Exodus 25:23

The Table for the Bread of the Presence

25:23 ¹ “You are to make a table of acacia wood; its length is to be three feet, its width one foot six inches, and its height two feet three inches.

Exodus 25:27-28

25:27 The rings are to be close to the frame to provide places ²  for the poles to carry the table. 25:28 You are to make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold, so that the table may be carried with them. ³ 

Exodus 30:27

30:27 the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its utensils, the altar of incense,

Exodus 35:13

35:13 the table with its poles and all its vessels, and the Bread of the Presence;

Exodus 37:10

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.

Exodus 37:14-15

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.

Exodus 40:4

40:4 You are to bring in the table and set out the things that belong on it; ⁴  then you are to bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps.

Exodus 40:22

40:22 And he put the table in the tent of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the curtain.

Exodus 40:24

40:24 And he put the lampstand in the tent of meeting opposite the table, on the south side of the tabernacle.

¹ sn The Table of the Bread of the Presence (Tyndale’s translation, “Shewbread,” was used in KJV and influenced ASV, NAB) was to be a standing acknowledgment that Yahweh was the giver of daily bread. It was called the “presence-bread” because it was set out in his presence. The theology of this is that God provides, and the practice of this is that the people must provide for constant thanks. So if the ark speaks of communion through atonement, the table speaks of dedicatory gratitude.

² tn Heb “houses”; NAB, NASB “holders.”

³ tn The verb is a Niphal perfect with vav consecutive, showing here the intended result: “so that [the table] might be lifted up [by them].” The noun “the table” is introduced by what looks like the sign of the accusative, but here it serves to introduce or emphasize the nominative (see GKC 365 §117.i).

⁴ tn Heb “and you will set in order its setting” or “arrange its arrangement.” See 25:29-30 for items that belonged on the table.