10 " They shall construct an ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long , and one and a half cubits wide , and one and a half cubits high . 11 "You shall overlay it with pure gold , inside e and out you shall overlay it, and you shall make a gold molding around it. 12 "You shall cast four gold rings for it and fasten them on its four feet , and two rings shall be on one side of it and two rings on the other side of it. 13 "You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold . 14 "You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark , to carry the ark with them. 15 "The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark ; they shall not be removed from it. 16 "You shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you. 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 .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 25:10-22
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.