17 "You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold , two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide . 18 "You shall make two cherubim of gold , make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat . 19 "Make one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end ; you shall make the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at its two ends . 20 " The cherubim shall have their wings spread upward , covering the mercy seat with their wings and facing e one another ; the faces of the cherubim are to be turned toward the mercy seat . 21 " You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark , and in the ark you shall put the testimony which I will give to you. 22 " There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat , from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony , I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel .
23 " You shall make a table of acacia wood , two cubits long and one cubit wide and one and a half cubits high . 24 "You shall overlay it with pure gold and make a gold border around it. 25 "You shall make for it a rim of a handbreadth around it; and you shall make a gold border for the rim around it. 26 "You shall make four gold rings for it and put rings on the four corners which are on its four feet . 27 "The rings shall be close to the rim as holders for the poles to carry the table . 28 "You shall make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold , so that with them the table may be carried . 29 "You shall make its dishes and its pans and its jars and its bowls with which to pour drink offerings ; you shall make them of pure gold . 30 "You shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times .
31 " Then you shall make a lampstand of pure gold . The lampstand and its base and its shaft are to be made of hammered work ; its cups , its bulbs and its flowers shall be of one piece with it. 32 " Six branches shall go out from its sides ; three branches of the lampstand from its one side and three branches of the lampstand from its other side . 33 " Three cups shall be shaped like almond blossoms in the one branch , a bulb and a flower , and three cups shaped like almond blossoms in the other branch , a bulb and a flower -so for six branches going out from the lampstand ; 34 and in the lampstand four cups shaped like almond blossoms, its bulbs and its flowers .
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.