This chapter begins with instructions regarding the building of the tabernacle and making all the things associated with its proper function.
Note: The length of the cubit varied. It was generally based on the distance between the elbow and the fingertips. Measurements in this section will be based on an 18” cubit.
Ex. 25:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Ex. 25:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.
The tabernacle was to be made from offerings—gifts that were brought freely and willingly from the people.
God’s sanctuary (25:8) was to represent a relationship of love and commitment between God and His people.
Courson: “In Exodus 36, we see that when this offering was actually collected, so generously did the people give that Moses had to say, ‘Enough! We have too much!’ How often have you heard a preacher say that?!”
Ex. 25:3 And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,
Ex. 25:4 And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair,
Ex. 25:5 And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood,
Ex. 25:6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,
Ex. 25:7 Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.
Ex. 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
Ex. 25:9 According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.
Gifts of love are always of the best that we can offer.
The list of items needed is specific.
Verse 8 indicates that God’s desire is to dwell with His people. It is not His desire to be unapproachable and out of touch with His people. He wants to have fellowship with us.
The sanctuary and everything used in it were to be made from a pattern. Hebrews 8:5 indicates that this pattern was based on something already existing in heaven. “Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.”
Ex. 25:10 And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
Ex. 25:11 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.
Ex. 25:12 And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it.
Ex. 25:13 And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.
Ex. 25:14 And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them.
Ex. 25:15 The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it.
Ex. 25:16 And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.
The instructions for the making of the ark are very specific—just as they are for everything connected with the building of this sanctuary. There is meaning attached to these details.
The size of the ark was to be 45" x 27” x 27”.
It was to have four rings of gold, allowing it to be moved using poles of shittim wood overlaid with gold. These staves were to remain in place at all times.
It is to be covered with PURE gold—no impurities or imperfections. Everything about God is pure and holy. No impurity (representative of sin) would be allowed in His presence.
The ark will be the place of safekeeping for the “testimony” of the Lord. When you think of testimony, you think of speaking the truth—God’s truth.
The ark will be moved as needed through the use of staves or poles (also covered with gold) which go through rings in the four corners of the ark. That would prevent man from defiling it through his touch.
Courson: “Acacia wood has a unique property that Bedouins use to this day. That is, when pierced, it pours forth a gum resin that contains healing properties for cuts, sores, and abrasions. In the same way, Jesus was pierced with the flagellum, and by His stripes we are healed—spiritually, emotionally, physically.”
Ex. 25:17 And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
Ex. 25:18 And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.
Ex. 25:19 And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.
Ex. 25:20 And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.
Ex. 25:21 And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.
Ex. 25:22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
A mercy seat measuring 45” was to be constructed for the top of the ark—again using pure gold.
The cherubim represent angels of the very highest order, and are pictured in Ezekiel as attendant to the throne of God. (Lucifer was a cherub. Ezekiel 28:14 – “Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth…”)
The cherubims are to have their wings stretched forth on high. This reminds me of a position of praise. They are also to have their wings covering the mercy seat; I’m not sure what that represents.
The faces of the cherubims are to be looking toward (have their focus on) the mercy seat, which is representative of the place of God’s presence and is indicative of where our focus in life should be.
The fact that God would meet with Moses (and through him the people) at the mercy seat shows His desire to deal with us in mercy and not judgment.
The testimony Moses received from the LORD was to be stored in the ark.
Constable: “The Greek word used to translate "mercy seat" here in the Septuagint (hilasterion) is another form of the word used to describe Jesus Christ as our propitiation in (hilasmos). The mercy seat was for the Israelites temporarily what Jesus Christ is for all people permanently: the place where God found satisfaction.”
1 John 2:1–2 “…we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Ex. 25:23 Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
Ex. 25:24 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about.
Ex. 25:25 And thou shalt make unto it a border of an hand breadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about.
Ex. 25:26 And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof.
Ex. 25:27 Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the table.
Ex. 25:28 And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them.
Ex. 25:29 And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them.
Ex. 25:30 And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me alway.
I decided to look in the Bible dictionary regarding the wood and found that shittim wood and acacia are the same. It is a very hard wood that is not vulnerable to insects.
The table was to measure 36” x 18” x 27”.
The table and staves were also to be covered with pure gold and bordered with a decorative gold crown and a rim the width of a hand that was also bordered with a crown of gold.
As with the ark, the table was to have four rings, allowing it to be moved using staves of shittim wood overlaid with gold.
They were also to make dishes, spoons, covers and bowls for use at this table.
Again, such significance is given to detail. It’s just another example to me of the fact that God has a purpose for everything He has made and every action He has taken.
The table is always to have bread on it. I think this is significant in that Jesus called Himself the bread of life, and He is always there for us. There is never a time that He is unavailable.
John 6:35 “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”
Courson: “Why two crowns? Because Christ will be crowned twice: the first time He was crowned with a crown of thorns. The second time it will be with a crown of glory and honor.”
John 19:1–2 “Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head….”
Hebrews 2:9 “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”
Ex. 25:31 And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.
Ex. 25:32 And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:
Ex. 25:33 Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.
Ex. 25:34 And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers.
Ex. 25:35 And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick.
Ex. 25:36 Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold.
Ex. 25:37 And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.
Ex. 25:38 And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.
Ex. 25:39 Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.
They were to make a candlestick, a menorah, of pure gold. It was to have a three branches on each side of the main shaft, giving a total of seven lamps. This brings to mind the verse regarding the seven spirits of God in Isaiah 11:2, since the Spirit is the one that teaches us (illumines us) as to God’s truth. “And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.”
The tongs and snuffdishes used with the candlestick were to be made of pure gold. Again, the directions and details are specific.
Note that the candlestick was to be of “beaten work.” The comparison to our beaten Savior is obvious.
Again, Jesus calls Himself the light of the world (John 8:12) and His light is always there to give us direction; we will never experience a blackout in His care. “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
The branches of the lampstand are to have flowerlike cups with buds and blossoms. These could be representative of the fruit the Holy Spirit produces in our lives. We, as Christians, are like the branches reaching out to others and showing the light of Jesus in our lives through the fruit we produce (our works).
The bowls functioned more like oil lamps, not candles.
An interesting application from Courson: “The instruments used to trim the wicks and snuff out the candles were to be pure gold. Just as there will be people in our lives who are there morning and evening, ‘snipping’ and ‘snuffing.’ And, although my tendency is to belittle them, I am in error when I do because they provide golden opportunities for me to burn brighter.”
Informational note: A talent weighs approximately 75 pounds.
Ex. 25:40 And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.
Again we are told that all of these instructions are being given according to a pattern—as shown by God to Moses. The writer of Hebrews tells us that this pattern was based on a heavenly original.
Hebrews 8:5 “Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.”
Hebrews 9:23–24 “It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us….”
Ex. 26:1 Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.
Ex. 26:2 The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure.
Ex. 26:3 The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.
Ex. 26:4 And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second.
Ex. 26:5 Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second; that the loops may take hold one of another.
Ex. 26:6 And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.
Ex. 26:7 And thou shalt make curtains of goats’ hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.
Ex. 26:8 The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure.
Ex. 26:9 And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tabernacle.
Ex. 26:10 And thou shalt make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops in the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second.
Ex. 26:11 And thou shalt make fifty taches of brass, and put the taches into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one.
Ex. 26:12 And the remnant that remaineth of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the backside of the tabernacle.
Ex. 26:13 And a cubit on the one side, and a cubit on the other side of that which remaineth in the length of the curtains of the tent, it shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it.
Observations:
There were to be ten curtains of finely twisted linen (white) with blue, purple and scarlet.
Cherubim figures were woven throughout the fabric. (They must have been given a pattern for the design of the cherubim.)
The curtains were all the same size—42’ long x 6’ wide.
They were joined together in two sets of five—42’ long x 60’ wide total.
There were 50 blue loops on the edges of the curtains in each set.
Fifty gold clasps were used to fasten the loops together.
Eleven curtains of goat hair would cover the linen curtains; one set of five and one set of six. The goat hair curtains were larger than the linen curtains.
This would provide an overlap at the entrance and at the back and would hang longer than the linen curtains to protect them.
They would have 50 loops on the edges of the curtains in each set.
They would be connected with brass taches (hooks).
The beauty of the tabernacle is only revealed on the inside.
A good observation by David Guzik, “…plans for the tabernacle were revealed to Moses from the inside out….just as in us.”
Coffman: “It is apparent that the making of this tabernacle was to be an exceedingly costly thing. The candlestick alone, mentioned at the end of the last chapter would require ‘one talent of gold.’ ‘That is about 60 kilograms of gold!’[13] This amounts to more than 1,200 ounces, Troy weight; and at the current price of gold, the sum comes to more than $400,000.00.” [quoting from Wheaton, New Bible Dictionary]
Coffman quoting Nicholson: “"Blue stands for his heavenly nature, scarlet for his earthly nature, and the perfect blending of the two colors to form the central panel of purple, symbolize the perfectly balanced person of Christ, completely man, and completely God, IMMANUEL."
Ex. 26:14 And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers’ skins.
Two more protective coverings were to be made for the tent—one of rams’ skins dyed red and one of badgers’ skins.
Possible application: We are temples and covered by the blood of Jesus.
1 Corinthians 3:16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
Hebrews 9:14 “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
Ex. 26:15 And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up.
Ex. 26:16 Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board.
Ex. 26:17 Two tenons shall there be in one board, set in order one against another: thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
Ex. 26:18 And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards on the south side southward.
Ex. 26:19 And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.
Ex. 26:20 And for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side there shall be twenty boards:
Ex. 26:21 And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
Ex. 26:22 And for the sides of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards.
Ex. 26:23 And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.
Ex. 26:24 And they shall be coupled together beneath, and they shall be coupled together above the head of it unto one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners.
Ex. 26:25 And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
Ex. 26:26 And thou shalt make bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
Ex. 26:27 And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the two sides westward.
Ex. 26:28 And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end.
Ex. 26:29 And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars: and thou shalt overlay the bars with gold.
The frames of the tabernacle were to be made of shittim or acacia wood.
There were to be 20 boards on the north and south side, each board measuring 15’ high x 27” wide.
Each board was to have two projections or pegs parallel to each other.
Each frame was to have two silver bases.
The west side of the tabernacle was to have six frames.
Each corner was to have double frames—for a total of 8 frames and 16 silver bases at the west end.
There were to be crossbars of shittim wood—five crossbars each for the frames on the south, north, and west. The center crossbar was to extend from end to end at the middle of the frames.
The boards and crossbars were to be overlaid with gold.
The crossbars were to be held in place by gold rings.
Ex. 26:30 And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount.
Again it is emphasized that the tabernacle was to be put together according to the pattern God had shown Moses on the mountain.
Ex. 26:31 And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:
Ex. 26:32 And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.
Ex. 26:33 And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.
Ex. 26:34 And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.
Another fine linen curtain of blue, purple and scarlet with a cherubim pattern was to be made to separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.
This curtain was to hang on four posts of shittim wood overlaid with gold using gold hooks.
The posts were to stand in silver bases.
The ark of the testimony was to be put in the Most Holy Place.
The mercy seat was to go on top of the ark of the testimony.
Ex. 26:35 And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.
Ex. 26:36 And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.
Ex. 26:37 And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.
The table was to go outside the Holy of Holies on the north side, and the lampstand opposite it on the south side.
The entrance to the tent was to be a curtain of fine linen of blue, purple and scarlet.
The curtain would be held by five posts of shittim wood overlaid with gold standing in five brass bases using gold hooks.
Observations:
Blue, purple and scarlet appear to be colors representing the royalty, power and holiness of God.
Scarlet surely must reference the precious blood of Jesus, the sacrifice for our sin.
Purple is often associated with royalty.
Blue always makes me think of heaven and peace, and the temple was where the people made their peace with God.
Gold makes me think of God’s glory.
Silver represents redemption.
Brass represents judgment.
The inner beauty of the tabernacle was carefully protected from the elements by three coverings. The beauty of the Holy Spirit in our life emerges from the layers of body, soul and spirit.
The further away we get from the place of God’s presence, the materials become less valuable. (To me, this reflects our lives; the closer we are to Jesus the more valuable our lives will be to others; the further away from Him, the less valuable we are to others.)
The place of God’s presence is filled with beauty and valuable items.
A curtain or veil separated all from the immediate place of God’s presence. This veil was torn in two and rendered no longer necessary when Christ died on the cross and provided a way of personal access to God for each believer. The writer to Hebrews affirms that this veil represented Jesus.
Hebrews 10:19–20 “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh….”
There was only one way to enter the tabernacle. I think this speaks to the fact that there is only one way we can enter the presence of God—through Jesus.
John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”