Exodus 37:15
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Exodus 37:1–29
Section overviews (2)
Exodus 35:1–40.38
Much of the report about building the Tent of Meeting repeats what 25:1–31:18 said. There is a change from the imperative mood to the indicative, and there are certain changes in the order.
This repetition emphasizes that the work was done exactly as God commanded (see 40:16). The people had tried to secure God's presence their own way with the gold calf, which led to disaster. Now, by following God's way, they received blessings (40:34–38).
Exodus 25:1–40.38
Unlike most churches today, the Tent of Meeting (the tabernacle) was not mainly a place where people gathered to meet. It was first of all the dwelling place of God. It functioned like the palace of a king. God was Israel’s divine King, and the Tabernacle was his royal tent.
In this way, churches today are more similar to later Jewish synagogues, where people gathered to worship and learn (see also study note on 40:2).
The last section of Exodus completes God’s self-revelation to Israel. Through these events, God brought the people out of the spiritual darkness that had held them in slavery.
This section includes three main parts:
Instructions for building the Tent of Meeting (chapters 25–31).
The story of the golden calf (a wrong attempt to secure God's presence, chapters 32–34).
The report of building the Tent of Meeting (the correct way to secure God's presence, chapters 35–40).
These chapters show that God’s ultimate goal in delivering Israel from slavery was to live among them.
God wanted to share his presence with his people. However, because God is holy (completely pure and set apart from sin), people could experience his presence only in the way he commanded.
They could not approach him through pagan practices (worship methods of other nations) or through human manipulation (trying to control or force a god to act).
The building of the Tent of Meeting is described here, even though some instructions in Leviticus were given earlier (see 40:1–2; Leviticus 25:1; 27:34; Numbers 7:1). This event shows the goal of the entire exodus story: God came to live among his people.
37:6-16
made the mercy seat of pure gold--To construct a figure, whether the body of a beast or a man, with two extended wings, measuring from two to three feet from tip to tip, with the hammer, out of a solid piece of gold, was what few, if any, artisans of the present day could accomplish.
37:10-24
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, Exo 37:17, Exo 37:22. 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, Zac 4:2, Zac 4:3. 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, Psa 19:10. 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.
37:1-29
If the repetition, which might appear to be superfluous in these chapters, should be wearisome to us, let us reflect on the intention of the Holy Spirit, who, in narrating the execution of the work, uses almost the identical words wherein He had previously set forth the commands of God, viz., that we may understand that Moses, and the artificers themselves, did not vary in the smallest point from the rule prescribed to them. God had commanded the Ark of the Covenant to be made, together with its cover; and Moses relates how it was completed, so that the artificers did not omit even its very minutest detail. He ordered a table to be made for the offering of bread, and not a single syllable is neglected. As to the candlestick there was the same scrupulous obedience, so that they did not alter it in any part. In the altar of incense there was no kind of dissimilarity between the command and the work; and, finally, the composition of the oil exactly corresponds with the command. There is no question, then, but that Moses commends obedience, as it is the foundation of true piety, and at the same time reminds us that there was no exercise of the imagination in the whole service of the tabernacle, because there is nothing more opposite to the purity of religion than to do anything which is not enjoined.
37:10-15
He made the table - See Exo 25:23.
37:1-29
And Bezaleel made the ark of shittim wood,.... Jarchi says, because he gave his mind to this work more than the rest of the wise men, it is called by his name. It is a notion of some Jewish writers that the ark was made by Bezaleel, without the help of others; but there is no sufficient reason to be given for it; for other things are equally ascribed to him in this and the following chapter, as the mercy seat with the cherubim, the shewbread table, the candlestick of pure gold, the two altars, the laver of brass, with other things, which are only said to be made by him, because they were made by his direction, and he having the oversight of them while making; wherefore Aben Ezra observes, that this is particularly said for the glory of the ark. Of the ark, and all other things mentioned in this chapter; see Gill on Exodus 25:1 &c. to end of chapter; see Gill on Exodus 30:1 &c. to end of chapter.