Reflections on Exodus 37

Exodus 37 (Contemporary English Version)
1. Bezalel built a chest of acacia wood forty-five inches long, twenty-seven inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high.
   
2. He covered it inside and out with pure gold and put a gold edging around the top.
   
3. He made four gold rings and fastened one of them to each of the four legs of the chest.
   
4. Then he made two poles of acacia wood, covered them with gold,
   
5. and put them through the rings, so the chest could be carried by the poles.
   
6. The entire lid of the chest, which was also covered with pure gold, was the place of mercy.
   
7. On each of the two ends of the chest he made a winged creature of hammered gold. They faced each other, and their wings covered the place of mercy.
   
8. (SEE 37:7)
   
9. (SEE 37:7)
   
10. Bezalel built a table of acacia wood thirty-six inches long, eighteen inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high.
    
11. He covered it with pure gold and put a gold edging around it with a border three inches wide.
    
12. (SEE 37:11)
    
13. He made four gold rings and attached one to each of the legs
    
14. near the edging. The poles for carrying the table were placed through these rings
    
15. and were made of acacia wood covered with gold.
    
16. Everything that was to be set on the table was made of pure gold--the bowls, plates, jars, and cups for wine offerings.
    
17. Bezalel made a lampstand of pure gold. The whole lampstand, including its decorative flowers, was made from a single piece of hammered gold,
    
18. with three branches on each of its two sides.
    
19. There were three decorative almond blossoms on each branch
    
20. and four on the stem.
    
21. There was also a blossom where each pair of branches came out from the stem.
    
22. The lampstand, including its branches and decorative flowers, was made from a single piece of hammered pure gold.
    
23. The lamp and its equipment, including the tongs and trays, were made of about seventy-five pounds of pure gold.
    
24. (SEE 37:23)
    
25. For burning incense, Bezalel made an altar of acacia wood. It was eighteen inches square and thirty-six inches high with each of its four corners sticking up like the horn of a bull.
    
26. He covered it with pure gold and put a gold edging around it.
    
27. Then below the edging on opposite sides he attached two gold rings through which he put the poles for carrying the altar.
    
28. These poles were also made of acacia wood and covered with gold.
    
29. Bezalel mixed the oil for dedication and the sweet-smelling spices for the incense.
    
    

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    Following the construction of the tent that housed the tabernacle, described in chapter 36, chapter 37 describes the making of the furniture that went in the tent. Six furniture items as described. They include:
    
    
    • Ark of the Covenant - contained the tablets of stone on which were written the ten commandments.
      
    • Mercy Seat - made of pure gold, including the two cherubim that were on it.
      
    • Table of Showbread - made of acacia wood and held the twelve loaves of bread, possibly representing God's provision for the twelve tribes of Israel.
      
    • Golden Lampstand - made from one piece of pure gold. It had six branches each with a cup in which olive oil burned perpetually.
      
    • Altar of Incense - fragrant incense was burned on this altar twice a day.
      
    • Anointing Oil and Incense - though not a furniture item, these were a significant part of the tabernacle, made from a special blend of ingredients that was not to be made for any other purpose.