
Text -- Exodus 37:1-15 (NET)




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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wesley -> Exo 37:1-9; Exo 37:10
Wesley: Exo 37:1-9 - -- These several ornaments where with the tabernacle was furnished, the people were not admitted to see, but the priests only; and therefore it was requi...
These several ornaments where with the tabernacle was furnished, the people were not admitted to see, but the priests only; and therefore it was requisite they should be thus largely described, particularly to them. And Moses would thus shew the great care which he and his workmen took to make every thing exactly according to the pattern shewed him in the mount. Thus he appeals to every reader concerning his fidelity to him that appointed him, in all his house. And thus he teacheth us to have respect to all God's commandments, even to every jot and tittle of them. In these verses we have an account of the making of the ark with its glorious and significant appurtenances, the mercy - seat and the cherubim. Consider these three together, and they represent the glory of a holy God, the sincerity of a holy heart, and the communion that is between them by a Mediator. It is the glory of a holy God that he dwelleth between the cherubim, that is, is continually attended by the blessed angels, whose swiftness was signified by the wings of the cherubim, and their unanimity in their services, by their faces being one towards another. It is the character of an upright heart, that, like the ark of the testimony, it hath the law of God hid and kept in it. By Jesus Christ the great propitiation there is reconciliation made, and a communion settled, between us and God: he interposeth between us and God's displeasure; and through him we become entitled to God's favour.

Wesley: Exo 37:10 - -- Observe how much the dispensation of the gospel exceeds that of the law. Tho' here was a table furnished, it was only with shew - bread, bread to be l...
Observe how much the dispensation of the gospel exceeds that of the law. Tho' here was a table furnished, it was only with shew - bread, bread to be looked upon, not to be fed upon, while it was on the table, and afterwards only by the priests: but to the table Christ has spread in the new covenant all good Christians are invited guests, and to them it is said, Eat, O friends, come eat of my bread. What the law gave but a sight of at a distance, the gospel gives the enjoyment of.
JFB -> Exo 37:1; Exo 37:6-10
JFB: Exo 37:1 - -- The description here given of the things within the sacred edifice is almost word for word the same as that contained in Exo. 25:1-40. It is not on th...
The description here given of the things within the sacred edifice is almost word for word the same as that contained in Exo. 25:1-40. It is not on that account to be regarded as a useless repetition of minute particulars; for by the enumeration of these details, it can be seen how exactly everything was fashioned according to the "pattern shown on the mount" [Exo 25:40]; and the knowledge of this exact correspondence between the prescription and the execution was essential to the purposes of the fabric.

JFB: Exo 37:6-10 - -- To construct a figure, whether the body of a beast or a man, with two extended wings, measuring from two to three feet from tip to tip, with the hamme...
To construct a figure, whether the body of a beast or a man, with two extended wings, measuring from two to three feet from tip to tip, with the hammer, out of a solid piece of gold, was what few, if any, artisans of the present day could accomplish.
Clarke: Exo 37:1 - -- And Bezaleel made the ark, etc. - For a description of the ark, see Exo 25:10 (note), etc.
And Bezaleel made the ark, etc. - For a description of the ark, see Exo 25:10 (note), etc.
Calvin -> Exo 37:1
Calvin: Exo 37:1 - -- If the repetition, which might appear to be superfluous in these chapters, should be wearisome to us, let us reflect on the intention of the Holy Spi...
If the repetition, which might appear to be superfluous in these chapters, should be wearisome to us, let us reflect on the intention of the Holy Spirit, who, in narrating the execution of the work, uses almost the identical words wherein He had previously set forth the commands of God, viz., that we may understand that Moses, and the artificers themselves, did not vary in the smallest point from the rule prescribed to them. God had commanded the Ark of the Covenant to be made, together with its cover; and Moses relates how it was completed, so that the artificers did not omit even its very minutest detail. He ordered a table to be made for the offering of bread, and not a single syllable is neglected. As to the candlestick there was the same scrupulous obedience, so that they did not alter it in any part. In the altar of incense there was no kind of dissimilarity between the command and the work; and, finally, the composition of the oil exactly corresponds with the command. There is no question, then, but that Moses commends obedience, as it is the foundation of true piety, and at the same time reminds us that there was no exercise of the imagination in the whole service of the tabernacle, because there is nothing more opposite to the purity of religion than to do anything which is not enjoined.


TSK: Exo 37:6 - -- Exo 25:17-22; Lev 16:12-15; 1Ch 28:11; Rom 3:25; Gal 4:4; Tit 2:14; Heb 9:5; 1Jo 2:2


TSK: Exo 37:9 - -- cherubims spread : Gen 3:24, Gen 28:12; Isa 6:2; Ezek. 10:1-22; Joh 1:51; 2Co 3:18; Phi 3:8; 1Ti 3:16; Heb 1:14
to the mercy seatward : Exo 25:20; Eph...

TSK: Exo 37:10 - -- Exo 25:23-30, Exo 35:13, Exo 40:4, Exo 40:22, Exo 40:23; Eze 40:39-42; Mal 1:12; Joh 1:14, Joh 1:16; Col 1:27; Nothing but the ark of the covenant, wi...
Exo 25:23-30, Exo 35:13, Exo 40:4, Exo 40:22, Exo 40:23; Eze 40:39-42; Mal 1:12; Joh 1:14, Joh 1:16; Col 1:27; Nothing but the ark of the covenant, with the mercy-seat, was put within the most holy place; but without the vail this ""table of

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Exo 37:1
See the notes to Exo. 25.
Poole -> Exo 37:8
Half, duos semis cubitos, ver. 6, and chap. xxv. 10. (Tirinus)

Haydock: Exo 37:9 - -- Covering... This indicated that the Scriptures were to be studied with diligence, as they have a literal and a mystical sense. (St. Gregory of Nyssa...
Covering... This indicated that the Scriptures were to be studied with diligence, as they have a literal and a mystical sense. (St. Gregory of Nyssa)

Over-against, or under, chap. xxv. 27. (Tirinus)
Gill -> Exo 37:1-29
Gill: Exo 37:1-29 - -- And Bezaleel made the ark of shittim wood,.... Jarchi says, because he gave his mind to this work more than the rest of the wise men, it is called by ...
And Bezaleel made the ark of shittim wood,.... Jarchi says, because he gave his mind to this work more than the rest of the wise men, it is called by his name. It is a notion of some Jewish writers that the ark was made by Bezaleel, without the help of others; but there is no sufficient reason to be given for it; for other things are equally ascribed to him in this and the following chapter, as the mercy seat with the cherubim, the shewbread table, the candlestick of pure gold, the two altars, the laver of brass, with other things, which are only said to be made by him, because they were made by his direction, and he having the oversight of them while making; wherefore Aben Ezra observes, that this is particularly said for the glory of the ark. Of the ark, and all other things mentioned in this chapter; see Gill on Exo 25:1 &c. to end of chapter; see Gill on Exo 30:1 &c. to end of chapter.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Exo 37:3 This is taken as a circumstantial clause; the clause begins with the conjunction vav.



Geneva Bible: Exo 37:2 And he overlaid it with pure gold within and without, and made a ( a ) crown of gold to it round about.
( a ) Like battlements.

Geneva Bible: Exo 37:8 One cherub on the end on this side, and another cherub on the [other] end on that side: out ( b ) of the mercy seat made he the cherubims on the two e...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Exo 37:1-29
TSK Synopsis: Exo 37:1-29 - --1 The ark and mercy seat with cherubims made.10 The table of shew-bread with its vessels.17 The candlestick with its lamps and instruments.25 The alta...
MHCC -> Exo 37:1-29
MHCC: Exo 37:1-29 - --In the furniture of the tabernacle were emblems of a spiritual and acceptable service. The incense represented the prayers of the saints. The sacrific...
Matthew Henry -> Exo 37:1-9; Exo 37:10-24
Matthew Henry: Exo 37:1-9 - -- I. It may be thought strange that Moses, when he had recorded so fully the instructions given him upon the mount for the making of all these things,...

Matthew Henry: Exo 37:10-24 - -- Here is, 1. The making of the table on which the show-bread was to be continually placed. God is a good householder, that always keeps a plentiful t...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Exo 37:1-29
Keil-Delitzsch: Exo 37:1-29 - --
Preparation of the vessels of the dwelling: viz., the ark of the covenant (Exo 37:1-9, as in Exo 25:10-22); the table of shew-bread and its vessels...
Constable: Exo 15:22--Lev 1:1 - --II. THE ADOPTION OF ISRAEL 15:22--40:38
The second major section of Exodus records the events associated with Go...

Constable: Exo 35:1--40:38 - --E. The construction and dedication of the objects used in Israel's worship chs. 35-40
The renewal of the...

Constable: Exo 36:8--40:1 - --2. Execution of the work 36:8-39:43
Moses described the directions for constructing the tabernac...
