17 'And thou hast made a mercy-seat of pure gold, two cubits and a half its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth; 18 and thou hast made two cherubs of gold, beaten work dost thou make them, at the two ends of the mercy-seat; 19 and make thou one cherub at the end on this side, and one cherub at the end on that; at the mercy-seat ye do make the cherubs on its two ends. 20 'And the cherubs have been spreading out wings on high, covering the mercy-seat over with their wings, and their faces 'are' one towards another—towards the mercy-seat are the faces of the cherubs. 21 'And thou hast put the mercy-seat on the ark above, and unto the ark thou dost put the testimony which I give unto thee; 22 and I have met with thee there, and have spoken with thee from off the mercy-seat (from between the two cherubs, which 'are' on the ark of the testimony) all that which I command thee concerning the sons of Israel.
23 'And thou hast made a table of shittim wood, two cubits its length, and a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height, 24 and hast overlaid it 'with' pure gold, and hast made for it a crown of gold round about, 25 and hast made for it a border of a handbreadth round about, and hast made a crown of gold to its border round about. 26 'And thou hast made to it four rings of gold, and hast put the rings on the four corners, which 'are' to its four feet; 27 over-against the border are the rings for places for staves to bear the table; 28 and thou hast made the staves of shittim wood, and hast overlaid them with gold, and the table hath been borne with them; 29 and thou hast made its dishes, and its bowls, and its covers, and its cups, with which they pour out; of pure gold thou dost make them; 30 and thou hast put on the table bread of the presence before Me continually.
31 'And thou hast made a candlestick of pure gold, of beaten work is the candlestick made; its base, and its branch, its calyxes, its knops, and its flowers are of the same; 32 and six branches are coming out of its sides, three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the second side; 33 three calyxes made like almonds in the one branch, a knop and a flower, and three calyxes made like almonds in one branch, a knop and a flower; so for the six branches which are coming out from the candlestick. 34 'And in the candlestick 'are' four calyxes made like almonds, its knops 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.