Exodus 37 Study Notes
General
Besides the furniture, what else was prepared according to 37:29?
Answer: The holy oil for anointing and the fragrant incense, blended with a perfumer's skill
Exodus 37 ends with the holy oil used for anointing and the pure, sweet-smelling incense, both made with the skill of a perfumer (37:29). God had given the recipe for the oil earlier (30:25). It was applied to the tent and every piece of furniture, setting them apart for God so that they became most holy (30:26-29). The incense was holy too: no one was allowed to copy its formula for personal use (30:37-38). Both items belonged entirely to God's service.
- Exodus 37:29 (BSB)“He also made the sacred anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense, the work of a perfumer.”Bezalel prepares the holy anointing oil and the fragrant incense.
- Exodus 30:25 (BSB)“Prepare from these a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer; it will be a sacred anointing oil.”The anointing oil was a sacred blend prepared by a perfumer's skill, exactly as 37:29 describes.
- Exodus 30:26-29 (BSB)“Use this oil to anoint the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony, the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its utensils, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. You are to consecrate them so that they will be most holy. Whatever touches them shall be holy.”The oil was used to anoint and consecrate the tent and all its furnishings, making them most holy.
- Exodus 30:37-38 (BSB)“You are never to use this formula to make incense for yourselves; you shall regard it as holy to the LORD. Anyone who makes something like it to enjoy its fragrance shall be cut off from his people.””The incense formula was holy to the LORD and was never to be copied for personal enjoyment.
Theological
What does 37:29 add to the account of Bezalel's work?
Answer: The preparation of the holy oil for anointing and the fragrant incense, as a perfumer blends them
The chapter closes with the consecrating oil and the sweet incense, each compounded with a perfumer's skill (37:29), in accordance with 30:25 and 30:34-35. The oil served to consecrate the tent and all its furnishings as most holy (30:26-29), and the incense formula was reserved to the LORD, forbidden for private use on pain of being cut off (30:37-38). Both mark out what is set apart wholly for God's worship.
- Exodus 37:29 (BSB)“He also made the sacred anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense, the work of a perfumer.”Bezalel prepares the holy anointing oil and the fragrant incense.
- Exodus 30:25 (BSB)“Prepare from these a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer; it will be a sacred anointing oil.”The anointing oil was a sacred blend prepared by a perfumer's skill, exactly as 37:29 describes.
- Exodus 30:26-29 (BSB)“Use this oil to anoint the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony, the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its utensils, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. You are to consecrate them so that they will be most holy. Whatever touches them shall be holy.”The oil was used to anoint and consecrate the tent and all its furnishings, making them most holy.
- Exodus 30:37-38 (BSB)“You are never to use this formula to make incense for yourselves; you shall regard it as holy to the LORD. Anyone who makes something like it to enjoy its fragrance shall be cut off from his people.””The incense formula was holy to the LORD and was never to be copied for personal enjoyment.
General
Who is named at the start of Exodus 37 as the one who built the ark?
Answer: Bezalel, the craftsman God had called and gifted for the work
Exodus 37 opens by naming Bezalel as the builder of the ark (37:1). Earlier the LORD had chosen Bezalel by name and filled him with God's Spirit, equipping him with the skill and know-how for every kind of craft (31:2-3; 35:30-31). Bezalel covers the ark with gold inside and outside, adds a gold molding, and fits it with gold rings and gold-covered poles so it can be carried (37:2-5). The ark was the most sacred object in the tabernacle, and God entrusted its making to a worker He Himself had prepared for the task (36:1).
- Exodus 37:1-5 (BSB)“Bezalel went on to construct the ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. He overlaid it with pure gold, both inside and out, and made a gold molding around it. And he cast four gold rings for its four feet, two rings on one side and two on the other. Then he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. He inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry it.”Bezalel builds the gold-covered ark, with rings and poles for carrying it.
- Exodus 31:2-3 (BSB)““See, I have called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship,”God had personally called Bezalel and equipped him with skill by His Spirit for exactly this work.
- Exodus 35:30-31 (BSB)“Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship,”Moses announces Bezalel's Spirit-given gifting to the people before the building begins.
- Exodus 36:1 (BSB)““So Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skilled person are to carry out everything commanded by the LORD, who has given them skill and ability to know how to perform all the work of constructing the sanctuary.””The skilled workers were to carry out everything the LORD commanded, using the ability He had given them.
Theological
What is significant about the builder named in 37:1 for the ark?
Answer: He is Bezalel, whom God had called by name and endowed by His Spirit for the sanctuary work
The narrative credits the ark to Bezalel (37:1), the Judahite craftsman whom the LORD had named and filled with His Spirit for skill in every craft (31:2-3; 35:30-31). The gifting of the Spirit here is a vocational endowment for building God's dwelling, and it stands behind the careful execution of the ark: gold overlay inside and outside, molding, cast rings, and gold-covered poles (37:2-5). The sanctuary is built by those God has equipped, carrying out what He commanded (36:1).
- Exodus 37:1-5 (BSB)“Bezalel went on to construct the ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. He overlaid it with pure gold, both inside and out, and made a gold molding around it. And he cast four gold rings for its four feet, two rings on one side and two on the other. Then he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. He inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry it.”Bezalel builds the gold-covered ark, with rings and poles for carrying it.
- Exodus 31:2-3 (BSB)““See, I have called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship,”God had personally called Bezalel and equipped him with skill by His Spirit for exactly this work.
- Exodus 35:30-31 (BSB)“Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship,”Moses announces Bezalel's Spirit-given gifting to the people before the building begins.
- Exodus 36:1 (BSB)““So Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skilled person are to carry out everything commanded by the LORD, who has given them skill and ability to know how to perform all the work of constructing the sanctuary.””The skilled workers were to carry out everything the LORD commanded, using the ability He had given them.
General
How does the work in Exodus 37 compare with the instructions God gave in Exodus 25 and 30?
Answer: It follows them closely, often nearly word for word, showing the work was done as God directed
Reading chapter 37 beside chapters 25 and 30 shows the building account repeating the instructions almost word for word, with the same objects, materials, and measurements. For example, the ark cover and its cherubim are made in the same terms God used when He commanded them (37:6-7; 25:17-18). The repetition makes a point: the builders did not invent their own design but carried out what God had shown Moses on the mountain (25:40). Hebrews explains why the pattern mattered: the earthly sanctuary was a copy that pointed to a heavenly reality (Hebrews 8:5). Hebrews also commends Moses as faithful in serving God's whole household (Hebrews 3:5).
- Exodus 37:6-7 (BSB)“He constructed a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. He made two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat,”The mercy seat and cherubim are made in the same terms God used when commanding them in chapter 25.
- Exodus 25:17-18 (BSB)“And you are to construct a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. Make two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat,”The original command for the mercy seat and cherubim, which 37:6-7 carries out nearly word for word.
- Exodus 25:40 (BSB)“See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”Moses was told to make everything according to the pattern shown him on the mountain.
- Hebrews 8:5 (BSB)“The place where they serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.””Hebrews explains that the earthly sanctuary copied a heavenly reality, which is why the pattern had to be followed.
- Hebrews 3:5 (BSB)“Now Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be spoken later.”Moses is commended as a faithful servant in God's house, testifying to what would come later.
Theological
What is the point of the close verbal correspondence between 37:1-29 and the instructions of 25:10-40 and 30:1-5, 22-38?
Answer: It shows the commanded pattern was carried out faithfully, not modified by human invention
The execution narrative mirrors the instructions closely; the gold cover and its cherubim, for instance, are made in nearly the same words in which they were commanded (37:6-7; 25:17-18). The repetition underscores obedience: the sanctuary was built by the design revealed on the mountain (25:40), not according to human invention. Hebrews grounds that necessity in the sanctuary's nature as a copy, a foreshadowing of the heavenly reality (Hebrews 8:5), and it commends Moses as a faithful servant in God's household, bearing witness to things yet to be revealed (Hebrews 3:5).
- Exodus 37:6-7 (BSB)“He constructed a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. He made two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat,”The mercy seat and cherubim are made in the same terms God used when commanding them in chapter 25.
- Exodus 25:17-18 (BSB)“And you are to construct a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. Make two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat,”The original command for the mercy seat and cherubim, which 37:6-7 carries out nearly word for word.
- Exodus 25:40 (BSB)“See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”Moses was told to make everything according to the pattern shown him on the mountain.
- Hebrews 8:5 (BSB)“The place where they serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.””Hebrews explains that the earthly sanctuary copied a heavenly reality, which is why the pattern had to be followed.
- Hebrews 3:5 (BSB)“Now Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be spoken later.”Moses is commended as a faithful servant in God's house, testifying to what would come later.
General
True or False: The incense altar Bezalel made (37:25-28) was covered with bronze, like the courtyard altar for burnt offerings.
Answer: False
This is false. The small incense altar was a wooden altar covered with pure gold on its top, its sides, and its horns, with a gold molding and gold rings to hold its carrying poles (37:25-28). Bronze was used for the larger altar for burnt offerings that stood outside in the courtyard (38:2). The gold altar stood inside the tent, where Aaron burned fragrant incense every morning and at twilight (30:7-8). Elsewhere Scripture pictures rising incense as an image of prayer going up to God (Psalm 141:2; Revelation 8:3-4).
- Exodus 37:25-26 (BSB)“He made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high. Its horns were of one piece. And he overlaid with pure gold the top and all the sides and horns. Then he made a molding of gold around it.”The incense altar is made of acacia wood and overlaid on top, sides, and horns with pure gold.
- Exodus 38:2 (BSB)“He made a horn at each of its four corners, so that the horns and altar were of one piece, and he overlaid the altar with bronze.”In contrast, the altar of burnt offering in the courtyard was overlaid with bronze.
- Exodus 30:7-8 (BSB)“And Aaron is to burn fragrant incense on it every morning when he tends the lamps. When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he must burn the incense perpetually before the LORD for the generations to come.”Aaron was to burn fragrant incense on the gold altar every morning and at twilight.
- Psalm 141:2 (BSB)“May my prayer be set before You like incense; my uplifted hands, like the evening offering.”The psalmist asks that his prayer rise before God like incense, linking incense with prayer.
- Revelation 8:3-4 (BSB)“Then another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, rose up before God from the hand of the angel.”In John's vision incense rises from the golden altar together with the prayers of the saints.
Theological
True or False: Like the courtyard altar for burnt offerings in 38:1-2, the incense altar of 37:25-28 was overlaid with bronze.
Answer: False
This is false. The incense altar, of acacia wood with horns of a piece with it, was plated with pure gold on top, sides, and horns, with a gold molding and cast rings to receive its poles (37:25-28); bronze belonged to the courtyard altar for burnt offerings (38:2). The gold altar stood within the tent, where incense was burned morning and evening (30:7-8). Scripture uses incense as an image of the prayers of God's people ascending before Him (Psalm 141:2; Revelation 8:3-4).
- Exodus 37:25-26 (BSB)“He made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high. Its horns were of one piece. And he overlaid with pure gold the top and all the sides and horns. Then he made a molding of gold around it.”The incense altar is made of acacia wood and overlaid on top, sides, and horns with pure gold.
- Exodus 38:2 (BSB)“He made a horn at each of its four corners, so that the horns and altar were of one piece, and he overlaid the altar with bronze.”In contrast, the altar of burnt offering in the courtyard was overlaid with bronze.
- Exodus 30:7-8 (BSB)“And Aaron is to burn fragrant incense on it every morning when he tends the lamps. When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he must burn the incense perpetually before the LORD for the generations to come.”Aaron was to burn fragrant incense on the gold altar every morning and at twilight.
- Psalm 141:2 (BSB)“May my prayer be set before You like incense; my uplifted hands, like the evening offering.”The psalmist asks that his prayer rise before God like incense, linking incense with prayer.
- Revelation 8:3-4 (BSB)“Then another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, rose up before God from the hand of the angel.”In John's vision incense rises from the golden altar together with the prayers of the saints.
General
What pure-gold items did Bezalel make to go with the table (37:16)?
Answer: Plates, dishes, bowls, and pitchers, including vessels used for drink offerings
The table was made of acacia wood covered with gold, given a rim and molding, and fitted with rings and poles for carrying (37:10-15). All its utensils were pure gold: plates, dishes, bowls, and pitchers, some of them used for pouring out drink offerings (37:16). This was the table on which the holy bread was to be kept before the LORD at all times (25:30), twelve loaves that were replaced every Sabbath on behalf of Israel (Leviticus 24:5-8). Hebrews lists the table and this bread among the furnishings of the first room, known as the Holy Place (Hebrews 9:2).
- Exodus 37:16 (BSB)“He also made the utensils for the table out of pure gold: its plates and dishes, as well as its bowls and pitchers for pouring drink offerings.”Bezalel makes the table's utensils out of pure gold.
- Exodus 25:30 (BSB)“And place the Bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times.”God commanded that the Presence bread be kept on this table before Him at all times.
- Leviticus 24:5-8 (BSB)“You are also to take fine flour and bake twelve loaves, using two-tenths of an ephah for each loaf, and set them in two rows—six per row—on the table of pure gold before the LORD. And you are to place pure frankincense near each row, so that it may serve as a memorial portion for the bread, a food offering to the LORD. Every Sabbath day the bread is to be set out before the LORD on behalf of the Israelites as a permanent covenant.”Twelve loaves were set out on the gold table and renewed every Sabbath on behalf of Israel.
- Hebrews 9:2 (BSB)“A tabernacle was prepared. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. This was called the Holy Place.”Hebrews lists the table and the consecrated bread among the furnishings of the Holy Place.
Theological
According to 37:16, what gold vessels were made for the table?
Answer: Plates, dishes, bowls, and pitchers, some for pouring out drink offerings
Bezalel completes the gold-covered table with its rim, molding, rings, and poles (37:10-15) and its vessels of pure gold: plates, dishes, bowls, and libation pitchers (37:16), matching 25:29. The table bore the Presence bread continually before the LORD (25:30), twelve loaves set out afresh each Sabbath on Israel's behalf as a lasting covenant (Leviticus 24:5-8). Hebrews places the table and consecrated bread in the Holy Place of the earthly sanctuary (Hebrews 9:2).
- Exodus 37:16 (BSB)“He also made the utensils for the table out of pure gold: its plates and dishes, as well as its bowls and pitchers for pouring drink offerings.”Bezalel makes the table's utensils out of pure gold.
- Exodus 25:30 (BSB)“And place the Bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times.”God commanded that the Presence bread be kept on this table before Him at all times.
- Leviticus 24:5-8 (BSB)“You are also to take fine flour and bake twelve loaves, using two-tenths of an ephah for each loaf, and set them in two rows—six per row—on the table of pure gold before the LORD. And you are to place pure frankincense near each row, so that it may serve as a memorial portion for the bread, a food offering to the LORD. Every Sabbath day the bread is to be set out before the LORD on behalf of the Israelites as a permanent covenant.”Twelve loaves were set out on the gold table and renewed every Sabbath on behalf of Israel.
- Hebrews 9:2 (BSB)“A tabernacle was prepared. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. This was called the Holy Place.”Hebrews lists the table and the consecrated bread among the furnishings of the Holy Place.
General
What was distinctive about how the lampstand was made (37:17-22)?
Answer: It was beaten from a single mass of pure gold, with almond-flower cups, buds, and petals
The lampstand had a central shaft with six branches, three on each side, all decorated with almond-flower cups, buds, and blossoms (37:17-21). Everything, even the buds under each pair of branches, formed one hammered piece with the stand (37:22), and it held seven lamps with gold tools for trimming the wicks and gold trays (37:23). This matched God's command for the lampstand exactly (25:31). The priests were to keep its lamps burning before the LORD through the night (27:20-21), and Hebrews names the lampstand as part of the Holy Place (Hebrews 9:2).
- Exodus 37:17 (BSB)“Then he made the lampstand out of pure hammered gold, all of one piece: its base and shaft, its cups, and its buds and petals.”The lampstand is made of pure hammered gold as a single piece, base, shaft, and decorations together.
- Exodus 37:22-23 (BSB)“The buds and branches were all of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold. He also made its seven lamps, its wick trimmers, and trays of pure gold.”Buds and branches are one hammered piece with the stand, which carries seven lamps.
- Exodus 25:31 (BSB)“Then you are to make a lampstand of pure, hammered gold. It shall be made of one piece, including its base and shaft, its cups, and its buds and petals.”The command for the lampstand had specified exactly this: pure hammered gold, made of one piece.
- Exodus 27:20-21 (BSB)“And you are to command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually. In the Tent of Meeting, outside the veil that is in front of the Testimony, Aaron and his sons are to tend the lamps before the LORD from evening until morning. This is to be a permanent statute for the Israelites for the generations to come.”Aaron and his sons were to keep the lamps burning before the LORD through the night as a permanent statute.
- Hebrews 9:2 (BSB)“A tabernacle was prepared. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. This was called the Holy Place.”Hebrews names the lampstand as a furnishing of the Holy Place.
Theological
What does 37:17-23 stress about the construction of the lampstand?
Answer: It was a single hammered work of pure gold, branches and almond-flower ornaments included, bearing seven lamps
Six branches, three per side, with almond-flower cups, buds, and petals (37:17-21), were all beaten out with the stand as one piece of pure gold (37:22), and the stand carried seven lamps with gold trimmers and trays (37:23). The execution follows the command of 25:31 exactly. The lamps were tended by the priests through the night as a perpetual statute (27:20-21), and Hebrews identifies the lampstand as a furnishing of the Holy Place (Hebrews 9:2).
- Exodus 37:17 (BSB)“Then he made the lampstand out of pure hammered gold, all of one piece: its base and shaft, its cups, and its buds and petals.”The lampstand is made of pure hammered gold as a single piece, base, shaft, and decorations together.
- Exodus 37:22-23 (BSB)“The buds and branches were all of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold. He also made its seven lamps, its wick trimmers, and trays of pure gold.”Buds and branches are one hammered piece with the stand, which carries seven lamps.
- Exodus 25:31 (BSB)“Then you are to make a lampstand of pure, hammered gold. It shall be made of one piece, including its base and shaft, its cups, and its buds and petals.”The command for the lampstand had specified exactly this: pure hammered gold, made of one piece.
- Exodus 27:20-21 (BSB)“And you are to command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually. In the Tent of Meeting, outside the veil that is in front of the Testimony, Aaron and his sons are to tend the lamps before the LORD from evening until morning. This is to be a permanent statute for the Israelites for the generations to come.”Aaron and his sons were to keep the lamps burning before the LORD through the night as a permanent statute.
- Hebrews 9:2 (BSB)“A tabernacle was prepared. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. This was called the Holy Place.”Hebrews names the lampstand as a furnishing of the Holy Place.
General
How were the two cherubim on the mercy seat made and positioned (37:7-9)?
Answer: Hammered out together with the gold cover, facing one another with wings spread above it
The mercy seat was the solid gold cover placed on top of the ark (37:6). At its two ends Bezalel formed two cherubim, heavenly beings, hammered out as part of the cover itself rather than attached afterward (37:7-8). Their wings reached upward and sheltered the cover, and they faced each other, turned toward it (37:9). God had promised to meet Moses there and speak to him from between the cherubim (25:22). Once a year the high priest sprinkled sacrificial blood on this cover on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:14-15). The New Testament recalls this cover (Hebrews 9:5), and Paul uses the same Greek word when he says God put Christ forward as the atoning sacrifice for sin (Romans 3:25). The gold cover where atoning blood was sprinkled pointed ahead to Christ, in whom God's anger against sin is turned away and His justice is shown.
- Exodus 37:6-9 (BSB)“He constructed a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. He made two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat, one cherub on one end and one on the other, all made from one piece of gold. And the cherubim had wings that spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the mercy seat.”Bezalel makes the gold mercy seat with two cherubim hammered from the same gold, wings spread over it.
- Exodus 25:22 (BSB)“And I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony; I will speak with you about all that I command you regarding the Israelites.”God designates the space above the mercy seat, between the cherubim, as the place where He would meet and speak with Moses.
- Leviticus 16:14-15 (BSB)“And he is to take some of the bull’s blood and sprinkle it with his finger on the east side of the mercy seat; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the mercy seat. Aaron shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and bring its blood behind the veil, and with its blood he must do as he did with the bull’s blood: He is to sprinkle it against the mercy seat and in front of it.”On the Day of Atonement the high priest sprinkled sacrificial blood on and before the mercy seat.
- Hebrews 9:5 (BSB)“Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.”Hebrews recalls the cherubim over the mercy seat when describing the earthly sanctuary.
- Romans 3:25 (BSB)“God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.”Paul uses the Greek term that Hebrews 9:5 uses for the mercy seat to describe Christ as the atoning sacrifice God put forward.
Theological
What does 37:6-9 record about the gold cover of the ark and its cherubim?
Answer: The cherubim were of one hammered piece with the gold cover, facing each other and sheltering it with upraised wings
The pure gold mercy seat (37:6) and its two cherubim were a single hammered work (37:7-8), the cherubim facing each other, wings upraised and sheltering the cover, their faces turned toward it (37:9). This was the place of God's appointed meeting with Moses (25:22) and the place where atoning blood was sprinkled on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:14-15). Hebrews recalls the cherubim over the mercy seat (Hebrews 9:5), and Paul applies the same term (hilasterion) to Christ, whom God publicly set forth as the propitiation in His blood (Romans 3:25). The golden cover where atoning blood was sprinkled pointed to the Savior in whom God's wrath is turned aside and His righteousness displayed.
- Exodus 37:6-9 (BSB)“He constructed a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. He made two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat, one cherub on one end and one on the other, all made from one piece of gold. And the cherubim had wings that spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the mercy seat.”Bezalel makes the gold mercy seat with two cherubim hammered from the same gold, wings spread over it.
- Exodus 25:22 (BSB)“And I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony; I will speak with you about all that I command you regarding the Israelites.”God designates the space above the mercy seat, between the cherubim, as the place where He would meet and speak with Moses.
- Leviticus 16:14-15 (BSB)“And he is to take some of the bull’s blood and sprinkle it with his finger on the east side of the mercy seat; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the mercy seat. Aaron shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and bring its blood behind the veil, and with its blood he must do as he did with the bull’s blood: He is to sprinkle it against the mercy seat and in front of it.”On the Day of Atonement the high priest sprinkled sacrificial blood on and before the mercy seat.
- Hebrews 9:5 (BSB)“Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.”Hebrews recalls the cherubim over the mercy seat when describing the earthly sanctuary.
- Romans 3:25 (BSB)“God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.”Paul uses the Greek term that Hebrews 9:5 uses for the mercy seat to describe Christ as the atoning sacrifice God put forward.
General
True or False: Exodus 37 describes rings and poles made so that the ark, the table, and also the incense altar could be carried.
Answer: True
This is true. The ark had four gold rings and gold-covered poles (37:3-5), the table had rings near its rim and poles for carrying (37:13-15), and the incense altar had two gold rings under its molding and poles of its own (37:27-28). These furnishings were made to travel. Israel was a people on the move through the wilderness, and when the camp set out, the Levites of the Kohath clan carried the holy objects (Numbers 4:15). The LORD traveled with His people, living in a tent as they journeyed (2 Samuel 7:6; Exodus 40:36-38).
- Exodus 37:4-5 (BSB)“Then he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. He inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry it.”Gold-covered poles are made and inserted into the ark's rings so it can be carried.
- Exodus 37:27 (BSB)“He made two gold rings below the molding on opposite sides to hold the poles used to carry it.”Gold rings are placed on the incense altar to hold its carrying poles.
- Numbers 4:15 (BSB)“When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting.”When the camp moved, the Kohathites carried the holy objects after the priests covered them.
- 2 Samuel 7:6 (BSB)“For I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt until this day, but I have moved about with a tent as My dwelling.”God later recalls that from the exodus onward He had moved about with a tent as His dwelling.
- Exodus 40:36-38 (BSB)“Whenever the cloud was lifted from above the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out through all the stages of their journey. If the cloud was not lifted, they would not set out until the day it was taken up. For the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel through all their journeys.”The tabernacle moved whenever the cloud lifted and Israel set out on its journeys.
Theological
True or False: The ark, the gold table, and the incense altar were each given rings and poles for transport (37:3-5, 13-15, 27-28).
Answer: True
This is true. Each of the three gold-covered furnishings in chapter 37 receives gold rings and acacia poles overlaid with gold: the ark (37:3-5), the table (37:13-15), and the incense altar (37:27-28). The sanctuary is designed to be portable, carried by the Kohathites when the camp moved (Numbers 4:15). God's dwelling moves with His pilgrim people, as He later recalled in declining a permanent house (2 Samuel 7:6), and its movements follow the cloud (Exodus 40:36-38).
- Exodus 37:4-5 (BSB)“Then he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. He inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry it.”Gold-covered poles are made and inserted into the ark's rings so it can be carried.
- Exodus 37:27 (BSB)“He made two gold rings below the molding on opposite sides to hold the poles used to carry it.”Gold rings are placed on the incense altar to hold its carrying poles.
- Numbers 4:15 (BSB)“When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting.”When the camp moved, the Kohathites carried the holy objects after the priests covered them.
- 2 Samuel 7:6 (BSB)“For I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt until this day, but I have moved about with a tent as My dwelling.”God later recalls that from the exodus onward He had moved about with a tent as His dwelling.
- Exodus 40:36-38 (BSB)“Whenever the cloud was lifted from above the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out through all the stages of their journey. If the cloud was not lifted, they would not set out until the day it was taken up. For the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel through all their journeys.”The tabernacle moved whenever the cloud lifted and Israel set out on its journeys.