17 And you are to make a cover of the best gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. 18 And at the two ends of the cover you are to make two winged ones of hammered gold, 19 One at one end and one at the other; the winged ones are to be part of the cover. 20 And their wings are to be outstretched over the cover, and the winged ones are to be opposite one another, facing the cover. 21 And put the cover over the ark, and in the ark the record which I will give you. 22 And there, between the two winged ones on the cover of the ark, I will come to you, face to face, and make clear to you all the orders I have to give you for the children of Israel.
23 And you are to make a table of the same wood, two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high, 24 Plated with the best gold, with a gold edge all round it; 25 And make a frame all round it, as wide as a man's hand, with a gold edge to the frame. 26 And make four gold rings and put them at the four angles, on the four feet of the table; 27 The rings are to be fixed under the frame to take the rods with which the table is to be lifted. 28 Make rods of the same wood, plated with gold, for lifting the table. 29 And make the table-vessels, the spoons and the cups and the basins for liquids, all of the best gold. 30 And on the table at all times you are to keep my holy bread.
31 And you are to make a support for lights, of the best gold; its base and its pillar are to be of hammered gold; its cups, its buds, and its flowers are to be made of the same metal. 32 It is to have six branches coming out from its sides; three branches from one side and three from the other. 33 Every branch having three cups made like almond flowers, every cup with a bud and a flower, on all the branches. 34 And on the pillar, four cups like almond flowers, every one with its bud and its flower:
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 25:17-34
Commentary on Exodus 25:10-22
(Read Exodus 25:10-22)
The ark was a chest, overlaid with gold, in which the two tables of the law were to be kept. These tables are called the testimony; God in them testified his will. This law was a testimony to the Israelites, to direct them in their duty, and would be a testimony against them, if they transgressed. This ark was placed in the holy of holies; the blood of the sacrifices was sprinkled, and the incense burned, before it, by the high priest; and above it appeared the visible glory, which was the symbol of the Divine presence. This was a type of Christ in his sinless nature, which saw no corruption, in personal union with his Divine nature, atoning for our sins against it, by his death. The cherubim of gold looked one towards another, and both looked downward toward the ark. It denotes the angels' attendance on the Redeemer, their readiness to do his will, their presence in the assemblies of saints, and their desire to look into the mysteries of the gospel. It was covered with a covering of gold, called the mercy-seat. God is said to dwell, or sit between the cherubim, on the mercy-seat. There he would give his law, and hear supplicants, as a prince on his throne.
Commentary on Exodus 25:23-30
(Read Exodus 25:23-30)
A table was to be made of wood, overlaid with gold, to stand in the outer tabernacle, to be always furnished with the shew-bread. This table, with the articles on it, and its use, seems to typify the communion which the Lord holds with his redeemed people in his ordinances, the provisions of his house, the feasts they are favoured with. Also the food for their souls, which they always find when they hunger after it; and the delight he takes in their persons and services, as presented before him in Christ.
Commentary on Exodus 25:31-40
(Read Exodus 25:31-40)
The candlestick represents the light of God's word and Spirit, in and through Christ Jesus, afforded in this dark world to his believing people, to direct their worship and obedience, and to afford them consolations. The church is still dark, as the tabernacle was, in comparison with what it will be in heaven; but the word of God is a light shining in a dark place, Matthew 28:20, is like this, Observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. Let us remember that we are the temples of the Holy Ghost, that we have the law of God in our hearts, that we are to live a life of communion with God, feast on his ordinances, and are the light of the world, if indeed we are followers of Christ. May the Lord help us to try ourselves by this view of religion, and to walk according thereto.