Movatterモバイル変換

Exodus 37:10-16
And he made the tableof shittim wood: two cubitswas the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof: …

Exodus 40:22,23
And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail…

Leviticus 24:6
And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the LORD.

shittim wood.

two cubits long, a cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high
The dimensions of the table are specific, indicating the importance of order and precision in worship. A cubit is approximately 18 inches, making the table about 3 feet long, 1.5 feet wide, and 2.25 feet high. These measurements reflect the table's purpose and function within the Tabernacle. The table's size was sufficient to hold the twelve loaves of showbread, representing the twelve tribes of Israel, and symbolizing God's provision and fellowship with His people. The precise dimensions also underscore the idea that God is a God of order, and everything in His service should be done according to His instructions.

- The phrase signals that the Lord’s instructions are ongoing and interconnected. He has just detailed the Ark (Exodus 25:10-16), Mercy Seat (25:17-22), and Lampstand (25:31-40); now He moves to the table, showing that every item in the tabernacle has a divinely ordered place and purpose.

- Cross references:Exodus 25:8-9 “They are to make a sanctuary for Me… in accordance with all that I show you”;Hebrews 8:5 reminds us these plans mirror heavenly realities.

- A literal, physical table is required, not a symbol or idea. God provides concrete furniture for a real meeting place with His people.

- This table will later hold “the Bread of the Presence” (Exodus 25:30), twelve loaves replaced weekly (Leviticus 24:5-9), testifying to God’s continual fellowship and provision.

- Cross references:Exodus 37:10 records Bezalel’s precise obedience in building the table;1 Kings 7:48 shows Solomon placing similar tables in the temple.

- Acacia is dense, resistant to rot and insects—ideal for a portable sanctuary in the wilderness. The choice underscores durability and purity for objects dedicated to the Lord (Exodus 26:15;Deuteronomy 10:3).

- The same wood forms the Ark and the altar, uniting all pieces in material and purpose.

- Approximately three feet (90 cm), giving ample surface for the twelve loaves yet keeping the table light enough for transport.

- The length aligns with the tabernacle’s overall proportions, where nothing is random (Exodus 37:10).

- Cross reference:Numbers 4:7 describes priests covering and carrying this very table during travel.

- About eighteen inches (45 cm). The narrow width keeps the loaves in a single line, hinting at order among the tribes they represent (Exodus 25:30).

- Cross reference:Exodus 30:2 shows the altar of incense sharing this same width, reinforcing standardized design.

- Roughly twenty-seven inches (68 cm), a comfortable height for priests to tend the bread while standing (Leviticus 24:8).

- The height echoes the Ark’s 1½-cubit measurement (Exodus 25:10), subtly linking God’s throne (the Ark) with His provision (the table).

- Cross reference:Exodus 37:25 notes the altar of incense also stands 1½ cubits high, creating harmony among holy furnishings.

Exodus 25:23 gives a straightforward, literal command: build a specific table exactly as God says. Each detail—sequence, material, and measurement—reveals the Lord’s precision, permanence, and desire for ongoing fellowship symbolized by the Bread of the Presence. The verse teaches obedience to God’s exact word and confidence that He provides enduring, tangible means for His people to draw near.

(23-30)Thou shalt also make a table.--The ark and mercy seat, which covered it, constituted the entire furniture of the inner sanctuary, or "Holy of Holies" (Exodus 40:20-21). When this had been shown to Moses the next thing to be done was to set before him the furniture of the outer sanctuary, or holy place. This consisted of three articles--(1) The table of shewbread, described in the present passage; (2) the golden candlestick, described inExodus 25:31-40; and (3) the altar of incense, described inExodus 30:1-10. The "table of shewbread" was a receptacle for the twelve loaves, which were to be "set continually before the Lord" (Leviticus 24:8) as a thank-offering on the part of His people--a perpetual acknowledgment of His perpetual protection and favour. It was to be just large enough to contain the twelve loaves, set in two rows, being a yard long, and a foot and a-half broad. The vessels belonging to the table (Exodus 25:29) were not placed on it. . . .

1. A table, called the table of shew-bread ("bread of presence" or "bread of setting-forth").

2. A candelabrum, or lamp-stand; and

3. An altar for the offering of incense. Of these the table seems to have been regarded as of primary importance; and its description is therefore made to follow immediately on that of the ark. It was of acacia wood, overlaid with pure gold, and was of the most ordinary shape - oblong-square,i.e., with four legs, one at each corner. The only peculiar features of the table, besides its material, were the border, or edging, which surrounded it at the top, the framework which strengthened the legs (ver. 25), and the rings by which it was to be carried from place to place.Verse 23. -Two cubits shall be the length thereof, etc. The table was to be three feel long, one foot six inches broad, and two feet three inches high. It was thus quite a small table, narrow for its length, and about two inches below the ordinary height.

Parallel Commentaries ...