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Matthew Henry |
E X O D U S
CHAP. XXXVII.
Bezaleel and his workmen are still busy, making
I. The ark with the mercy-seat and the cherubim,
II. The table with its vessels,
III. The candlestick with its appurtenances,
IV. The golden altar for incense,
V. The holy oil and incense,
The particular appointment concerning each of which we had before the
| The Tabernacle and Its Furniture. | B. C. 1491. |
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1 And Bezaleel made the ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a
half was the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth
of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it:
2 And he overlaid it with pure gold within and without, and
made a crown of gold to it round about.
3 And he cast for it four rings of gold, to be set by the
four corners of it; even two rings upon the one side of it, and
two rings upon the other side of it.
4 And he made staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with
gold.
5 And he put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark,
to bear the ark.
6 And he made the mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a
half was the length thereof, and one cubit and a half the
breadth thereof.
7 And he made two cherubims of gold, beaten out of one piece
made he them, on the two ends of the mercy seat;
8 One cherub on the end on this side, and another cherub on the
other end on that side: out of the mercy seat made he the
cherubims on the two ends thereof.
9 And the cherubims spread out their wings on high, and
covered with their wings over the mercy seat, with their faces
one to another; even to the mercy seatward were the faces of
the cherubims.
I. It may be thought strange that Moses, when he had recorded so fully
the instructions given him upon the mount for the making of all these
things, should here record as particularly the making of them, when it
might have sufficed only to have said, in a few words, that each of
these things was made exactly according to the directions before
recited. We are sure that Moses, when he wrote by divine inspiration,
used no vain repetitions; there are no idle words in scripture. Why
then are so many chapters taken up with this narrative, which we are
tempted to think needless and tedious? But we must consider,
1. That Moses wrote primarily for the people of Israel, to whom it
would be of great use to read and hear often of these divine and sacred
treasures with which they were entrusted. These several ornaments
wherewith the tabernacle was furnished they were not admitted to see,
but the priests only, and therefore it was requisite that they should
be thus largely described particularly to them. That which they ought
to read again (lest they should fail of doing it) is written again and
again: thus many of the same passages of the history of Christ are in
the New Testament related by two or three, and some by four of the
evangelists, for the same reason. The great things of God’s law and
gospel we need to have inculcated upon us again and again. To write the
same (says St. Paul) to me is not grievous, but for you it is
safe,
Phil. iii. 1.
2. Moses would thus show the great care which he and his workmen took
to make every thing exactly according to the pattern shown him in the
mount. Having before given us the original, he here givers us the copy,
that we may compare them, and observe how exactly they agree. Thus he
appeals to every reader concerning his fidelity to him that appointed
him, in all his house, and in all the particulars of it,
And thus he teaches us to have respect to all God’s commandments, even
to every iota and tittle of them.
3. It is intimated hereby that God takes delight in the sincere
obedience of his people, and keeps an exact account of it, which shall
be produced to their honour in the resurrection of the just. None can
be so punctual in their duty, but God will be as punctual in his
notices of it. He is not unrighteous to forget the work and labour
of love, in any instance of it,
4. The spiritual riches and beauties of the gospel tabernacle are
hereby recommended to our frequent and serious consideration. Go walk
about this Zion, view it and review it: the more you contemplate the
glories of the church, the more you will admire them and be in love
with them. The charter of its privileges, and the account of its
constitution, will very well bear a second reading.
II. In these verses we have an account of the making of the ark, with
its glorious and most significant appurtenances, the mercy-seat and the
cherubim. Consider these three together, and they represent the glory
of a holy god, the sincerity of a holy heart, and the communion that is
between them, in and by a Mediator.
1. It is the glory of a holy god that he dwells between the cherubim;
that is, is continually attended and adored by the blessed angels,
whose swiftness was signified by their faces being one towards another.
2. It is the character of an upright heart that, like the ark of the
testimony, it has the law of God hid and kept in it.
3. By Jesus Christ, the great propitiation, there is reconciliation
made, and a communion settled, between us and God: he interposes
between us and God’s displeasure; and not only so, but through him we
become entitled to God’s favour. If he write his law in our heart, he
will be to us a God and we shall be to him a people. From the
mercy-seat he will teach us, there he will accept us, and show himself
merciful to our unrighteousness; and under the shadow of his wings we
shall be safe and easy.
10 And he made the table of shittim wood: two cubits was
the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit
and a half the height thereof:
11 And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made thereunto a
crown of gold round about.
12 Also he made thereunto a border of an handbreadth round
about; and made a crown of gold for the border thereof round
about.
13 And he cast for it four rings of gold, and put the rings
upon the four corners that were in the four feet thereof.
14 Over against the border were the rings, the places for the
staves to bear the table.
15 And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them
with gold, to bear the table.
16 And he made the vessels which were upon the table, his
dishes, and his spoons, and his bowls, and his covers to cover
withal, of pure gold.
17 And he made the candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work
made he the candlestick; his shaft, and his branch, his bowls,
his knops, and his flowers, were of the same:
18 And six branches going out of the sides thereof; three
branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and
three branches of the candlestick out of the other side thereof:
19 Three bowls made after the fashion of almonds in one branch,
a knop and a flower; and three bowls made like almonds in another
branch, a knop and a flower: so throughout the six branches going
out of the candlestick.
20 And in the candlestick were four bowls made like almonds,
his knops, and his flowers:
21 And a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under
two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the
same, according to the six branches going out of it.
22 Their knops and their branches were of the same: all of it
was one beaten work of pure gold.
23 And he made his seven lamps, and his snuffers, and his
snuffdishes, of pure gold.
24 Of a talent of pure gold made he it, and all the vessels
thereof.
Here is,
1. The making of the table on which the show-bread was to be
continually placed. God is a good householder, that always keeps a
plentiful table. Is the world his tabernacle? His providence in it
spreads a table for all the creatures: he provides food for all
flesh. Is the church his tabernacle? His grace in it spreads a
table for all believers, furnished with the bread of life. But 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 this table, and
afterwards only by the priests; but to the table which Christ has
spread in the new covenant all real Christians are invited 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, and a hearty welcome to.
2. The making of the candlestick, which was not of wood overlaid with
gold, but all beaten work of pure gold only,
This signified that light of divine revelation with which God’s church
upon earth (which is his tabernacle among men) has always been
enlightened, being always supplied with fresh oil from Christ the good
Olive,
God’s manifestations of himself in this world are but candle-light
compared with the daylight of the future state. The Bible is a golden
candlestick; it is of pure gold,
From it light is diffused to every part of God’s tabernacle, that by it
his spiritual priests may see to minister unto the Lord, and to do the
service of his sanctuary. This candlestick has not only its bowls for
necessary use, but its knops and flowers for ornament; there are many
things which God saw fit to beautify his word with which we can no more
give a reason for than for these knops and flowers, and yet we are sure
that they were added for a good purpose. Let us bless God for this
candlestick, have an eye to it continually, and dread the removal of it
out of its place.
25 And he made the incense altar of shittim wood: the length
of it was a cubit, and the breadth of it a cubit; it was
foursquare; and two cubits was the height of it; the horns
thereof were of the same.
26 And he overlaid it with pure gold, both the top of it, and
the sides thereof round about, and the horns of it: also he made
unto it a crown of gold round about.
27 And he made two rings of gold for it under the crown
thereof, by the two corners of it, upon the two sides thereof, to
be places for the staves to bear it withal.
28 And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them
with gold.
29 And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of
sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary.
Here is,
1. The making of the golden altar, on which incense was to be burnt
daily, which signified both the prayers of saints and the intercession
of Christ, to which are owing the acceptableness and success of those
prayers. The rings and staves, and all the appurtenances of this altar,
were overlaid with gold, as all the vessels of the table and
candlestick were of gold, for these were used in the holy place. God is
the best, and we must serve him with the best we have; but the best we
can serve him with in his courts on earth is but as brass, compared
with the gold, the sinless and spotless perfection, with which his
saints shall serve him in his holy place above.
2. The preparing of the incense which was to be burnt upon this altar,
and with it the holy anointing oil
(v. 29),
according to the dispensatory,
&c. God taught Bezaleel this art also; so that though he was not before
acquainted with it yet he made up these things according to the work of
the apothecary, as dexterously and exactly as if he had been bred up to
the trade. Where God gives wisdom and grace, it will make the man of
God perfect, thoroughly furnished to every good work.
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