Exodus 25: The Ark, Table, and Lampstand

Exodus 25: The Ark, Table, and Lampstand

Chapter With Audio

Contributions for the Sanctuary

25 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me. 3 And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, 4 blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats' hair, 5 tanned rams' skins, goatskins, acacia wood, 6 oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, 7 onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece. 8 And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. 9 Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.

The Ark of the Covenant

10 “They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. 11 You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and outside shall you overlay it, and you shall make on it a molding of gold around it. 12 You shall cast four rings of gold for it and put them on its four feet, two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it. 13 You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 14 And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark by them. 15 The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it. 16 And you shall put into the ark the testimony that I shall give you.

17 “You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. 18 And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. 19 Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. 20 The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. 21 And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you. 22 There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.

The Table for Bread

23 “You shall make a table of acacia wood. Two cubits shall be its length, a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. 24 You shall overlay it with pure gold and make a molding of gold around it. 25 And you shall make a rim around it a handbreadth wide, and a molding of gold around the rim. 26 And you shall make for it four rings of gold, and fasten the rings to the four corners at its four legs. 27 Close to the frame the rings shall lie, as holders for the poles to carry the table. 28 You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, and the table shall be carried with these. 29 And you shall make its plates and dishes for incense, and its flagons and bowls with which to pour drink offerings; you shall make them of pure gold. 30 And you shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before me regularly.

The Golden Lampstand

31 “You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand shall be made of hammered work: its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it. 32 And there shall be six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it; 33 three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on one branch, and three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on the other branch—so for the six branches going out of the lampstand. 34 And on the lampstand itself there shall be four cups made like almond blossoms, with their calyxes and flowers, 35 and a calyx of one piece with it under each pair of the six branches going out from the lampstand. 36 Their calyxes and their branches shall be of one piece with it, the whole of it a single piece of hammered work of pure gold. 37 You shall make seven lamps for it. And the lamps shall be set up so as to give light on the space in front of it. 38 Its tongs and their trays shall be of pure gold. 39 It shall be made, with all these utensils, out of a talent of pure gold. 40 And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain.

Chapter Analysis

Exodus 25: God Gave Instructions for the Tabernacle and Its Furnishings

Overview

Exodus 25 begins God's detailed instructions for constructing the tabernacle, the place where He would dwell among His covenant people. The Lord invited the Israelites to give freewill offerings for the project and then revealed the design for the Ark of the Covenant, the Table of Showbread, and the Golden Lampstand.

Every part of the tabernacle pointed to God's holiness and His desire to dwell among His people. These furnishings also foreshadowed the person and work of Jesus Christ, who perfectly fulfills God's presence, provision, and revelation.

God repeatedly instructed Moses to build everything according to the pattern shown on the mountain, emphasizing that true worship must follow God's design rather than human imagination.

I. Verses 1–9: God Called for Offerings and Revealed the Purpose of the Tabernacle

The Lord instructed Moses to receive offerings from everyone whose heart was willing.

The offerings included:

  • Gold.
  • Silver.
  • Bronze.
  • Blue, purple, and scarlet yarn.
  • Fine linen.
  • Goat's hair.
  • Ram skins dyed red.
  • Durable leather.
  • Acacia wood.
  • Olive oil.
  • Spices.
  • Precious stones.

These materials would be used to construct the tabernacle and the priests' garments.

God declared His purpose:

"And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them."

The tabernacle would visibly represent God's dwelling place among His covenant people.

Moses was commanded to build everything according to the pattern God revealed.

II. Verses 10–22: Instructions for the Ark of the Covenant

The first item described was the Ark of the Covenant.

It was made of acacia wood and overlaid inside and outside with pure gold.

The Ark included:

  • Four gold rings.
  • Two carrying poles.
  • A gold molding around the top.

Inside the Ark were to be placed the Testimony that God would give Moses.

The mercy seat formed the cover of the Ark.

Two golden cherubim were placed on each end of the mercy seat with their wings overshadowing it.

God declared:

"There I will meet with you."

From above the mercy seat, between the cherubim, God would speak with Moses.

The Ark represented God's throne among His people and His covenant relationship with Israel.

III. Verses 23–30: Instructions for the Table of Showbread

The Table of Showbread was also made of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold.

It included:

  • A gold border.
  • Four gold rings.
  • Carrying poles.
  • Gold utensils.

Twelve loaves of bread were to be placed continually upon the table before the Lord.

The bread represented God's continual provision for the twelve tribes of Israel and symbolized fellowship between God and His people.

IV. Verses 31–40: Instructions for the Golden Lampstand

The lampstand was made from one piece of pure hammered gold.

It featured:

  • A central shaft.
  • Six branches.
  • Cups shaped like almond blossoms.
  • Decorative buds and flowers.
  • Seven lamps.

The lamps were to provide continual light inside the Holy Place.

God instructed Moses to make the lampstand exactly according to the heavenly pattern shown to him.

The lampstand symbolized God's light and His continual presence among His people.

Major Lessons in Exodus 25

God Desires to Dwell Among His People

The tabernacle demonstrated God's desire to live among the people He had redeemed.

Worship Must Follow God's Pattern

God repeatedly emphasized that every detail was to be constructed according to His design, reminding us that worship is determined by God, not by human preference.

God Invites Willing Hearts

The materials for the tabernacle came from voluntary offerings, showing that God delights in cheerful and willing worshipers.

Every Detail Points to Christ

The Ark, the mercy seat, the bread, and the lampstand all foreshadow aspects of Jesus Christ, who perfectly reveals God's presence, provision, mercy, and light.

God's Presence Is the Greatest Blessing

More important than the beauty of the tabernacle itself was God's promise to dwell among His people and meet with them.

Overall Summary

Exodus 25 begins the instructions for building the tabernacle, where God would dwell among Israel. The people were invited to give willing offerings, and God revealed the design for the Ark of the Covenant, the Table of Showbread, and the Golden Lampstand. Every item was to be built according to God's heavenly pattern, reflecting His holiness and His desire to fellowship with His people. The tabernacle and its furnishings pointed beyond themselves to the greater reality fulfilled in Jesus Christ, through whom God permanently dwells with His redeemed people.