Cornelius a Lapide
Table of Contents
Synopsis of the Chapter
The ark, the propitiatory, and the Cherubim are constructed. Second, verse 10, the table; and verse 17, the lampstand; and verse 25, the altar of incense, and incense is compounded for it.
Vulgate Text: Exodus 37:1-29
1. And Bezalel made the ark of setim wood, having two and a half cubits in length and a cubit and a half in breadth; the height also was a cubit and a half, and he covered it with the purest gold inside and out. 2. And he made for it a golden crown round about, 3. casting four golden rings at its four corners: two rings on one side and two on the other. 4. He made also bars of setim wood, which he covered with gold, 5. and which he put into the rings that were at the sides of the ark to carry it. 6. He made also the propitiatory, that is, the oracle, of the purest gold, two and a half cubits in length and a cubit and a half in breadth; 7. two Cherubim also of beaten gold, which he set on each side of the propitiatory: 8. one Cherub at the top of one end, and the other Cherub at the top of the other end: two Cherubim at each end of the propitiatory, 9. spreading their wings and covering the propitiatory, looking at one another and at it. 10. He made also the table of setim wood, two cubits long and one cubit wide, which was a cubit and a half in height; 11. and he surrounded it with the purest gold and made for it a golden rim round about, 12. and for the rim itself an interrasile golden crown of four fingers, and above the same another golden crown. 13. He cast also four golden rings, which he placed at the four corners at each foot of the table, 14. opposite the crown; and he put the bars into them so that the table might be carried. 15. The bars themselves he also made of setim wood and covered them with gold; 16. and the vessels for the various uses of the table: dishes, bowls, and cups, and censers of pure gold, in which the libations were to be offered. 17. He made also the lampstand of beaten work, of the purest gold. From its shaft proceeded branches, cups, knobs, and lilies: 18. six on each side, three branches on one side and three on the other: 19. three cups in the shape of a nut on each branch, and knobs and lilies together: and three cups in the shape of a nut on the other branch, and knobs and lilies together. The work was equal on the six branches that proceeded from the shaft of the lampstand. 20. And on the shaft itself there were four cups in the shape of a nut, and knobs and lilies on each one; 21. and knobs under two branches in three places, which together make six branches proceeding from one shaft. 22. Both the knobs therefore and the branches were from it, all of beaten work of the purest gold. 23. He made also seven lamps with their snuffers, and the vessels where the snuffings were to be extinguished, of the purest gold. 24. The lampstand with all its vessels weighed a talent of gold. 25. He made also the altar of incense of setim wood, having a cubit on each side of the square, and two in height; from its corners proceeded horns. 26. And he covered it with the purest gold, with its grate and walls and horns. 27. And he made for it a small golden crown round about, and two golden rings under the crown on each side, that the bars might be put into them and the altar might be carried. 28. And the bars themselves he made of setim wood and covered them with plates of gold. 29. He compounded also the oil for the anointing of sanctification, and the incense of the purest spices, by the work of the perfumer.
Verse 7: Two Cherubim Also
7. TWO CHERUBIM ALSO — From this it is clear that there were only two Cherubim next to the ark, not four, namely one on one side and the other on the other; whence Solomon also in his temple is read to have made only two, 3 Kings 6:23. Therefore when it says here that two Cherubim were placed at each end, that is, at each extremity (for this is what the Hebrew katse signifies) of the propitiatory, understand from what preceded that in each position one, not two, was placed. This is clear from the Hebrew which reads: from the propitiatory he made the Cherubim on its two sides. So says Abulensis.
Verse 17: From the Shaft
17. FROM THE SHAFT — that is, from the main stem or shaft of the lampstand.
Verse 19: The Work Was Equal on the Six Branches
19. THE WORK WAS EQUAL ON THE SIX BRANCHES — namely, with all the branches or arms of the lampstand rising to the same height: for the rest see chapters 25 and 30.