Exodus 38:4

38:1-8 In all ages of the church there have been some persons more devoted to God, more constant in their attendance upon his ordinances, and more willing to part even with lawful things, for his sake, than others. Some women, devoted to God and zealous for the tabernacle worship, expressed zeal by parting with their mirrors, which were polished plates of brass. Before the invention of looking-glasses, these served the same purposes.

And he made the altar of burnt offering,.... That is, Bezaleel made it, or it was made by his direction, he having the care and oversight of it, wherefore the making of it is ascribed to him, 2 Chronicles 1:5 the account of this, its horns, vessels, rings, and staves, is carried on to Exodus 38:2 of which See Gill on Exodus 27:1 , Exodus 27:2 , Exodus 27:3 , Exodus 27:4 , Exodus 27:5 , Exodus 27:6 , Exodus 27:7 , Exodus 27:8 .

Hollow with boards - Slabs, or planks, rather than boards. The word is that which is used for the stone tables of the law Exodus 24:12 ; Exodus 31:18 , not that applied to the boards of the tabernacle Exodus 26:15 . The brazen altar was a hollow casing, formed of stout acacia planks covered with plates of bronze, seven feet six in length and width and four feet six in height. Jewish as well as Christian authorities have supposed that, when it was fixed for use, it was filled up with earth or rough stones. If we connect this suggestion with the old rule regarding the altar of earth and the altar of stone given in Exodus 20:24-25, the woodwork might in fact be regarded merely as the case of the altar on which the victims were actually burned. The shelf round the sides Exodus 27:5 was required as a stage for the priests to enable them to carry on their work conveniently on the top of the altar. Hence, it is said of Aaron that he came down from the altar Leviticus 9:22. According to rabbinical tradition, there was a slope of earth at the south side banked up for the priest to ascend to the stage (compare Exodus 20:26).

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.

[Bible] Exodus Chapter 38 He maketh the altar of holocaust. The brazen laver. The court with its pillars and hangings. The sum of what the people offered. 38:1. He made also the altar of holocaust of setim wood, five cubits square, and three in height: 38:2. The horns whereof went out from the corners, and he overlaid it with plates of brass. 38:3. And for the uses thereof, he prepared divers vessels of brass, cauldrons, tongs, fleshhooks, pothooks and firepans. 38:4. And he made the grate thereof of brass, in manner of a net, and under it in the midst of the altar a hearth, 38:5. Casting four rings at the four ends of the net at the top, to put in bars to carry it: 38:6. And he made the bars of setim wood, and overlaid them with plates of brass: 38:7. And he drew them through the rings that stood out in the sides of the altar. And the altar itself was not solid, but hollow, of boards, and empty within. 38:8. He made also the laver of brass, with the foot thereof, of the mirrors of the women that watched at the door of the tabernacle. 38:9. He made also the court, in the south side whereof were hangings of fine twisted linen of a hundred cubits. 38:10. Twenty pillars of brass with their sockets, the beads of the pillars, and the whole graving of the work, of silver. 38:11. In like manner at the north side the hangings, the pillars, and the sockets and heads of the pillars were of the same measure, and work and metal. 38:12. But on that side that looketh to the west, there were hangings of fifty cubits, ten pillars of brass with their sockets, and the heads of the pillars, and all the graving of the work, of silver. 38:13. Moreover, towards the east he prepared hangings of fifty cubits: 38:14. Fifteen cubits of which, were on one side with three pillars, and their sockets: 38:15. And on the other side (for between the two he made the entry of the tabernacle) there were hangings equally of fifteen cubits, and three pillars, and as many sockets.

XXXVIII. (1) He made the altar.—From the furniture of the sanctuary, the transition is natural to the furniture of the court in which it stood. This is now is now described. It consisted of the brazen altar, or altar of burnt-offering, and the great brazen laver. The construction of the former is related in Exodus 38:1-7; that of the latter in Exodus 38:8. (1-9) This passage corresponds to Exodus 38:1-8 of Exodus 27 in all main particulars, but is somewhat differently worded. The order of the clauses in Exodus 38:4-5 is changed, and a distinct statement is made, which was not contained in the instructims, that the rings were “for places for the staves.”

[Reformed Biblical] to understand, as here, Exo_25:33,34, the stem or main body of it; and the sense is, that the lamps shall be so placed, that they and their light may look towards that stem; unless you will suppose that the seven lamps were distinct and separated from the candlestick, and fastened to the sides of the tabernacle in several places, and all giving light to or over against the great candlestick, which was in the midst, as the candlestick did ove r-against them, which is also, now usual among us. Exodus 25:38 Exodus 25:39 ## A talent contains three thousand shekels, Exo 38 25 , or one hundred and twenty-five pounds. Exodus 25:40 ## Exodus 26:1 EXODUS CHAPTER 26 Moses is commanded to make the tabernacle with ten curtains, Exo_26:1 The length and breadth of the curt ains, Exo_26:2. The form of the curtains, Exo_26:3-6. He is commanded to make eleven curtains of goats’ hair, Exo_26:7. The manner of the making and placing them, Exo_26:8-14. Of what the tabernacle is to be made, Exo_26:15. The manner of its making, with other utensils, Exo_26:16-30. Of the veil, and what it is to be made of, Exo _26:31. The fashion of it, Exo_26:32,33. The hanging for the tent-door, Exo_26:36. ## The tabernacle, or tent ; a little house wherein the ark, table, and candlestick were to be placed. And scarlet, i.e. wi