Bible Commentaries
Exodus 25

Verse 1

the Lord spoke unto Moses

The general authority for the types of Exodus is found:

(1) as to the persons and events, in 1 Corinthians 10:1-11.

(2) as to the tabernacle, in Hebrews 9:1-24. Having the assurance that in the tabernacle everything is typical, the details must of necessity be received as such. Two warnings are necessary:

(1) Nothing may be dogmatically asserted to be a type without explicit New Testament authority; and

(2) all types not so authenticated must be recognized as having the authority of analogy, or spiritual congruity, merely. The typical meanings of the materials and colours of the tabernacle are believed to be as follows: Gold, Deity in manifestation--divine glory; silver, redemption Exodus 30:12-16. (See Scofield "Exodus 30:12-2.30.16- :") , brass, symbol of judgment, as in the brazen altar and in the serpent of brass Numbers 21:6-9 blue, heavenly in nature or origin; purple, royalty; scarlet, sacrifice.

Verse 2

willingly

(See Scofield " :-") .

Verse 5

shittim wood

i.e. acacia.

Verse 9

tabernacle pattern

The tabernacle, speaking comprehensively, is explained in the N.T. as typical in three ways:

(1) of the Church as a habitation of God through the Spirit Exodus 25:8; Ephesians 2:19-22

(2) of the believer 2 Corinthians 6:16

(3) as a figure of things in the heavens Hebrews 9:23; Hebrews 9:24. In detail, all speaks of Christ:

(1) The ark, in its materials, acacia-wood (See Scofield "Hebrews 9:24- :") and gold, is a type of the humanity and deity of Christ.

(2) In its contents, a type of Christ, as:

(a) having God's law in His heart Exodus 25:16. (b) the wilderness food (or portion) of His people Exodus 16:33 (c) Himself the resurrection, of which Aaron;s rod is the symbol Numbers 17:10.

(3) In its use the ark, especially the mercy-seat, was a type of God's throne. That it was, to the sinning Israelite, a throne of grace and not of judgment was due to the mercy-seat formed of gold and sprinkled with the blood of atonement, which vindicated the law, and divine holiness guarded by the cherubim Genesis 3:24

(See Scofield "Genesis 3:24- :") See PROPITIATION, See Scofield "Genesis 3:24- :"

Verse 10

make an ark

All begins with the ark, which, in the completed tabernacle, was placed in the holy of holies, because, in revelation, God begins from Himself, working outward toward man; as, in approach, the worshipper begins from himself, moving toward God in the holy of holies. The same order is followed in the Levitical offerings (Le 1.-5.). In approach man begins at the brazen altar, type of the Cross, where, in the fire of judgment, atonement is made.

make an ark The most inclusive type of Christ, Gold = Deity; wood = humanity. History:

Numbers 3:31; Numbers 10:33; Joshua 3:3-15; Joshua 6:11; Judges 20:27; 1 Samuel 3:3; 1 Samuel 4:1-11; 1 Samuel 5:1-10 ; 1 Samuel 6:1-21; 1 Samuel 7:1; 1 Samuel 7:2; 2 Samuel 6:2-17; 2 Samuel 7:2; 2 Samuel 15:24-29; 1 Kings 8:1-21 not carried to Babylon, ; 2 Kings 24:13; 2 Chronicles 35:3; 2 Chronicles 35:3 not mentioned in Ezra or Neh. Where is it? Revelation 11:19

shittim wood i.e. acacia.

Verse 17

mercy

See "Propitiation." (See Scofield " :-") .

Verse 23

shittim wood

i.e. acacia.

Verse 28

shittim wood

i.e. acacia.

Verse 30

shewbread

Showbread, type of Christ, the Bread of God, nourisher of the Christian's life as a believer-priest 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6. In John 6:33-58 our Lord has more in mind the manna, that food which "came down"; but all typical meanings of "bread" are there gathered into His words. The manna is the life-giving Christ; the showbread, the life-sustaining Christ. The showbread typifies Christ as the "corn of wheat" John 12:24 ground in the mill of suffering John 12:27 and brought into the fire of judgment John 12:31-33. We, as priests, by faith feed upon Him as having undergone that in our stead and for our sakes. It is meditation upon Christ, as in Hebrews 12:2; Hebrews 12:3.

Verse 31

candlestick

Candlestick, type of Christ our Light, shining in the fullness of the power of the sevenfold Spirit Isaiah 11:2; Hebrews 1:9; Revelation 1:4. Natural light was excluded from the tabernacle. (Cf) 1 Corinthians 2:14; 1 Corinthians 2:15.

(See Scofield "1 Corinthians 2:15- :") John 1:4.