381 And he maketh the altar of burnt-offering of shittim wood, five cubits its length, and five cubits its breadth (square), and three cubits its height; 2 and he maketh its horns on its four corners; its horns have been of the same; and he overlayeth it with brass; 3 and he maketh all the vessels of the altar, the pots, and the shovels, and the sprinkling-pans, the forks, and the fire-pans; all its vessels he hath made of brass. 4 And he maketh for the altar a brazen grate of net-work, under its border beneath, unto its midst; 5 and he casteth four rings for the four ends of the brazen grate—places for bars; 6 and he maketh the staves of shittim wood, and overlayeth them with brass; 7 and he bringeth in the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar, to bear it with them; hollow 'with' boards he made it. 8 And he maketh the laver of brass, and its base of brass, with the looking-glasses of the women assembling, who have assembled at the opening of the tent of meeting.

The Court of the Tabernacle

9 And he maketh the court; at the south side southward, the hangings of the court of twined linen, a hundred by the cubit, 10 their pillars 'are' twenty, and their brazen sockets twenty, the pegs of the pillars and their fillets 'are' silver; 11 and at the north side, a hundred by the cubit, their pillars 'are' twenty, and their sockets of brass twenty; the pegs of the pillars and their fillets 'are' silver; 12 and at the west side 'are' hangings, fifty by the cubit; their pillars 'are' ten, and their sockets ten; the pegs of the pillars and their fillets 'are' silver; 13 and at the east side eastward fifty cubits. 14 The hangings on the side 'are' fifteen cubits, their pillars three, and their sockets three, 15 and at the second side at the gate of the court, on this and on that, 'are' hangings, fifteen cubits, their pillars three, and their sockets three; 16 all the hangings of the court round about 'are' of twined linen, 17 and the sockets for the pillars of brass, the pegs of the pillars and their fillets of silver, and the overlaying of their tops of silver, and all the pillars of the court are filleted with silver. 18 And the covering of the gate of the court 'is' the work of an embroiderer, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen; and twenty cubits 'is' the length, and the height with the breadth five cubits, over-against the hangings of the court; 19 and their pillars 'are' four, and their sockets of brass four, their pegs 'are' of silver, and the overlaying of their tops and their fillets 'are' of silver; 20 and all the pins for the tabernacle, and for the court round about, 'are' of brass.

The Supervision of the Work

21 These are the numberings of the tabernacle (the tabernacle of testimony), which hath been numbered by the command of Moses, the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. 22 And Bezaleel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, hath made all that Jehovah commanded Moses;

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 38:1-22

Commentary on Exodus 38:1-8

(Read Exodus 38:1-8)

In all ages of the church there have been some persons more devoted to God, more constant in their attendance upon his ordinances, and more willing to part even with lawful things, for his sake, than others. Some women, devoted to God and zealous for the tabernacle worship, expressed zeal by parting with their mirrors, which were polished plates of brass. Before the invention of looking-glasses, these served the same purposes.

Commentary on Exodus 38:9-20

(Read Exodus 38:9-20)

The walls of the court being of curtains only, intimated that the state of the Jewish church itself was movable and changeable; and in due time to be taken down and folded up, when the place of the tent should be enlarged, and its cords lengthened, to make room for the Gentile world.

Commentary on Exodus 38:21-31

(Read Exodus 38:21-31)

The foundation of massy pieces of silver showed the solidity and purity of the truth upon which the church is founded. Let us regard the Lord Jesus Christ while reading of the furniture of the tabernacle. While looking at the altar of burnt-offering, let us see Jesus. In him, his righteousness, and salvation, is a full and sufficient offering for sin. In the laver of regeneration, by his Holy Spirit, let our souls be washed, and they shall be clean; and as the people offered willingly, so may our souls be made willing. Let us be ready to part with any thing, and count all but loss to win Christ.