Exodus 25:13

25:10-22 The ark was a chest, overlaid with gold, in which the two tables of the law were to be kept. These tables are called the testimony; God in them testified his will. This law was a testimony to the Israelites, to direct them in their duty, and would be a testimony against them, if they transgressed. This ark was placed in the holy of holies; the blood of the sacrifices was sprinkled, and the incense burned, before it, by the high priest; and above it appeared the visible glory, which was the symbol of the Divine presence. This was a type of Christ in his sinless nature, which saw no corruption, in personal union with his Divine nature, atoning for our sins against it, by his death. The cherubim of gold looked one towards another, and both looked downward toward the ark. It denotes the angels' attendance on the Redeemer, their readiness to do his will, their presence in the assemblies of saints, and their desire to look into the mysteries of the gospel. It was covered with a covering of gold, called the mercy-seat. God is said to dwell, or sit between the cherubim, on the mercy-seat. There he would give his law, and hear supplicants, as a prince on his throne.

Four corners thereof - Rather, its four bases, or feet. It is not unlikely that there were low blocks, or plinths, placed under the corners to which the rings were attached (see Exodus 25:26 ), and that it is to them the word is here applied. The ark, when it was carried, must thus have been raised above the shoulders of the bearers.

13–15 . Poles of acacia wood, overlaid with gold, to be made for the transport of the ark. Cf. 1 Kings 8:7 f. Similar poles are provided for carrying the table of Presence-bread, vv. 27 f., the altar of burnt-offering, Exodus 26:6 f., and the altar of incense, Exodus 30:4 f. The word ( bad ), except in these connexions, is rare. Egyptian shrines, and sacred ‘arks,’ were carried in procession similarly: see Wilk.-B. iii., Plate opp. p. 355, E; EB. i. 307; Erman, p. 276.

The Ark of the Covenant (cf. Exodus 37:1-9 ). - They were to make an ark (ארון) of acacia-wood, two cubits and a half long, one and a half broad, and one and a half high, and to plate it with pure gold both within and without. Round about it they were to construct a golden זר, i.e., probably a golden rim, encircling it like an ornamental wreath. They were also to cast four golden rings and fasten them to the four feet (פּעמת walking feet, feet bent as if for walking) of the ark, two on either side; and to cut four poles of acacia-wood and plate them with gold, and put them through the rings for carrying the ark. The poles were to remain in the rings, without moving from them, i.e., without being drawn out, that the bearers might not touch the ark itself ( Numbers 4:15 ).

The directions as to the seven days' feast of unleavened bread ( Exodus 12:15-20 ) were made known by Moses to the people on the day of the exodus, at the first station, namely, Succoth; but in the account of this, only the most important points are repeated, and the yearly commemoration is enjoined. In Exodus 13:3 , Egypt is called a "slave-house," inasmuch as Israel was employed in slave-labour there, and treated as a slave population (cf. Exodus 20:2 ; Deuteronomy 5:6 ; Deuteronomy 6:12 , etc.). יד הזק "strength of hand," in Exodus 13:3 , Exodus 13:14 , and Exodus 13:16 , is more emphatic than the more usual חזקה יד ( Exodus 3:19 , etc.). - On Exodus 13:5 , see Exodus 3:8 , and Exodus 12:25 . In Exodus 13:6 , the term "feast to Jehovah" points to the keeping of the seventh day by a holy convocation and the suspension of work ( Exodus 12:16 ). It is only of the seventh day that this is expressly stated, because it was understood as a matter of course, that the first was a feast of Jehovah.