Exodus - Chapter 38

Exodus 38.1 And he made the altar of burnt offering of shittim wood: five cubits was the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof; it was foursquare; and three cubits the height thereof. Exodus 38.2 And he made the horns thereof on the four corners of it; the horns thereof were of the same: and he overlaid it with brass. Exodus 38.3 And he made all the vessels of the altar, the pots, and the shovels, and the basons, and the fleshhooks, and the firepans: all the vessels thereof made he of brass. Exodus 38.4 And he made for the altar a brasen grate of network under the compass thereof beneath unto the midst of it. Exodus 38.5 And he cast four rings for the four ends of the grate of brass, to be places for the staves. Exodus 38.6 And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with brass. Exodus 38.7 And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar, to bear it withal; he made the altar hollow with boards. Exodus 38.8 And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the lookingglasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. Exodus 38.9 And he made the court: on the south side southward the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, an hundred cubits: Exodus 38.10 Their pillars were twenty, and their brasen sockets twenty; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver. Exodus 38.11 And for the north side the hangings were an hundred cubits, their pillars were twenty, and their sockets of brass twenty; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver. Exodus 38.12 And for the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their pillars ten, and their sockets ten; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver. Exodus 38.13 And for the east side eastward fifty cubits. Exodus 38.14 The hangings of the one side of the gate were fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three. Exodus 38.15 And for the other side of the court gate, on this hand and that hand, were hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three. Exodus 38.16 All the hangings of the court round about were of fine twined linen. Exodus 38.17 And the sockets for the pillars were of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver; and the overlaying of their chapiters of silver; and all the pillars of the court were filleted with silver. Exodus 38.18 And the hanging for the gate of the court was needlework, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: and twenty cubits was the length, and the height in the breadth was five cubits, answerable to the hangings of the court. Exodus 38.19 And their pillars were four, and their sockets of brass four; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their chapiters and their fillets of silver. Exodus 38.20 And all the pins of the tabernacle, and of the court round about, were of brass. Exodus 38.21 This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest. Exodus 38.22 And Bezaleel the son Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the LORD commanded Moses. Exodus 38.23 And with him was Aholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a cunning workman, and an embroiderer in blue, and in purple, and in scarlet, and fine linen. Exodus 38.24 All the gold that was occupied for the work in all the work of the holy place, even the gold of the offering, was twenty and nine talents, and seven hundred and thirty shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary. Exodus 38.25 And the silver of them that were numbered of the congregation was an hundred talents, and a thousand seven hundred and threescore and fifteen shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary: Exodus 38.26 A bekah for every man, that is, half a shekel, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for every one that went to be numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty men. Exodus 38.27 And of the hundred talents of silver were cast the sockets of the sanctuary, and the sockets of the vail; an hundred sockets of the hundred talents, a talent for a socket. Exodus 38.28 And of the thousand seven hundred seventy and five shekels he made hooks for the pillars, and overlaid their chapiters, and filleted them. Exodus 38.29 And the brass of the offering was seventy talents, and two thousand and four hundred shekels. Exodus 38.30 And therewith he made the sockets to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the brasen altar, and the brasen grate for it, and all the vessels of the altar, Exodus 38.31 And the sockets of the court round about, and the sockets of the court gate, and all the pins of the tabernacle, and all the pins of the court round about.

Exodus : Chapter 38

The Significance of the Altar and the Court of the Tabernacle in Exodus 38

Exodus chapter 38 highlights the construction of the altar of burnt offering and the court of the tabernacle, fundamental elements of divine worship. By detailing the materials and dimensions used, this text underscores the importance of the precision and cost involved in creating this sacred place, a reflection of the value of worshipping God. Among the notable elements, the bronze basin and the courtyard curtains occupy a central place, symbolizing purification and separation from the sacred.

This chapter also testifies to the generosity of the people, who contributed offerings for the construction of the tabernacle, thus illustrating the community's commitment to divine worship.

Five Enlightening Bible Passages

To deepen our understanding of the importance of these sacred elements, let us consider five biblical passages that resonate with the themes addressed in Exodus 38.

1 Kings 7:23: "He made the sea of ​​molten metal, round, measuring 16 cubits from brim to brim, 8 cubits high, and 50 cubits in circumference." This passage describes the bronze basin in Solomon's temple, reminiscent of the bronze basin in the tabernacle of Exodus 38, emphasizing the importance of purification in worship.

Hebrews 13:10: "We have an altar on which those who serve in the tabernacle may not eat." The author of this epistle refers to the altar of Exodus 38, highlighting the distinction between the material altar of the tabernacle and the spiritual altar of Christians, creating a link between the Old and New Testaments.

Revelation 11:1: "Then they gave me a measuring rod, and they said to me, 'Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the people there.'" This apocalyptic vision resonates with the precise measurements of the tabernacle in Exodus 38, recalling the importance of moderation and order in divine worship.

Titus 3:5: "Not because of righteous acts we have performed, but because of his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit." The apostle Paul alludes to the bronze basin used for washing in Exodus 38, establishing a link between physical and spiritual purification.

2 Chronicles 1:5: "Now the bronze altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, was at Gibeon before the tabernacle of the LORD; so Solomon and the congregation inquired of the LORD." This passage testifies to the continued use of the bronze altar, first described in Exodus 38, highlighting its importance in Israel's worship.

Meditating on these passages, we realize that each element of the tabernacle, each measure, and each offering, has profound meaning, inviting us to reflect on our own worship and relationship with God.