Exodus 25:10-15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 25:10-22

The first thing which is here ordered to be made is the ark with its appurtenances, the furniture of the most holy place, and the special token of God's presence, for which the tabernacle was erected to be the receptacle. I. The ark itself was a chest, or coffer, in which the two tables of the law, written with the finger of God, were to be honourably deposited, and carefully kept. The dimensions of it are exactly ordered; if the Jewish cubit was, as some learned men compute, three inches... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 25:10

And they shall make an ark of shittim wood ,.... A chest or coffer to put things into, and into this were to be put the two tables of stone on which the law was written, and it was to be made of the wood before mentioned, Exodus 25:5 this was a very eminent type of Christ, with whom the name of an ark, chest, or coffer where treasure lies, agrees; for the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and the riches of grace, even all the fulness of it, lie in him; and all the epithets of this ark are... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 25:11

And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold ,.... Not gild it, but put a plate of pure gold over it: within and without shalt thou overlay it ; so that nothing of the wood could be seen: this may denote the glory of Christ in both his natures, divine and human, the riches of his person and office, which are unsearchable and durable, and his preciousness to them that believe, Song of Solomon 5:10 , and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about : or a cornish of pure gold upon it,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 25:12

And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it ,.... For which a mould was to be made, and the gold being melted was poured into it, and so the rings were fashioned: and put them in the corners thereof ; or, "in its feet", as Aben Ezra, though Jarchi says it had no feet; but as the word used so signifies always, it is more probable it had feet; and the rather, that it might not stand upon the ground, but on feet, as chests and coffers usually do: and two rings shall be in the one side... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 25:13

And thou shall make staves of shittim wood ,.... Of the same, wood the ark was made of, see Exodus 25:5 and overlay them with gold; cover them with plates of gold, so that they appeared to be all of gold, the wood being not to be seen. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 25:14

And thou shall put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark ,.... This shows for what use the rings were; namely, to put the staves into them and the use of the staves thus put was: that the ark might be borne with them ; which staves overlaid with gold, and put into golden rings, figured the ministers of Christ, enriched with the gifts and graces of his Spirit, and possessed of the truths of the Gospel, more precious than gold and silver; who bear the name of Christ, and carry... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 25:15

The staves shall be in the rings of the ark ,.... Not only be put into them, but remain in them, yea, always: they shall not be taken from it ; or, as the Septuagint version is, be immovable; so that those gold rings in the ark may signify the churches of Christ, which are instrumental to bear his name, and spread his truth in the world, comparable to rings for their circular form, being the purest and most perfect bodies of men on earth, and to gold rings for their worth and value,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 25:10

They shall make an ark - ארון aron signifies an ark, chest, coffer, or coffin. It is used particularly to designate that chest or coffer in which the testimony or two tables of the covenant was laid up, on the top of which was the propitiatory or mercy-seat, (see on Exodus 25:17 ;), and at the end of which were the cherubim of gold, ( Exodus 25:18-20 ;), between whom the visible sign of the presence of the supreme God appeared as seated upon his throne. The ark was the most excellent... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 25:11

A crown of gold round about - A border, or, as the Septuagint have it, κυματια χρυσα στεπτα κυκλω , waves of gold wreathed round about. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 25:15

The staves - shall not be taken from it - Because it should ever be considered as in readiness to be removed, God not having told them at what hour he should command them to strike their tents. If the staves were never to be taken out, how can it be said, as in Numbers 4:6 , that when the camp should set forward, they should put in the staves thereof, which intimates that when they encamped, they took out the staves, which appears to be contrary to what is here said? To reconcile these two... read more

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