...
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Arts

Questions

  • The Ark of the Covenant was definitely real and was a part of the tabernacle, being placed in the Holy of Holies behind the curtain. I will include articles below from three Bible Dictionaries that will give you some informat...

Sermon Illustrations

The Structure of the Tabernacle

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • One of the significant changes in the emphasis that occurs at this point in Genesis is from cursing in the primeval record to blessing in the patriarchal narratives. The Abrahamic Covenant is most important in this respect. H...
  • Exodus embraces about 431 years of history, from the arrival of Jacob and his family in Egypt (ca. 1876 B.C.) to the erection of the tabernacle in the wilderness of Sinai (ca. 1445 B.C.). However 1:1-7 is a review of Jacob's ...
  • I. The liberation of Israel 1:1-15:21A. God's preparation of Israel and Moses chs. 1-41. The growth of Jacob's family 1:1-72. The Israelites' bondage in Egypt 1:8-223. Moses' birth and education 2:1-104. Moses' flight from Eg...
  • The ark of the covenant 37:1-9 (cf. 25:10-22)The table of showbread 37:10-16 (cf. 25:23-30)The lampstand 37:17-24 (cf. 25:31-40)The altar of incense 37:25-28 (cf. 30:1-10)The anointing oil and incense 37:29 (cf. 30:22-28)The ...
  • The Israelites erected the tabernacle on the first day of the first month, almost exactly one year after the Israelites left Egypt (vv. 2, 17). This was about nine months after Israel had arrived at Mt. Sinai (cf. 19:1).First...
  • This is the sixth and last message that Ezekiel received from the Lord the night before the refugees reached the exiles with the message that Jerusalem had fallen (cf. 33:21-22). It too deals with God's plans for Israel in th...
  • The Book of Ezekiel begins with a vision of God's glory (ch. 1), records the departure of God's glory (chs. 8-11), and ends with another vision of God's glory (chs. 40-48). This is the longest vision outside the Book of Revel...
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