# Exodus 37 đź“–: Making the Ark and Furnishings
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### The Making of the Ark
[[#Verse 01.]]Â Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood; its length was 45 inches, its width 27 inches, and its height 27 inches.Â
[[#Verse 02.]] He overlaid it with pure gold, inside and out, and he made a surrounding border of gold for it.Â
[[#Verse 03.]] He cast four gold rings for it that he put on its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other side.Â
[[#Verse 04.]]Â He made poles of acacia wood, overlaid them with gold,Â
[[#Verse 05.]]Â and put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry the ark.
[[#Verse 06.]] He made an atonement lid of pure gold; its length was 45 inches, and its width was 27 inches.Â
[[#Verse 07.]]Â He made two cherubim of gold; he made them of hammered metal on the two ends of the atonement lid,Â
[[#Verse 08.]] one cherub on one end and one cherub on the other end. He made the cherubim from the atonement lid on its two ends.Â
[[#Verse 09.]] The cherubim were spreading their wings upward, overshadowing the atonement lid with their wings. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the atonement lid.
### The Making of the Table
[[#Verse 10.]] Bezalel made the table of acacia wood; its length was 36 inches, its width 18 inches, and its height 27 inches.Â
[[#Verse 11.]]Â He overlaid it with pure gold, and he made a surrounding border of gold for it.Â
[[#Verse 12.]]Â He made a surrounding frame for it about three inches wide, and he made a surrounding border of gold for its frame.Â
[[#Verse 13.]]Â He cast four gold rings for it and attached the rings at the four corners where its four legs were.Â
[[#Verse 14.]]Â The rings were close to the frame to provide places for the poles to carry the table.Â
[[#Verse 15.]]Â He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold, to carry the table.Â
[[#Verse 16.]] He made the vessels which were on the table out of pure gold, its plates, its ladles, its pitchers, and its bowls, to be used in pouring out offerings.
### The Making of the Lampstand
[[#Verse 17.]] Bezalel made the lampstand of pure gold. He made the lampstand of hammered metal; its base and its shaft, its cups, its buds, and its blossoms were from the same piece.Â
[[#Verse 18.]]Â Six branches were extending from its sides, three branches of the lampstand from one side of it, and three branches of the lampstand from the other side of it.Â
[[#Verse 19.]] Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms were on the first branch, and three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms were on the next branch, and the same for the six branches that were extending from the lampstand.Â
[[#Verse 20.]]Â On the lampstand there were four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms,Â
[[#Verse 21.]]Â with a bud under the first two branches from it, and a bud under the next two branches from it, and a bud under the third two branches from it; according to the six branches that extended from it.Â
[[#Verse 22.]]Â Their buds and their branches were of one piece;Â all of it was one hammered piece of pure gold.Â
[[#Verse 23.]]Â He made its seven lamps, its trimmers, and its trays of pure gold.Â
[[#Verse 24.]] He made the lampstand and all its accessories with seventy-five pounds of pure gold.
### The Making of the Altar of Incense
[[#Verse 25.]] Bezalel made the incense altar of acacia wood. Its length was 18 inches and its width 18 inches—a square—and its height was 36 inches. Its horns were of one piece with it.Â
[[#Verse 26.]] He overlaid it with pure gold—its top, its four walls, and its horns—and he made a surrounding border of gold for it.
[[#Verse 27.]] He also made two gold rings for it under its border, on its two sides, on opposite sides, as places for poles to carry it with.Â
[[#Verse 28.]]Â He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.
[[#Verse 29.]]Â He made the sacred anointing oil and the pure fragrant incense, the work of a perfumer.
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
###### Verse 24.
###### Verse 25.
###### Verse 26.
###### Verse 27.
###### Verse 28.
###### Verse 29.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Bezalel is personally credited with making the ark (37:1).
2. The chapter follows the same order as the instructions in chapters 25 and 30.
3. The ark matched the dimensions God gave: two and a half by one and a half by one and a half cubits (37:1).
4. The ark was carried by poles placed through gold rings (37:3-5).
5. The atonement lid was made of pure gold (37:6).
6. The cherubim faced each other and looked down toward the atonement lid (37:9).
7. The table held plates, ladles, pitchers, and bowls for drink offerings (37:16).
8. The lampstand had seven lamps with cups shaped like almond blossoms (37:19-23).
9. The Hebrew word for almond (*shaqed*) sounds like the word for "watching," a wordplay used in Jeremiah 1:11-12.
10. The incense and anointing oil were prepared with the skill of a perfumer (37:29).
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the true mercy seat where God meets sinners. Bezalel made the atonement lid with cherubim over the ark (37:6-9), and God publicly displayed Jesus as the mercy seat accessible through faith (Romans 3:25).
## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. Bezalel carefully built each piece exactly as God commanded (37:1-29). What does faithful attention to detail look like in your service to God?
2. The ark, table, lampstand, and incense altar each served a purpose in worship. Which one most helps you understand your relationship with God, and why?
3. The cherubim faced the atonement lid (37:9). What does it mean that even heaven's attention is fixed on God's mercy?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 1: Bezalel makes the ark of acacia wood.
- đź“– verses 6-9: Bezalel makes the atonement lid of pure gold with two cherubim facing it.
- đź“– verses 17-24: The lampstand of pure gold is made with cups shaped like almond blossoms.
## đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đź”— [[Romans 03#Verse 25.|Romans 3:25]] - Christ displayed as the mercy seat.
- đź”— [[Hebrews 09#Verse 03.|Hebrews 9:3-5]] - The ark and the cherubim of glory.
- đź”— [[Revelation 01#Verse 12.|Revelation 1:12-13]] - The Son of Man among the lampstands.
- đź”— [[Jeremiah 01#Verse 11.|Jeremiah 1:11-12]] - The almond branch and God watching over His word.
- đź”— [[Revelation 11#Verse 19.|Revelation 11:19]] - The ark of the covenant in God's heavenly temple.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
đź“ť SOAP: [[Exodus 37- SOAP|Skilled for Service]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes