The Book of
Exodus 38
31 verses≈ 5 min3 peopleBSB
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In this chapter
Where we are
- 1–6Slaves in EgyptOppression and a deliverer
- 7–13The plaguesThe LORD against Pharaoh
- 14–18Through the seaRescued and led
- 19–24At SinaiThe covenant and the law
- 25–31A place to dwellThe tabernacle planned
- 32–40Broken and renewedThe calf, mercy, the gloryChapter 38
The Bronze Altar
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The Bronze Basin
Next he made the bronze basin and its stand from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
Reflect
What the mirrors became
The bronze basin was made “from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.” A polished mirror was a costly thing, used every day. These women gave theirs up, and the priests washed in what they had given before they served. What is something you value and use every day that God may be asking you to hand over for His work? Write it down, and what it might become in His hands.
The Courtyard
Long sides
South: 100 cubits, twenty posts
Then he constructed the courtyard. The south side of the courtyard was a hundred cubits long and had curtains of finely spun linen, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases, and with silver hooks and bands on the posts.
North: the same
The north side was also a hundred cubits long, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases. The hooks and bands of the posts were silver.
Far end
West: 50 cubits, ten posts
The west side was fifty cubits long and had curtains, with ten posts and ten bases. The hooks and bands of the posts were silver.
Entrance end
East: 50 cubits, toward sunrise
And the east side, toward the sunrise, was also fifty cubits long.
Hangings either side of the gate
The curtains on one side of the entrance were fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases. And the curtains on the other side were also fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases as well.
All the curtains around the courtyard were made of finely spun linen. The bases for the posts were bronze, the hooks and bands were silver, and the plating for the tops of the posts was silver. So all the posts of the courtyard were banded with silver.
The curtain for the entrance to the courtyard was embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It was twenty cubits long and, like the curtains of the courtyard, five cubits high, with four posts and four bronze bases. Their hooks were silver, as well as the bands and the plating of their tops. All the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the surrounding courtyard were bronze.
0:24
Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
Pray
One way in
Sixty posts and a long wall of white linen, and only one gate, “embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen.” Thank God that He has not left you outside. Thank Jesus that He is the way in, and ask Him to bring someone you love through that same gate.
Plan to scale in cubits · north at the top
Where it stood
The courtyard
A hundred cubits by fifty (about 150 by 75 feet), with one gate on the east, “toward the sunrise.” Inside the gate stood the bronze altar first, then the basin, and beyond them the tent. The court, its gate, the altar and the basin are what Bezalel made in this chapter.
An Inventory of Materials
This is the inventory for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the Testimony, as recorded at Moses’ command by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made everything that the LORD had commanded Moses.
Exodus 38:22
With him was Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, designer, and embroiderer in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen.
Gold
Gold: 29 talents, 730 shekels
All the gold from the wave offering used for the work on the sanctuary totaled 29 talents and 730 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel.
Silver
Silver: 100 talents, 1,775 shekels
The silver from those numbered among the congregation totaled 100 talents and 1,775 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel—
Half a shekel a man: 603,550
a beka per person, that is, half a shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, from everyone twenty years of age or older who had crossed over to be numbered, a total of 603,550 men.
A hundred silver bases
The hundred talents of silver were used to cast the bases of the sanctuary and the bases of the veil—100 bases from the 100 talents, one talent per base.
Hooks, tops and bands
With the 1,775 shekels of silver he made the hooks for the posts, overlaid their tops, and supplied bands for them.
Bronze
Bronze: 70 talents, 2,400 shekels
The bronze from the wave offering totaled 70 talents and 2,400 shekels. He used it to make the bases for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the bronze altar and its bronze grating, all the utensils for the altar, the bases for the surrounding courtyard and its gate, and all the tent pegs for the tabernacle and its surrounding courtyard.
Question
Quick question
Over three tons of silver went into the tabernacle.
Where did the silver come from?
You’ve experienced
Exodus 38
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A verse to carry with you
Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made everything that the LORD had commanded Moses.
Exodus 38:22
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