Exodus 37 Commentary

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Irving Jensen (Online) - Used by Permission
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Summary Chart of
The Book of Exodus
DELIVERANCE
FROM OPPRESSION
PREPARATION FOR
WORSHIP
Redemption from Egypt
Ex 1:1-18:27
Revelation from God
Ex 19:1-40:38
Getting Israel Out of Egypt Getting Egypt Out of Israel!
Narration Legislation
Birth of
Moses
Ex 1-2
Call of
Moses
Ex 3-6
Conflict with Pharaoh
Ex 7-10
Exodus
from
Egypt
Ex 11-12
Red
Sea
Crossed
Ex 13-15
Journey
To
Sinai
Ex 16-18
Law
Given
Ex 19-24
Tent
Plan
Ex 25-31
Idol
Worship
Ex 32-34
Tent
Built
Ex 35-40
Subjection Redemption Instruction
Suffering and Liberation
of People of God
Guidance
of God
Worship
of God
Moses and
Burdens of Israel
Pharaoh and
Plagues Upon Egypt
Red Sea
Deliverance
Wilderness
Provision
Sinai
Instructions
Bondage
and Oppression
Deliverance
and Provision
Law Pattern
and Construction
Israel in Egypt
Ex 1:1-13:16
Israel to Sinai
Ex 13:17-18:27
Israel at Sinai
Ex 19:1-40:38
God's People
Enduring
Bondage
God's Grace
Revealed
in Redemption
God's Glory
Manifested
in Worship
Egypt
430 Years

(15% of Exodus)
Wilderness
2 Months

(30% of Exodus)
Mt Sinai
10 Months

(55% of Exodus)
From
Groaning
                To
Glory!
 
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GENESIS EXODUS
human effort and failure divine power and triumph
word of promise work of fulfillment
a people chosen a people called
God’s electing mercy God’s electing manner
revelation of nationality realization of nationality

SUMMARY OF THE PENTATEUCH
(from Believer's Study Bible)

Exodus 37:1  Now Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood; its length was two and a half cubits, and its width one and a half cubits, and its height one and a half cubits;

  • Ex 25:10-16 Ex 26:33 Ex 31:7 Ex 40:3,20,21 Nu 10:33-36 
  • Exodus 37 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries

Ark of the Covenant

Now Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood; its length was two and a half cubits, and its width one and a half cubits, and its height one and a half cubits - Moses had the ark made (Dt. 10:3), but Bezalel did the skilled work. See comments on Exodus 25:10. 

Bush - There is little in the present chapter that requires additional exposition. We have already considered its various items in minute detail in our remarks upon the previous chapters. The execution of each particular part, in exact conformity with the directions given, is punctiliously recited, not only for the general reason mentioned above, but also to intimate with what serious and profound consideration the form, furniture, uses, and typical design of this remarkable structure deserved to be studied. We can scarcely suppose that so much space would have been allotted to it, had it not been intended to shadow forth some of the central mysteries of redemption. What these were we have endeavored partially to unfold in our previous annotations. How far they were or could he understood by Moses and his contemporaries, it is not easy to determine; but as the finer ornaments of the tabernacle were not to be seen by the common people, but only by the priests, and as the Scriptures were intended for the people at large, we can see a peculiar propriety in the verbal description being given at great length. In the same manner, many of the events in the life of Christ are in the New Testament related by two, and three, and some by four of the Evangelists, for the same reason.  (Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Exodus Volume 2 - Exodus 21-40)

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Exodus 37:2  and he overlaid it with pure gold inside and out, and made a gold molding for it all around.

and he overlaid it with pure gold inside and out, and made a gold molding for it all around - See comments on Exodus 25:11

Exodus 37:3  He cast four rings of gold for it on its four feet; even two rings on one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it.

He cast four rings of gold for it on its four feet; even two rings on one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it - See comments on Exodus 25:12

Exodus 37:4  He made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.

  • poles of acacia: Nu 4:14,15 Ac 9:15 
  • overlaid them with gold: 1Pe 1:7,18,19 
  • Exodus 37 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries

He made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold - See comments on Exodus 25:13

Exodus 37:5  He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry it.

He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry it - See comments on Exodus 25:14

Exodus 37:6  He made a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide.

  • Ex 25:17-22 Lev 16:12-15 1Ch 28:11 Ro 3:25 Ga 4:4 Tit 2:14 Heb 9:5 1Jn 2:2 
  • Exodus 37 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries

He made a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide - See comments on Exodus 25:17

Exodus 37:7  He made two cherubim of gold; he made them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat;

He made two cherubim of gold; he made them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat - See comments on Exodus 25:18

Exodus 37:8  one cherub at the one end and one cherub at the other end; he made the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at the two ends.

one cherub at the one end and one cherub at the other end; he made the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at the two ends - See comments on Exodus 25:19

Exodus 37:9  The cherubim had their wings spread upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward each other; the faces of the cherubim were toward the mercy seat.

  • cherubim: Ge 3:24 28:12 Isa 6:2 Eze 10:1-22  Joh 1:51 2Co 3:18 Php 3:8 1Ti 3:16 Heb 1:14 
  • the mercy seat: Ex 25:20 Eph 3:10 1Pe 1:12 
  • Exodus 37 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries

The cherubim had their wings spread upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward each other; the faces of the cherubim were toward the mercy seat - See comments on Exodus 25:20

Exodus 37:10  Then he made the table of acacia wood, two cubits long and a cubit wide and one and a half cubits high.

  • Ex 25:23-30 35:13 40:4,22,23 Eze 40:39-42 Mal 1:12  Joh 1:14,16 Col 1:27
  • Exodus 37 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries

Bread of the Presence on the Table

 Then he made the table of acacia wood, two cubits long and a cubit wide and one and a half cubits high - See comments on Exodus 25:23

Exodus 37:11  He overlaid it with pure gold, and made a gold molding for it all around.

He overlaid it with pure gold, and made a gold molding for it all around - See comments on Exodus 25:24

Exodus 37:12  He made a rim for it of a handbreadth all around, and made a gold molding for its rim all around.

He made a rim for it of a handbreadth all around, and made a gold molding for its rim all around - See comments on Exodus 25:25

Exodus 37:13  He cast four gold rings for it and put the rings on the four corners that were on its four feet.

He cast four gold rings for it and put the rings on the four corners that were on its four feet - See comments on Exodus 25:26

Exodus 37:14  Close by the rim were the rings, the holders for the poles to carry the table.

Close by the rim were the rings, the holders for the poles to carry the table - See comments on Exodus 25:27

Exodus 37:15  He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold, to carry the table.

He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold, to carry the table - See comments on Exodus 25:28

Exodus 37:16  He made the utensils which were on the table, its dishes and its pans and its bowls and its jars, with which to pour out drink offerings, of pure gold.

  • dishes: Ex 25:29 1Ki 7:50 2Ki 12:13 Jer 52:18,19 2Ti 2:20 
  • Exodus 37 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries

Table of Bread of the Presence

He made the utensils which were on the table, its dishes and its pans and its bowls and its jars, with which to pour out drink offerings, of pure gold - See comments on Exodus 25:29. Exodus 25:30 adds “You shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times."

Exodus 37:17  Then he made the lampstand of pure gold. He made the lampstand of hammered work, its base and its shaft; its cups, its bulbs and its flowers were of one piece with it.

  • Ex 25:31-39 40:24,25 Lev 24:4 1Ch 28:15 2Ch 13:11 Zec 4:2,11 Mt 5:15 Joh 1:4-9 Php 2:15 Heb 9:2 Rev 1:12-20 2:1-5 
  • Exodus 37 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries

LAMPSTAND

Then he made the lampstand of pure gold. He made the lampstand of hammered work, its base and its shaft; its cups, its bulbs and its flowers were of one piece with it - See comments on Exodus 25:31

Exodus 37:18  There were six branches going out of its sides; three branches of the lampstand from the one side of it and three branches of the lampstand from the other side of it;

There were six branches going out of its sides; three branches of the lampstand from the one side of it and three branches of the lampstand from the other side of it - See comments on Exodus 25:32

Exodus 37:19  three cups shaped like almond blossoms, a bulb and a flower in one branch, and three cups shaped like almond blossoms, a bulb and a flower in the other branch--so for the six branches going out of the lampstand.

three cups shaped like almond blossoms, a bulb and a flower in one branch, and three cups shaped like almond blossoms, a bulb and a flower in the other branch--so for the six branches going out of the lampstand - See comments on Exodus 25:33

Exodus 37:20  In the lampstand there were four cups shaped like almond blossoms, its bulbs and its flowers;

  • almonds: Ex 25:33 Nu 17:8 Ec 12:5 Jer 1:11 
  • Exodus 37 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries

In the lampstand there were four cups shaped like almond blossoms, its bulbs and its flowers - See comments on Exodus 25:34

Exodus 37:21  and a bulb was under the first pair of branches coming out of it, and a bulb under the second pair of branches coming out of it, and a bulb under the third pair of branches coming out of it, for the six branches coming out of the lampstand.

and a bulb was under the first pair of branches coming out of it, and a bulb under the second pair of branches coming out of it, and a bulb under the third pair of branches coming out of it, for the six branches coming out of the lampstand - See comments on Exodus 25:35

Exodus 37:22  Their bulbs and their branches were of one piece with it; the whole of it was a single hammered work of pure gold.

  • were: Ex 25:31 1Co 9:27 Col 3:5 
  • hammered work of pure gold.: Ps 51:17 Isa 5:4,5,10 
  • Exodus 37 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries

Their bulbs and their branches were of one piece with it; the whole of it was a single hammered work of pure gold - See comments on Exodus 25:31

Exodus 37:23  He made its seven lamps with its snuffers and its trays of pure gold.

  • Ex 25:37 Nu 8:2 Zec 4:2 Rev 1:12,20 2:1 4:5 5:5 
  • Exodus 37 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries

He made its seven lamps with its snuffers and its trays of pure gold - See comments on Exodus 25:37-38 which adds "and they shall mount its lamps so as to shed light on the space in front of it."

Exodus 37:24  He made it and all its utensils from a talent of pure gold.

He made it and all its utensils from a talent of pure gold - See comments on Exodus 25:39. Exodus 25:40 adds “See that you make them after the pattern for them, which was shown to you on the mountain."

Exodus 37:25  Then he made the altar of incense of acacia wood: a cubit long and a cubit wide, square, and two cubits high; its horns were of one piece with it.

  • Ex 30:1-5 40:5,26,27 2Ch 26:16 Mt 23:19 Lu 1:9,10 Heb 7:25 Heb 13:10 1Pe 2:5 Rev 8:3,4 
  • Exodus 37 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries

Altar of Incense

Then he made the altar of incense of acacia wood: a cubit long and a cubit wide, square, and two cubits high; its horns were of one piece with it - See comments on Exodus 30:1-2

Exodus 37:26  He overlaid it with pure gold, its top and its sides all around, and its horns; and he made a gold molding for it all around.

He overlaid it with pure gold, its top and its sides all around, and its horns; and he made a gold molding for it all around - See comments on Exodus 30:3

Exodus 37:27  he made two golden rings for it under its molding, on its two sides--on opposite sides--as holders for poles with which to carry it.

he made two golden rings for it under its molding, on its two sides--on opposite sides--as holders for poles with which to carry it - See comments on Exodus 30:4

Exodus 37:28  He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.

He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold - See comments on Exodus 30:5

Exodus 37:29  And he made the holy anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense of spices, the work of a perfumer.

  • And he made the holy anointing oil: Ex 30:23-38 Ps 23:5 92:10 Isa 11:2 61:1,3  Joh 3:34 2Co 1:21,22 1Jn 2:20,27 
  • pure, fragrant incense of spices: Ex 30:34 Ps 14:1,2 141:2 Heb 5:7 7:25 Rev 8:3,4 
  • of a perfumer: Ec 10:1 
  • Exodus 37 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries

And he made the holy anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense of spices, the work of a perfumer - See comments on Exodus 30:25


BIBLIOGRAPHY - Resources Quoted in Commentary

 

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