Exodus 37

King James Version

Full text for Exodus Chapter 37

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:

2And he overlaid it with pure gold within and without, and made a crown of gold to it round about.

3And 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.

4And he made staves [of] shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.

5And he put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.

6And 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.

7And he made two cherubims [of] gold, beaten out of one piece made he them, on the two ends of the mercy seat;

8One 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.

9And 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.

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:

11And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made thereunto a crown of gold round about.

12Also he made thereunto a border of an handbreadth round about; and made a crown of gold for the border thereof round about.

13And he cast for it four rings of gold, and put the rings upon the four corners that [were] in the four feet thereof.

14Over against the border were the rings, the places for the staves to bear the table.

15And he made the staves [of] shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold, to bear the table.

16And 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.

17And 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:

18And 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:

19Three 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.

20And in the candlestick [were] four bowls made like almonds, his knops, and his flowers:

21And 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.

22Their knops and their branches were of the same: all of it [was] one beaten work [of] pure gold.

23And 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.

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.

26And 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.

27And 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.

28And he made the staves [of] shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.

29And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Bezaleel meticulously crafted the sacred furnishings for the tabernacle, as commanded by God. He constructed the Ark of the Covenant with its mercy seat and cherubims, and the Table of Shewbread with its golden vessels. Additionally, he fashioned the elaborate golden Candlestick and the Altar of Incense, along with the holy anointing oil and pure incense.

Medium Summary

Exodus 37 details Bezaleel's skilled execution of the divine instructions for the tabernacle's holy furnishings. He began by constructing the Ark of the Covenant from shittim wood overlaid with pure gold, complete with its golden crown, rings, and carrying staves. Upon the Ark, he fashioned the Mercy Seat of pure gold, from which two cherubims, beaten out of one piece, spread their wings to cover it. Next, Bezaleel made the Table of Shewbread from shittim wood, overlaid with gold, adding a crown, border, rings, and staves, along with its pure gold dishes and vessels. The chapter then describes the creation of the intricate Candlestick of pure beaten gold, with its shaft, branches, bowls, knops, and flowers, along with its seven lamps and snuffing instruments. Finally, Bezaleel constructed the Altar of Incense from shittim wood, overlaid with gold, complete with its horns, crown, rings, and staves, and prepared the holy anointing oil and pure incense.

Long Summary

Exodus chapter 37 provides a detailed account of Bezaleel's craftsmanship in creating the principal furnishings for the Tabernacle, precisely following the divine specifications previously given to Moses. The chapter opens with the construction of the Ark of the Covenant, made of shittim wood and meticulously overlaid with pure gold both inside and out, featuring a golden crown around its top. Four gold rings were cast for its corners, through which gold-overlaid shittim wood staves were inserted for carrying. Immediately following, Bezaleel fashioned the Mercy Seat of pure gold, designed to sit atop the Ark. From the Mercy Seat, two cherubims of beaten gold were made, one at each end, with their wings spread high, covering the Mercy Seat, and their faces turned towards each other. Next, Bezaleel constructed the Table of Shewbread from shittim wood, also overlaid with pure gold, and adorned with a golden crown and a handbreadth border, which also had a golden crown. Four gold rings were placed at its corners for the staves, which were likewise made of gold-overlaid shittim wood, enabling the table to be carried. All the vessels for the table, including dishes, spoons, bowls, and covers, were made of pure gold. The chapter then describes the elaborate creation of the Candlestick, made entirely of pure beaten gold. Its central shaft branched into six arms, three on each side, each adorned with almond-shaped bowls, knops, and flowers. Four additional almond-shaped bowls, knops, and flowers were on the main shaft, with knops placed under sets of two branches. This entire piece, including its seven lamps, snuffers, and snuffdishes, was crafted from a single talent of pure gold. Finally, Bezaleel made the Altar of Incense from shittim wood, overlaid with pure gold on its top, sides, and horns, and encircled with a golden crown. Two gold rings were placed under its crown for the gold-overlaid shittim wood staves used for transport. The chapter concludes by noting Bezaleel's preparation of the holy anointing oil and the pure incense of sweet spices, crafted "according to the work of the apothecary." This chapter emphasizes the precise and skilled execution of God's architectural and furnishing commands for the Tabernacle.

Core Concepts

  • Ark of the CovenantThe primary sacred chest made of shittim wood overlaid with pure gold, containing the divine testimony, and equipped with rings and staves for transport.
  • Mercy Seat and CherubimsThe pure gold lid for the Ark, from which two beaten gold cherubims extended their wings, symbolizing God's presence and propitiation.
  • Table of ShewbreadA golden-overlaid shittim wood table with its associated pure gold vessels, designed to hold the bread of presence in the holy place.
  • Golden Candlestick (Menorah)An elaborate, single piece of pure beaten gold, featuring a central shaft and six branches, adorned with decorative elements and holding seven lamps for illumination.
  • Altar of IncenseA small, foursquare altar of shittim wood overlaid with pure gold, used for burning incense daily in the holy place, featuring horns and a golden crown.
  • Holy Anointing Oil & IncenseSpecific sacred preparations, the oil for consecrating persons and objects, and the pure, sweet-smelling incense for burning on the golden altar, both made according to precise instructions.
  • Bezaleel's CraftsmanshipThe skilled execution by Bezaleel, specifically gifted by God, in meticulously constructing all the tabernacle furnishings and sacred preparations according to divine pattern.