Catholic Commentary on Exodus 37

"Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood." (Exodus 37:1)

Constructing the Sacred Furniture

Bezalel, the Spirit-filled craftsman, constructs the Ark of the Covenant from acacia wood, overlaid inside and out with pure gold, with a gold moulding around it, carrying rings and poles of acacia wood overlaid with gold. The atonement cover of pure gold, with two gold cherubim facing each other with wings spread upward over it, is made for the top of the Ark. He makes the table of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold, with its rings and poles. He makes the lampstand of pure gold, hammered from a single piece, with its seven branches and their cups and buds and blossoms. He makes the altar of incense of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold.

The Ark of the Covenant, the throne of the invisible God in the wilderness, points forward to the Eucharist: the presence of God in the Most Holy Place, approached with reverence, attended by cherubim, the meeting point of heaven and earth. The Catechism draws a direct typological connection: as the Ark contained the tablets of the Law, the manna, and Aaron's staff, the tabernacle of the Eucharist contains Christ himself, the fulfilment of all three (CCC 2676). The golden lampstand, the original menorah, gives its light to the dwelling of God and has never stopped burning in Jewish and Christian tradition.

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, Bezalel made the Ark with his own hands, filled with the Spirit of God. Every tabernacle in every Catholic church is the continuation of his craft. Approach the tabernacle with the reverence owed to the presence that dwelt above the mercy seat between the cherubim.

Prayer

Lord God, you dwelt between the cherubim above the mercy seat. You dwell now in the tabernacle of every Catholic church. Receive our reverence and our worship. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

37
Constructing the Ark
(Exodus 25:10–16)
1 Bezalel went on to construct the ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.* 37:1 The ark was approximately 3.75 feet long, 2.25 feet wide, and 2.25 feet high (114.3 centimeters long, 68.6 centimeters wide, and 68.6 centimeters high). 2 He overlaid it with pure gold, both inside and out, and made a gold molding around it. 3 And he cast four gold rings for its four feet, two rings on one side and two on the other. 4 Then he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. 5 He inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry it.
The Mercy Seat
(Exodus 25:17–22)
 
6 He constructed a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.† 37:6 The mercy seat was approximately 3.75 feet long and 2.25 feet wide (114.3 centimeters long and 68.6 centimeters wide). 7 He made two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat, 8 one cherub on one end and one on the other, all made from one piece of gold. 9 And the cherubim had wings that spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the mercy seat.
The Table of Showbread
(Exodus 25:23–30; Leviticus 24:5–9)
 
10 He also made the table of acacia wood two cubits long, a cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high.‡ 37:10 The table was approximately 3 feet long, 1.5 feet wide, and 2.25 feet high (91.4 centimeters long, 45.7 centimeters wide, and 68.6 centimeters high). 11 He overlaid it with pure gold and made a gold molding around it. 12 And he made a rim around it a handbreadth wide § 37:12 A handbreadth is approximately 2.9 inches or 7.4 centimeters. and put a gold molding on the rim.
 
13 He cast four gold rings for the table and fastened them to the four corners at its four legs. 14 The rings were placed close to the rim, to serve as holders for the poles used to carry the table. 15 He made the poles of acacia wood for carrying the table and overlaid them with gold.
 
16 He also made the utensils for the table out of pure gold: its plates and dishes, as well as its bowls and pitchers for pouring drink offerings.
The Lampstand
(Exodus 25:31–40; Numbers 8:1–4)
 
17 Then he made the lampstand out of pure hammered gold, all of one piece: its base and shaft, its cups, and its buds and petals. 18 Six branches extended from the sides, three on one side and three on the other. 19 There were three cups shaped like almond blossoms on the first branch, each with buds and petals, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches that extended from the lampstand.
 
20 And on the lampstand were four cups shaped like almond blossoms with buds and petals. 21 A bud was under the first pair of branches that extended from the lampstand, a bud under the second pair, and a bud under the third pair. 22 The buds and branches were all of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.
 
23 He also made its seven lamps, its wick trimmers, and trays of pure gold. 24 He made the lampstand and all its utensils from a talent of pure gold.* 37:24 A talent is approximately 75.4 pounds or 34.2 kilograms of gold.
The Altar of Incense
(Exodus 30:1–10)
 
25 He made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high.† 37:25 The altar was approximately 1.5 feet in length and width, and 3 feet high (45.7 centimeters in length and width, and 91.4 centimeters high). Its horns were of one piece. 26 And he overlaid with pure gold the top and all the sides and horns. Then he made a molding of gold around it.
 
27 He made two gold rings below the molding on opposite sides to hold the poles used to carry it. 28 And he made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.
 
29 He also made the sacred anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense, the work of a perfumer.

*37:1 37:1 The ark was approximately 3.75 feet long, 2.25 feet wide, and 2.25 feet high (114.3 centimeters long, 68.6 centimeters wide, and 68.6 centimeters high).

†37:6 37:6 The mercy seat was approximately 3.75 feet long and 2.25 feet wide (114.3 centimeters long and 68.6 centimeters wide).

‡37:10 37:10 The table was approximately 3 feet long, 1.5 feet wide, and 2.25 feet high (91.4 centimeters long, 45.7 centimeters wide, and 68.6 centimeters high).

§37:12 37:12 A handbreadth is approximately 2.9 inches or 7.4 centimeters.

*37:24 37:24 A talent is approximately 75.4 pounds or 34.2 kilograms of gold.

†37:25 37:25 The altar was approximately 1.5 feet in length and width, and 3 feet high (45.7 centimeters in length and width, and 91.4 centimeters high).

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