Exodus
Chapter 25
Tributes for the Construction of the Sanctuary
The Lord spoke to Moses and said:
“Tell the sons of Israel to set aside a contribution for me; you shall accept this contribution from every man who gives from the heart.
The things you shall accept from them are these: gold, silver, and bronze;
purple cloth of violet shade and red, crimson cloth, fine linen, goats’ hair;
rams’ skins dyed red, fine leather, acacia wood;
and precious stones and gems to be set in priestly vestments.
oil for the lamps, spices for the chrism and fragrant incense;
For they must build me a sanctuary so that I may dwell among them,
and you shall make the tabernacle and its furnishings following exactly the pattern I shall show you.
The Ark
You are to make me an ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, one and a half cubits wide, one and a half cubits high.
You are to cover it with pure gold, inside and out, and decorate it with gold molding.
You will cast four gold rings for the ark and fix them to its four supports: two rings on one side and two rings on the other.
You will also make poles of acacia wood covered with gold
and pass the poles through the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry the ark by these.
The poles must remain in the rings of the ark and not be withdrawn.
Inside the ark, you will place the terms of the Covenant that I shall give you.
Further, you are to make the mercy Seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide.
For the two ends of the mercy Seat, you are to make two golden cherubim of hammered gold.
Make the first cherub for one end and the second for the other. Fasten them to the two ends of the cover so they may make one piece with it.
The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward to overshadow the mercy seat. They must face one another, their faces towards the mercy seat.
You must place the mercy Seat on the top of the ark. Inside the ark, you must place the stone tablets with the terms of the Covenant I shall give you.
There I shall come to meet you; above the mercy Seat from between the two cherubim on it, I shall give you all my commands for the people of Israel.
Table of Showbread
You are to make a table of acacia wood, two cubits long, one cubit wide, and one and a half cubits high.
You are to cover it with pure gold and decorate it all around with a gold edge.
You are to surround it with a frame three inches wide and decorate it with a golden edge.
You are to make four gold rings and attach them to the four corners where the four legs meet.
The rings must be close to the frame to hold the poles for carrying the table.
You are to make the poles of acacia wood and cover them with gold. The table is to be carried by these.
You are to make dishes, cups, jars, and bowls for the wine offerings; you are to make these of pure gold.
On the table, you must place the bread of the continual offering before me.
Candelabra (Large, Branched Candlestick)
You are to make a lampstand of pure gold; it must be of hammered gold, both its base and stem. Its decorative flowers, including buds and petals, must be of one piece with it.
Six branches must extend from its sides, three from one side, three from the other.
Each of the six branches of the lampstand is to have three decorative flowers shaped like almond blossoms, each with its bud and petals.
The lampstand itself is to have four decorative flowers shaped like almond blossoms, each with its bud and petals, thus:
one bud under the first two branches extending from the lampstand, one under the next pair, one under the last pair: corresponding to the six branches extending from the lampstand.
The buds and the branches must be of one piece, with the lampstand and the whole made from a single piece of pure hammered gold.
Then you are to make lamps for it, seven of them, and set them so that they throw their light toward the front of it.
Tongs must be pure gold for extinguishing the burning lamps and trays.
You are to use seventy-five pounds of pure gold to make the lampstand and all its accessories.
See that you make them according to the pattern shown to you on the mountain.
Commentaries
[A] Tributes for the Construction of the Sanctuary.
According to the priestly theological-literary current (P), God requires an earthly dwelling where He can reside among the people (8), and its construction must follow a model set by God Himself (9). While this current (P) primarily envisions the temple of Jerusalem, it traces back to Sinai the commands to build it, initially as a portable sanctuary that would accompany the Israelites during their desert journeys. It was common for ancient semi-nomadic tribes to carry a tent made with red skins, which held sacred significance because it housed the statues of their gods; they believed their presence offered protection. Their God also accompanied Israel throughout the desert. When they settled in the land, this sanctuary transitioned from being portable to fixed, adhering to the original model.
[B] The Ark.
The primary purpose of the ark was to hold the document of the Covenant, hence its name “ark of the Covenant” or “ark of the testimony.” Later, tradition added the staff of Moses and the portion of manna that the Lord had commanded to be kept, as mentioned in 16:32-34. Most importantly, the ark featured a specially designed lid, resembling a golden plate, which served as the place where the Lord met Moses to give his commands (22). This lid is described as the most sacred space in the ark due to the presence of two cherubim, which symbolize its profound significance. The religious sentiment of Israel led to the symbolic meaning of this lid evolving toward a penitential and expiatory understanding, viewing the place as “propitiatory” or a place of forgiveness (cf. Lv 16).
[C] Table of Showbread.
The table, specially crafted with valuable materials, signifies its exclusive sacred purpose. It was used to hold the bread of the presence, also known as the proposition. This bread served as a reminder of God’s covenant with the twelve tribes of Israel. Leviticus 24:5-9 states that there should be twelve loaves of unleavened bread, which were to be replaced every Sabbath and eaten only by the priests. A tradition recounts that David and his companions entered the Sanctuary hungry, and when they found nothing to eat, they ate these loaves (1 Sm 21:1-6). Jesus refers to this tradition in Mark 2:25-28 to show that not even these strict rules can take precedence over human needs.
[D] Candelabra (Large, Branched Candlestick).
The lighting of the enclosure is also strictly regulated by law. The candelabrum has such specific and detailed features that some believe it symbolizes a sacred tree, which in some way represents the fertility that results from the union of God with his people. This model of a candelabrum, also known as a “menorah,” is recognized worldwide as one of the most iconic symbols of modern Israel.