Bible Commentaries
Exodus 25

Verse 1

the LORD [Hebrew. Jehovah. spake . See notes on Exodus 3:7 and Exodus 6:10 .

Verse 2

children = sons.

offering = heave offering. App-43 .

man . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

Verse 3

And . Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ) in verses: Exodus 25:3-5 . Fifteen objects (verses: Exodus 25:3-7 ), 3 x 5. All numbers connected with the Tabernacle are multiples of 5. See App-10 .

gold, &c. No iron in the tabernacle.

brass . A mixture of copper and zinc was unknown then. Probably copper, or bronze (a mixture of copper and tin).

Verse 4

purple , &c. These colours connected with the crucifixion. Matthew 27:28 . John 19:2 . White mentioned last. So in Revelation 19:13 , Revelation 19:14 .

Verse 5

shittim = acacia.

Verse 6

the light = the light-holder, as in Genesis 1:14 .

Verse 8

sanctuary . Hebrew. kodesh. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

Verse 9

pattern . Compare Hebrews 8:5 . Not a plan, but a model. The reality is in heaven. So with the temple, later. 1 Chronicles 28:11-19 . With the utmost exactitude certain representative measurements given. Nine others, vital to construction, but not for significance, not given. Probably these Divine silences were to make any unauthorized structures impossible. These nine were: (1) Thickness of sides and bottom of ark; (2) thickness of mercy seat and details of cherubim; (3) thickness of table; (4) dimensions of lampstand; (5) thickness of boards; (6) middle-bar dimensions; (7) size, &c., of rams' skins; (8) ditto badgers' skins; (9) all thick nesses of brazen altar (the third dimension).

tabernacle. Hebrew. mishkan. First occurance. See App-40 . Compare Exodus 25:8 . Note, in Exodus 25:10-40 we have furniture, for the worship, within; and in Exodus 26:1-37 the protection without.

Verse 10

ark. Note the order in which these things were made, and the lesson arising therefrom. God begins from within; man from without, Matthew 15:16-20 . Here the work begins with the ark and ends with the gate. Exodus 25:10-40 ; Exodus 26:1-37 . So with the four great offerings. So with His work in the heart of the saved sinner. We begin from the "gate "and with the "sin-offering". God begins with the "ark "and the "burnt-offering".

cubits . See App-51 .

Verse 11

upon it. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, and ' Syriac, read "thereto".

crown . See note on Exodus 25:24 .

Verse 12

side . Hebrew. zel'a, rib. See note on Exodus 25:32 .

Verse 16

the testimony . Hebrew. 'eduth = witness, from 'ud, to bear witness, give testimony. The two tables so called because they bore. witness to, and were evidences of the covenant made, and of its future extension. 1 Timothy 2:6 , "the testimony in its own season "(= "all", without distinction).

Verse 17

mercy seat = propitiatory cover (Hebrew. kapporeth = cover). By Figure of speech Metonymy ( App-6 ) cover put for the propitiation made through the blood sprinkled thereon. It therefore denotes propitiation. Compare Hebrews 9:5 . Hence the meaning, God's "propitiatory gift", as in Papyri. Compare Romans 3:25 .

pure gold . Not overlaid, because propitiation is a Divine work throughout.

Verse 18

cherubims . Plural of Hebrew cherub. Figure of speech Metonymy here put for representation of the celestial beings, of which we know nothing. They are a reality, there, and representative of creation, symbolical of blessing for all creation. These (in Exodus 25:18 ) were not the cherubims themselves, but representations of them. See Genesis 3:24 , but no "sword", because of the blood of propitiation. Occurs seven times in verses: Exodus 25:17-22 .

Verse 19

even of = out of.

ye . Some codices, Hillel, Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "thou".

Verse 20

toward . Looking toward the blood of propitiation. Compare Exodus 12:13 and Joshua 2:18-21 . See especially Exodus 37:9 .

Verse 22

I will meet . Hebrew meet as by appointment, and this, in the appointed place and way: "there". Compare Exodus 23:14-17 ; Exodus 29:42 , Exodus 29:43 , Exodus 29:45 , Exodus 29:46 ; Exodus 34:22-24 ; Exodus 40:34 , Exodus 40:35 .

the ark of the testimony . It has seven names: Ark of the covenant of Jehovah, Numbers 10:33 . Ark of Adonai Jehovah, 1 Kings 2:26 . Ark of Jehovah, Joshua 3:13 . Ark of Elohim, 1 Samuel 3:3 . The holy ark, 2 Chronicles 35:3 . The ark of Thy strength, Psalms 132:8 .

Verse 24

crown of gold . Note the three "crowns": (1) Ark (Exodus 25:11 ), the crown of the Law. The atoning blood between it, and the cherubim its executant. (2) Altar of incense (Exodus 30:3 ), the crown of the priesthood. Its incense fired only by the fire from the altar of burnt offering. (3) Table of shewbread (Exodus 25:24 ), the crown of the king-dom. The twelve tribes symbolised by the twelve loaves.

Verse 25

hand breadth . See App-51 .

Verse 29

to cover = to pour out.

Verse 30

shewbread . Hebrew bread of faces; faces being put for presence by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , denoting the Divine presence in which the bread stood, and from Whom all supplies, material and spiritual, came. First occurance.

Me . Hebrew "My face. "So that here we have the Figure of speech Paronomasia, "panim lephanai" ( App-6 ).

Verse 31

candlestick = lampstand.

shall . . . be made . Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel Septuagint, and Syriac, read "shalt thou make".

knops = knobs.

Verse 32

sides . There are seventeen Hebrew words translated "side", important in this technical description. Here it is the ordinary word for "side", zad.

Verse 33

Three . Note connection with four, Exodus 25:34 , making seven. See App-10 .

Verse 37

it . Hebrew the face of it. Figure of speech Prosopopceia ( App-6 ).

Verse 38

tongs = snuffers (but no extinguishers).

Verse 39

talent . See App-61 . shall he. The reading called Sevir (see App-34 ) reads "shalt thou"; so some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, and Syriac.

Verse 40

pattern . See note on Hebrews 8:5 , and compare 1 Chronicles 28:11 , 1 Chronicles 28:12 , 1 Chronicles 28:18 , 1 Chronicles 28:19 .