Home / Commentary / Exodus / Exodus Chapter 37
The ark, the items required to carry the ark, the mercy seat, and the cherubim are constructed.
The table of showbread and the items required to carry it are constructed.
The lampstand is constructed.
The altar of incense is constructed. The making of the anointing oil and the incense is described.
The book of Exodus is the second book of the Torah (“law”). It continues the story of Genesis concerning the migration of the family of Jacob (the Israelites) to Egypt (Genesis 50). It describes the commissioning of Moses and Aaron as God’s representatives on earth to accomplish God’s deliverance of His people from slavery in Egypt and lead them to the Promised Land (the land of Canaan). It also relates the miraculous deliverance from Egypt beginning with the plagues on Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea. It then describes the journey to Mount Sinai and the establishment of the Mosaic covenant with the Israelites. The last part of the book involves the specifications and building of the tabernacle – the place where the Lord Himself dwelt amongst His people.
In the book of Exodus, the focus shifts to the deliverance of God’s people.
Chapter 37 continues the account of the construction of the tabernacle and the items to be placed in the tabernacle. This chapter concentrates on the items that were to be used for worship inside the tabernacle.
The chapter can be outlined as follows:
The Building of the Ark (Exo. 37:1 – 9)
The Building of the Table (Exo. 37:10 – 16)
The Building of the Lampstand (Exo. 37:17 – 24)
The Building of the Altar of Incense (Exo. 37:25 – 28)