Exodus 37:1-9

The Making of the Furniture - The Work Overseen By Bezalel (Exodus 37:1 to Exodus 38:20).

Bezalel had responsibility for all the sacred furniture. We may assume, however, that he obtained assistance in the more general work. We note that the order of furniture made commences from the Holy of Holies and moves through the Holy Place to the outer court.

There is here a continual general pattern commencing with the making and description of the item of furniture, followed by the making of the means of its transportation (rings and staves) (Exodus 37:1 to Exodus 38:8).

The Making of the Ark (Exodus 37:1).

Exodus 37:1

‘And Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood: two cubits and a half was the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it: and he overlaid it with pure gold within and without, and made a crown of gold to it round about. And he cast for it four rings of gold, in on its four feet; even two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it. And he made staves of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold. And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the ark, to bear the ark. And he made a mercy-seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. And he made two cherubim of gold; he made them of beaten work, at the two ends of the mercy-seat; one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other end: he made the cherubim of one piece with the mercy-seat at its two ends. And the cherubim spread out their wings on high, covering the mercy-seat with their wings, with their faces one to another; the faces of the cherubim were towards the mercy-seat.'

Note that it is stressed that the Ark was made by Bezalel himself. The best was made by the best. For details of the Ark see on Exodus 25:10.