Bezalel Builds the Ark
Bezalel builds what was described earlier: the gold-covered ark with its cherubim facing each other over the atonement cover, the table, the hammered lampstand with almond-blossom cups, the incense altar, and the anointing oil and incense. The commands of chapter twenty-five become objects you could touch.
37 1Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood—about forty-five inches long, twenty-seven inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high. 2He covered it with pure gold inside and out, and made a gold molding around it. 3He cast four gold rings for its four feet, two rings on one side and two on the other. 4He made acacia-wood poles and covered them with gold, 5and he inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry it.
6He made the atonement cover of pure gold—about forty-five inches long and twenty-seven inches wide. a a v6 The atonement cover was where our Father met his people and mercy was given; the New Testament names Jesus himself as this place of mercy, where his blood now covers us. 7He made two cherubim of hammered gold at the two ends of the atonement cover, 8one cherub at one end, one cherub at the other; he made the cherubim of one piece with the atonement cover at its two ends. 9The cherubim spread their wings upward, covering the atonement cover, their faces toward each other, turned toward the atonement cover.
The Table
10He made the table of acacia wood—about thirty-six inches long, eighteen inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high. 11He covered it with pure gold and made a gold molding around it. 12He made a rim around it about three inches wide, with a gold molding for the rim. 13He cast four gold rings for it, fastening them at the four corners by its four legs. 14The rings were close to the rim, as holders for the poles to carry the table. 15He made the poles of acacia wood, plated with gold to carry the table. 16He made the table's utensils of pure gold—its plates, dishes, bowls, and pitchers for pouring drink offerings.
The Lampstand
17He made the lampstand of hammered pure gold—base, shaft, cups, buds, and blossoms all one piece with it. 18Six branches extended from its sides—three branches on one side and three on the other. 19One branch had three almond-blossom cups, each with bud and blossom, and the next branch three more—so for all six branches extending from the lampstand. 20On the lampstand itself were four cups shaped like almond blossoms, with their buds and blossoms. 21A bud sat under the first pair of branches from it, one under the second pair, one under the third—for all six branches. 22Its buds and branches were one piece with it—all one piece of pure, hammered gold. 23He made its seven lamps, along with its wick trimmers and trays, of pure gold. 24He made the lampstand and all its utensils from seventy-five pounds of pure gold.
The Incense Altar
25He made the incense altar of acacia wood—eighteen inches square, thirty-six high—its horns of one piece with it. 26He covered it with pure gold—its top, its sides all around, its horns—and made a gold molding around it. 27He made two gold rings for it below the molding on its two sides, holders for the poles to carry it. 28He made the acacia-wood poles and covered them with gold. 29He also made the holy anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense—the work of a perfumer.
