Exodus 37:17 Komentář

Bezaleel and his workmen are still busy, making I. The ark with the mercy-seat and the cherubim (Exo 37:1-9). II. The table with its vessels (Exo 37:10-16). III. The candlestick with its appurtenances (Exo 37:17-24). IV. The golden altar for incense (Exo 37:25-28). V. The holy oil and incense (Exo 37:29). The particular appointment concerning each of which we had before the Exo 25:1 and Exo 30:1 chapters.

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 37 This chapter continues the account of the making of the tabernacle, and the furniture of it, particularly the ark, mercy seat, and cherubim, Exo 37:1 the shewbread table, and what appertained to that, Exo 37:10 the candlestick, and all the vessels of it, Exo 37:17 and the altar of incense, together with the anointing oil, and pure incense, Exo 37:25.

Bezaleel and Aholiab make the ark, Exo 37:1-5. The mercy-seat, Exo 37:6. The two cherubim, Exo 37:7-9. The table of the shew-bread, and its vessels, Exo 37:10-16. The candlestick, Exo 37:17-24. The golden altar of incense, Exo 37:25-28. The holy anointing oil and perfume, Exo 37:29.

He made the candlestick - See this described in the note on Exo 25:31 (note).

FURNITURE OF THE TABERNACLE. (Exo. 37:1-29) Bezaleel made the ark--The description here given of the things within the sacred edifice is almost word for word the same as that contained in Exo. 25:1-40. It is not on that account to be regarded as a useless repetition of minute particulars; for by the enumeration of these details, it can be seen how exactly everything was fashioned according to the "pattern shown on the mount" [Exo 25:40]; and the knowledge of this exact correspondence between the prescription and the execution was essential to the purposes of the fabric.

he made the candlestick of pure gold--Practical readers will be apt to say, "Why do such works with the hammer, when they could have been cast so much easier--a process they were well acquainted with?" The only answer that can be given is, that it was done according to order. We have no doubt but there were reasons for so distinctive an order, something significant, which has not been revealed to us [NAPIER]. The whole of that sacred building was arranged with a view to inculcate through every part of its apparatus the great fundamental principles of revelation. Every object was symbolical of important truth--every piece of furniture was made the hieroglyphic of a doctrine or a duty--on the floor and along the sides of that movable edifice was exhibited, by emblematic signs addressed to the eye, the whole remedial scheme of the gospel. How far this spiritual instruction was received by every successive generation of the Israelites, it may not be easy to determine. But the tabernacle, like the law of which it was a part, was a schoolmaster to Christ [Gal 3:24-25]. Just as the walls of schools are seen studded with pictorial figures, by which the children, in a manner level to their capacities and suited to arrest their volatile minds, are kept in constant and familiar remembrance of the lessons of piety and virtue, so the tabernacle was intended by its furniture and all its arrangements to serve as a "shadow of good things to come" [Heb 10:1]. In this view, the minute description given in this chapter respecting the ark and mercy seat, the table of showbread, the candlestick, the altar of incense, and the holy oil, were of the greatest utility and importance; and though there are a few things that are merely ornamental appendages, such as the knops and the flowers, yet, in introducing these into the tabernacle, God displayed the same wisdom and goodness as He has done by introducing real flowers into the kingdom of nature to engage and gratify the eye of man. Next: Exodus Chapter 38