Commentaria in Exodum
Chapter the Thirty-seventh. Synopsis of the Chapter
The ark, the propitiatory, the Cherubim. Secondly, verse 10, the table; and verse 17, the candlestick; and verse 25, the altar of incense, and for it the incense is compounded.
1. And Beseleel made the ark of setim wood, the length of it was of two cubits and a half: and the breadth a cubit and a half: and the height also a cubit and a half: and he overlaid it with the purest gold within and without. 2. And made to it a golden crown round about, 3. Casting four golden rings at the four corners thereof: two rings on the one side, and two on the other. 4. He made also bars of setim wood, which he overlaid with gold, 5. And put them into the rings that were on the sides of the ark, to carry it. 6. He made also the propitiatory, that is, the oracle, of pure gold, two cubits and a half in length, and a cubit and a half in breadth. 7. Two cherubims also of beaten gold, which he set on the two sides of the propitiatory: 8. One cherub on the one end, and the other on the other end: two cherubims at the two ends of the propitiatory, 9. Stretching out their wings, and covering the propitiatory, and looking one towards the other and towards it. 10. He made also the table of setim wood, of two cubits in length, and one cubit in breadth, and a cubit and a half in height: 11. And he overlaid it with the purest gold, and made to it a golden ledge round about, 12. And to the ledge itself a polished crown of four fingers, and upon the same another golden crown. 13. He cast also four golden rings, which he put in the four corners of every foot of the table, 14. Over against the crown: and he put bars into them, that the table might be carried. 15. And the bars themselves he made of setim wood, and overlaid them with gold; 16. And the vessels of the table of divers uses, dishes, and bowls, and cups, and censers of pure gold, in which libations are to be offered. 17. He made also the candlestick of beaten work of the purest gold, out of the shaft of which came out branches, cups, and bowls and lilies: 18. Six on the sides, three branches on the one side, and three on the other. 19. Three cups as it were nuts on every branch, and bowls withal and lilies: and three cups of the fashion of a nut in the other branch, and bowls withal and lilies. The work of the six branches, which were to proceed from the stalk of the candlestick, was equal. 20. And in the shaft itself were four cups after the manner of a nut, and bowls at every one, and lilies. 21. And bowls under two branches in three places, which together make six branches proceeding out of one shaft. 22. And the bowls and branches were of the same, all of beaten work of the purest gold. 23. He made also seven lamps with their snuffers, and their vessels to put out the snuffed things, of the purest gold. 24. The candlestick with all its vessels weighed a talent of gold. 25. He made also the altar of incense of setim wood, being a cubit square, and two cubits high, from the corners of which came out horns. 26. And he overlaid it with the purest gold, with the grate and the sides and the horns. 27. And he made to it a little golden crown round about, and two golden rings under the crown on each side, that the bars may be put into them, and the altar be carried. 28. And the bars themselves he made of setim wood, and overlaid them with plates of gold. 29. He made also the oil for the ointment of sanctification, and the incense of the purest spices, by the work of a perfumer.
7. TWO CHERUBIMS ALSO.—Hence it is plain that only two Cherubim were beside the ark, not four. It is plain from the Hebrew, which has that he made cherubim from the two sides of the propitiatory, namely one from one side, another from the other; whence Solomon also in his temple is read to have made only two, 3 Kings 6:23. What is therefore here said, two cherubim at the single ends, that is the extremities (for this the Hebrew katsah signifies) of the propitiatory were placed, understand from what precedes, that on each one was placed, not two. So Abulensis.
17. THE SHAFT,—the staff, or stalk of the candlestick.
19. EQUAL WAS THE WORK OF THE SIX BRANCHES,—namely of the branches, or arms of the candlestick, all rising to the same height: the rest see chaps. 25 and 30.