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Exodus 38

World English Bible

WEB

1He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood. It was square. Its length was five cubits, its width was five cubits, and its height was three cubits. 2He made its horns on its four corners. Its horns were of one piece with it, and he overlaid it with bronze. 3He made all the vessels of the altar: the pots, the shovels, the basins, the forks, and the fire pans. He made all its vessels of bronze. 4He made for the altar a grating of a network of bronze, under the ledge around it beneath, reaching halfway up. 5He cast four rings for the four corners of bronze grating, to be places for the poles. 6He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with bronze. 7He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar, with which to carry it. He made it hollow with planks. 8He made the basin of bronze, and its base of bronze, out of the mirrors of the ministering women who ministered at the door of the Tent of Meeting. 9He made the court: for the south side southward the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, one hundred cubits; 10their pillars were twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver. 11For the north side one hundred cubits, their pillars twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze; the hooks of the pillars, and their fillets, of silver. 12For 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. 13For the east side eastward fifty cubits, 14the hangings for the one side were fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three; 15and so for the other side: on this hand and that hand by the gate of the court were hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three. 16All the hangings around the court were of fine twined linen. 17The sockets for the pillars were of bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver. Their capitals were overlaid with silver. All the pillars of the court had silver bands. 18The screen for the gate of the court was the work of the embroiderer, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. Twenty cubits was the length, and the height along the width was five cubits, like the hangings of the court. 19Their pillars were four, and their sockets four, of bronze; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their capitals, and their fillets, of silver. 20All the pins of the tabernacle, and around the court, were of bronze. 21These are the amounts of materials used for the tabernacle, even the Tabernacle of the Testimony, as they were counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest. 22Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that Yahweh commanded Moses. 23With him was Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a skillful workman, and an embroiderer in blue, in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen. 24All the gold that was used for the work in all the work of the sanctuary, even the gold of the offering, was twenty-nine talents and seven hundred thirty shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary. 25The silver of those who were counted of the congregation was one hundred talents and one thousand seven hundred seventy-five shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary: 26a beka a head, that is, half a shekel, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, for everyone who passed over to those who were counted, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty men. 27The one hundred talents of silver were for casting the sockets of the sanctuary and the sockets of the veil: one hundred sockets for the one hundred talents, one talent per socket. 28From the one thousand seven hundred seventy-five shekels he made hooks for the pillars, overlaid their capitals, and made fillets for them. 29The bronze of the offering was seventy talents and two thousand four hundred shekels. 30With this he made the sockets to the door of the Tent of Meeting, the bronze altar, the bronze grating for it, all the vessels of the altar, 31the sockets around the court, the sockets of the gate of the court, all the pins of the tabernacle, and all the pins around the court.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Exodus Chapter 38 provides detailed instructions and descriptions regarding the construction of the altar of burnt offering and the courtyard of the Tabernacle. The chapter begins by outlining the dimensions and materials used for the altar, which was made of acacia wood and overlaid with bronze. This altar, measuring five cubits square and three cubits high, served as the primary place for sacrifices, symbolizing the need for atonement and the approach to God through sacrifice. The bronze utensils, such as pots, shovels, and basins, are also mentioned, emphasizing the importance of proper worship and the holiness required in approaching the Lord. The altar represents the centrality of sacrifice in the worship of #Yahweh, foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross for our sins.

The chapter continues with a description of the courtyard surrounding the Tabernacle, which was enclosed by linen curtains supported by bronze pillars. The dimensions of the courtyard are specified, highlighting its accessibility for the people of Israel while maintaining a distinction between the holy and the common. The chapter concludes with an accounting of the materials used in the construction of the Tabernacle, showcasing the generosity of the Israelites who contributed gold, silver, and bronze. This reflects the communal effort in building a dwelling place for God among His people, reinforcing the theme of God's desire to dwell with His people and the importance of their obedience in worship. Overall, Exodus 38 emphasizes the significance of worship, sacrifice, and the presence of God in the life of Israel.

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Referenced by

  1. Exodus 27:1v1Exodus 27:1 gives the instructions for building the altar of burnt offering, which is later constructed as described in Exodus 38:1.
  2. Exodus 27:9v9Exodus 27:9 details the construction of the court of the tabernacle, which is fulfilled in Exodus 38:9.

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