Exodus 37
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 37
The Ark. 1 Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high. 2 The inside and outside were plated with gold, and a molding of gold was put around it. 3 Four gold rings were cast for its four supports, two rings on one side and two on the opposite side. 4 Poles of acacia wood were made and plated with gold; 5 these poles were put through the rings on the sides of the ark, for carrying it.
6 The cover was made of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide. 7 Two cherubim of beaten gold were made for the two ends of the cover; 8 one cherub was at one end, the other at the other end, made of one piece with the cover, at each end. 9 The cherubim had their wings spread out above, sheltering the cover. They faced each other, with their faces looking toward the cover.(A)
The Table. 10 (B)The table was made of acacia wood, two cubits long, a cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high. 11 It was plated with pure gold, and a molding of gold was put around it. 12 A frame a handbreadth high was also put around it, with a molding of gold around the frame. 13 Four rings of gold were cast for it and fastened at the four corners, one at each leg. 14 The rings were alongside the frame as holders for the poles to carry the table. 15 These poles for carrying the table were made of acacia wood and plated with gold. 16 The vessels that were set on the table, its plates and cups, as well as its pitchers and bowls for pouring libations, were made of pure gold.
The Menorah. 17 (C)The menorah was made of pure beaten gold—its shaft and branches—with its cups and knobs and petals springing directly from it. 18 Six branches extended from its sides, three branches on one side and three on the other. 19 On one branch there were three cups, shaped like almond blossoms, each with its knob and petals; on the opposite branch there were three cups, shaped like almond blossoms, each with its knob and petals; and so for the six branches that extended from the menorah. 20 On the menorah there were four cups, shaped like almond blossoms, with their knobs and petals. 21 The six branches that went out from the menorah had a knob under each pair. 22 The knobs and branches so sprang from it that the whole formed but a single piece of pure beaten gold. 23 Its seven lamps, as well as its trimming shears and trays, were made of pure gold. 24 A talent of pure gold was used for the menorah and its various utensils.
The Altar of Incense. 25 (D)The altar of incense was made of acacia wood, on a square, a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high, having horns that sprang directly from it. 26 Its grate on top, its walls on all four sides, and its horns were plated with pure gold; and a gold molding was put around it. 27 Underneath the molding gold rings were placed, two on one side and two on the opposite side, as holders for the poles used in carrying it. 28 The poles, too, were made of acacia wood and plated with gold.
29 The sacred anointing oil and the fragrant incense were prepared in their pure form by a perfumer.(E)
Exodus 37
Easy-to-Read Version
The Box of the Agreement
37 Bezalel made the Holy Box from acacia wood. The Box was 2 1/2 cubits[a] long, 1 1/2 cubits[b] wide, and 1 1/2 cubits high. 2 He covered the inside and outside of the Box with pure gold. Then he put gold trim around the Box. 3 He made four rings of gold and put them on the four corners. These rings were used for carrying the Box. There were two rings on each side. 4 Then he made the poles for carrying the Box. He used acacia wood and covered the poles with pure gold. 5 He put the poles through the rings on each side of the Box. 6 Then he made the mercy-cover from pure gold. It was 2 1/2 cubits long and 1 1/2 cubits wide. 7 Then Bezalel hammered gold to make two Cherub angels. He put the Cherub angels on each end of the mercy-cover. 8 He put one angel on one end and the other angel on the other end. The angels were joined together with the mercy-cover to make one piece. 9 The wings of the angels were spread up toward the sky. The angels covered the Box with their wings and faced each other, looking toward the mercy-cover.
The Special Table
10 Then he made the table from acacia wood. The table was 2 cubits[c] long, 1 cubit[d] wide, and 1 1/2 cubits high. 11 He covered it with pure gold and put gold trim around it. 12 Then he made a frame 1 handbreadth[e] wide around the table. He put gold trim on the frame. 13 Then he made four gold rings and put them at the four corners of the table, where the four legs were. 14 He put the rings close to the frame. The rings were to hold the poles used to carry the table. 15 Then he used acacia wood to make the poles for carrying the table. He covered the poles with pure gold. 16 Then he made everything that was used on the table. He made the plates, the spoons, the bowls, and the pitchers from pure gold. The bowls and pitchers are used for pouring the drink offerings.
The Lampstand
17 Then he made the lampstand. He used pure gold and hammered it to make the base and the shaft.[f] Then he made flowers, buds, and petals and joined everything together into one piece. 18 The lampstand had six branches—three branches on one side and three branches on the other side. 19 Each branch had three flowers on it. These flowers were made like almond flowers with buds and petals. 20 The shaft of the lampstand had four more flowers. They were also made like almond flowers with buds and petals. 21 There were six branches—three branches coming out from each side of the shaft. And there was a flower with buds and petals below each of the three places where the branches joined the shaft. 22 The whole lampstand, with the flowers and branches, was made from pure gold. All this gold was hammered and joined together into one piece. 23 He made seven lamps for this lampstand. Then he made lamp snuffers and trays from pure gold. 24 He used 75 pounds[g] of pure gold to make the lampstand and the things used with it.
The Altar for Burning Incense
25 He made the altar for burning incense from acacia wood. The altar was square. It was 1 cubit long, 1 cubit wide, and 2 cubits high. There were four horns on the altar. There was one horn on each corner. These horns were joined together with the altar to make one piece. 26 He covered the top, all the sides, and the horns with pure gold. Then he put gold trim around the altar. 27 He made two gold rings for the altar. He put the gold rings below the trim on each side of the altar. These gold rings held the poles for carrying the altar. 28 He made the poles from acacia wood and covered them with gold.
29 Then he made the holy anointing oil. He also made the pure, sweet-smelling incense. These things were made the same way that a perfume maker would make them.
Footnotes
- Exodus 37:1 2 1/2 cubits 4' 3" (1.3 m).
- Exodus 37:1 1 1/2 cubits 30 5/8" (77.75 cm). Also in verse 10.
- Exodus 37:10 2 cubits 3' 4 13/16" (104 cm). See also in verse 25.
- Exodus 37:10 cubit 20 5/8" (51.83 cm). Also in verse 25.
- Exodus 37:12 handbreadth The width of 4 fingers, about 3" (7.4 cm).
- Exodus 37:17 base and the shaft Or “flared base.”
- Exodus 37:24 75 pounds Literally, “1 talent” (34.5 kg).
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International