Exodus 37:10

37:1-29 The making of the ark, and the furniture of the tabernacle. - In the furniture of the tabernacle were emblems of a spiritual and acceptable service. The incense represented the prayers of the saints. The sacrifice of the alter represented the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. The golden pot with manna, or bread from heaven, the flesh of Jesus Christ, which he gave for the life of the world. The candlestick, with its lights, the teaching and enlightening of the Holy Spirit. The shew-bread represented that provision for those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, which the gospel, the ordinances and the sacraments of the house of prayer, abundantly bestow. The exactness of the workmen to their rule, should be followed by us; seeking for the influences of the Holy Spirit, that we may rejoice in and glorify God while in this world, and at length be with him for ever.

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 Exodus 25:1 &c. to end of chapter; see Gill on Exodus 30:1 &c. to end of chapter.

Exodus 37:10 . Observe how much the dispensation of the gospel exceeds that of the law. Though here was a table furnished, it was only with show-bread, bread to be looked upon, not to be fed upon, while it was on the table, and afterward only by the priest: but to the table Christ has spread, in the new covenant, all good Christians are invited as 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.

6-10. made the mercy seat of pure gold—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.

Preparation of the vessels of the dwelling: viz., the ark of the covenant ( Exodus 37:1-9 , as in Exodus 25:10-22 ); the table of shew-bread and its vessels ( Exodus 37:10-16 , as in Exodus 25:23-30 ); the candlestick ( Exodus 37:17-24 , as in Exodus 25:31-40 ); the altar of incense ( Exodus 37:25-28 , as in Exodus 30:1-10 ); the anointing oil and incense ( Exodus 37:29 ), directions for the preparation of which are given in Exodus 30:22-38 ; the altar of burnt-offering ( Exodus 38:1-7 , as in Exodus 27:1-8 ); the laver ( Exodus 37:8 , as in Exodus 30:17-21 ); and the court ( Exodus 37:9-20 , as in Exodus 27:9-19 ). The order corresponds on the whole to the list of the separate articles in Exodus 35:11-19 , and to the construction of the entire sanctuary; but the holy chest (the ark), as being the most holy thing of all, is distinguished above all the rest, by being expressly mentioned as the work of Bezaleel, the chief architect of the whole.

Preparation of the vessels of the dwelling: viz., the ark of the covenant ( Exodus 37:1-9 , as in Exodus 25:10-22 ); the table of shew-bread and its vessels ( Exodus 37:10-16 , as in Exodus 25:23-30 ); the candlestick ( Exodus 37:17-24 , as in Exodus 25:31-40 ); the altar of incense ( Exodus 37:25-28 , as in Exodus 30:1-10 ); the anointing oil and incense ( Exodus 37:29 ), directions for the preparation of which are given in Exodus 30:22-38 ; the altar of burnt-offering ( Exodus 38:1-7 , as in Exodus 27:1-8 ); the laver ( Exodus 37:8 , as in Exodus 30:17-21 ); and the court ( Exodus 37:9-20 , as in Exodus 27:9-19 ). The order corresponds on the whole to the list of the separate articles in Exodus 35:11-19 , and to the construction of the entire sanctuary; but the holy chest (the ark), as being the most holy thing of all, is distinguished above all the rest, by being expressly mentioned as the work of Bezaleel, the chief architect of the whole.