Exodus 25:20

_AND MAKE ONE CHERUB ON THE ONE END, AND THE OTHER CHERUB ON THE OTHER END: EVEN OF THE MERCY SEAT SHALL YE MAKE THE CHERUBIMS ON THE TWO ENDS THEREOF._ NO JFB COMMENTARY ON THESE VERSES....

10-22 The ark was a chest, overlaid with gold, in which the two tables of the law were to be kept. These tables are called the testimony; God in them testified his will. This law was a testimony to the Israelites, to direct them in their duty, and would be a testimony against them, if they transgressed. This ark was placed in the holy of holies; the blood of the sacrifices was sprinkled, and the incense burned, before it, by the high priest; and above it appeared the visible glory, which was the symbol of the Divine presence. This was a type of Christ in his sinless nature, which saw no corruption, in personal union with his Divine nature, atoning for our sins against it, by his death. The cherubim of gold looked one towards another, and both looked downward toward the ark. It denotes the angels' attendance on the Redeemer, their readiness to do his will, their presence in the assemblie...

A MERCY SEAT OF PURE GOLD - (Compare Exodus 37:6.) In external form, the mercy-seat was a plate of gold with the cherubim standing on it, the whole beaten out of one solid piece of metal Exodus 37:7; it was placed upon the ark and so took the place of a cover. “mercy” seat expresses well the distinct significance and recognized designation of the Hebrew name. Exodus 25:18 The cherubim of the mercy-seat were human figures, each having two wings. They must have been of small size, proportioned to the area of the mercy-seat. Comparing the different references to form in this place, in...

EXPOSITION THE PATTERN OF THE ARK.—Moses is first shown, not the pattern of the tabernacle, but the patterns of those things which it was to contain—the ark, the table of shew-bread, and the seven-branched candlestick, or lamp-stand, with its appurtenances. The ark, as the very most essential part of the entire construction, is described first. EXODUS 25:10 THOU SHALT MAKE AN ARK OF SHITTIM WOOD. Arks were an ordinary part of the religious furniture of temples in Egypt, and were greatly venerated. They usually contained a figure or emblem, of some deity. Occasionally they were in the shape of boats; but the most ordinary form was that of a cupboard or chest. They were especially constructed for the purpose of being carried about in a procession, a

AND THE CHERUBIM SHALL STRETCH FORTH THEIR WINGS ON HIGH,.... From whence it appears they were in the form of winged creatures, as the seraphim in Isaiah's vision, and the living creatures in those of Ezekiel and John; and their wings did not hang down by them, or on the side of them, but were stretched out upwards towards the heaven above their heads; denoting the readiness, agility, and swiftness of the ministers of the word to do the work and will of Christ, as well as their expectation of all the supplies of gifts and grace from him to enable them to do it: COVERING THE MERCY SEAT WITH THEIR WINGS; which reached each other; though, as Jarchi q says, between them and the mercy seat there was a hollow of ten hands' breadth; so high were they stretched upwards, though they met each other: AND THEIR FACES SHALL LOOK ONE TO ANOTHER; and which is expressive of the harmony, concord, and a...

Exodus 25:10. _And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about._ The ark of the covenant was the most sacred object in the tabernacle in the wilderness. It stood at the extreme end of the holy of holies. It was the place over which the bright shining light, called the Shekinah, which was the token of the presence of God, shone forth. The ark was, doubtless, typical of our Lord Jesus Christ. It was a sacred chest made to contain the law. Blessed are they who know the law in Christ. Out of Christ, the law condemns. In Christ, it becomes a blessed guide to us. This ark was made of wood, perhaps to typify the human nat

3. THE TABERNACLE AND THE PRIESTHOOD CHAPTER 25 The Tabernacle _ 1. The freewill offering and the materials (Exodus 25:1)_ 2. The ark (Exodus 25:10) 3. The table of showbread (Exodus 25:23) 4. The golden candlestick (Exodus 25:31) This is another intensely interesting portion of this great book. To give a few annotations and hints on the tabernacle is an extremely difficult task, for there is such a wonderful mine of wealth here that a book of hundreds of pages could not contain all. The tabernacle concerning which the Lord instructed Moses was the earthly place of worship of Israel; i

EXODUS 25:10 P. THE ARK (_cf._ Exodus 37:1). Three stages of tradition may be distinguished with regard to the Ark (pp. 105f., 123f.): (_a)_ In JE, and in the earlier historical books, it is the visible seat of Yahweh's presence, guiding and protecting His people. Various explanations are offered. Other ancient peoples carried images in similar chests; the ark may have held some such symbol; Kennett (ERE, vol. i. 791- 793) suggests the brazen serpent. Or it may have contained a stone from the sacred mount to serve as a throne for Yahweh as He went forth with His people to find a new home amongst men (_cf._ Naaman's mules-' burden of earth). But it is not thought likely that it originally held the tablets, which would be publicly exhibited not hidden from sight. Dibelius and Gressmann e

TOWARD. Looking toward the blood of propitiation. Compare Exodus 12:13 and Joshua 2:18. See especially Exodus 37:9....

The mercy-seat and the two cherubim upon it....