(Exodus 37:1 - 38:31)
Bezaleel then constructed out of red acacia wood the Chest of Sacred Records, 45 inches in length and 27 inches in width, with a height of 27 inches, overlaid inside and out with gold and trimmed with a gold moulding around its circumference. Four rings cast of gold were attached to the four corners, two on one side and two on the opposite side. And he also made staves of red acacia wood, overlaid with gold, and inserted them into the rings on the sides of the chest in order they it could be carried.
Bezaleel made the cover for the chest, the Judgment Seat, 45 by 27 inches. He fashioned out of single piece of beaten gold the images of two Cherubim, fastening them on opposite ends of the chest lid. One Cherub on one side and the second on the other side, they occupied the two ends of the chest's cover and were made to seem all of one piece with the cover. Spreading their wings protectively over the lid, the Cherubim faced each other and bowed to the Judgment Seat.
And he made a table of red acacia wood, 36 inches in length, 18 inches in width and 27 inches high. It was overlaid in gold with the edge trimmed all around with a gold moulding. A trim 3 inches wide was attached to the top of the table and all around it, a rim of gold. Four rings were cast for it and attached to the four corners just above the four legs of the table and positioned just below the rim. Staves were inserted into them so that the table could be carried. These staves were made of red acacia wood and overlaid with gold. Also fashioned from pure gold were the plates and incense dishes for use at the table and the cups and bowls from which libations were poured.
Next he made a menorah of the finest beaten gold, as were its shaft, its branches and the decorative buds and petals, all of one piece. It consisted of 6 branches, 3 coming out of one side of the menorah's base and 3 coming out of the other side. On each branch there were 3 cups resembling almond blossoms, with an outer ring of buds and petals. All of the 6 branches were similarly adorned. Likewise, on the central shaft of the menorah there were 4 cups resembling almond blossoms, with an outer ring of buds and petals. Where each pair of branches joined the central shaft there was an outer ring of leaves made of one piece with the branch. This was the same for each of the 6 branches. And the outer ring of leaves and the branches were of one piece with the shaft. And there were made 7 lamps for the menorah, as well as wick trimmers, snuffers, and trays. These, the menorah, and its utensils were made of a talent of gold.
Bezaleel built an incense altar of red acacia wood. It was 18 inches square and 36 inches high with the corners formed into horns. It, its grate, the sides, and the horns were overlaid with the finest gold. He trimmed it with a moulding, also of gold, all around it and below it, two golden rings on each side, so that staves could be inserted in them and the altar carried. The staves were made of red acacia wood and overlaid with gold.
He expertly mixed the ingredients for the Anointing Oil for sanctification and the Sacred Incense from the purest spices.
He built a sacrificial altar of red acacia wood, 4 1/2 feet high and 7 1/2 feet square, with horns protruding from each of the four corners, all overlaid with bronze. All the vessels and utensils of the altar, the basins, shovels, fire pans, and forks were fabricated entirely of bronze. He constructed as well a screen-like grate and installed it half-way down the side of the altar covering its hearth. Four rings were cast and attached to the corners of the bronze grate as a place for staves, which were made of red acacia wood and overlaid with bronze. He inserted the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar so that it could be carried. (The altar itself was not solid, but, being constructed of planks, was hollow and empty inside.) There was also made a bronze wash basin and its stand, both made from the bronze mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tabernacle.
He also made a courtyard for the Tabernacle. On the south side there was a partition of curtains of finely loomed linen 150 feet long with 20 posts of bronze inserted into 20 plinths of bronze and with curtain rods and hooks of silver. On the north side the curtains, the posts, the plinths, the rods and hooks were of identical measurement and of the same metals. On the west side the curtains were 75 feet long with 10 bronze posts and 10 bronze plinths, with curtains rods and hooks of silver. On the east side as well there were curtains 75 feet in length. The drapery on one side of the entrance extended for 22 1/2 feet with 3 posts and 3 plinths, and on the other side of entrance was an identical length of curtains and number of posts and plinths. All the curtains of the courtyard were made finely loomed linen. The plinths were made of bronze, while the curtain rods and hooks were of silver with posts overlaid with silver. The curtains for the entrance to the courtyard were made of finely loomed linen of blue, purple, and scarlet, decorated with needlework, 30 feet long and 7 1/2 feet high, conforming to the measurements of all the curtains of the courtyard. There were 4 posts at the entryway, each with plinths of bronze and curtain rods and hooks of silver. All the tent pegs of the Tabernacle and the courtyard were made of bronze.
These were the quantities of the materials used in the construction of the Tabernacle as recorded at Moses’ behest by the Levites directed by Ithamar, the son of Aaron the high priest. (Bezaleel, the son of Uri, son of Hur of the tribe of Judah made all that was ordered by Jehovah and was assisted in his work by Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan, who was a skillful engraver, designer, and weaver of the blue, purple, and scarlet linen.)
All the gold that was used in the construction of the Tabernacle, including that was contributed, amounted to 29 talents, 730 shekels (by standard temple weights). The silver used was counted to be 100 talents, 1775 shekels (by standard temple weights). A tax of half a shekel was contributed by males who had been counted in the census, those were above 20 years old and of an age to bear arms: these numbered 603, 550. From the 100 talents of silver were cast the plinths of the Tabernacle and the entrance to the Inner Sanctum, 100 plinths -- one talent for each plinth. And from the 1175 shekels of silver were made the curtain rods and hooks and post tops. The bronze that was contributed amounted to 70 talents and 2400 shekels, from which were cast the plinths for the entrance of the Tabernacle, the bronze sacrificial altar, its grate, and equipment, as well as the plinths of the courtyard perimeter, the courtyard entrance, and the tent pegs used in the Tabernacle and courtyard perimeter.
Notes
1. Bezaleel, who supervises the entire Tabernacle building project, must have been the Hebrew version of Imhotep, the creative engineering genius of Egypt's pyramid age, or perhaps a poor man's Phidias (the great Athenian sculptor who supervised the building of the Parthenon). If he actually accomplished what is here claimed, perhaps his name deserves to be remembered, even if his work has vanished.
2. While it is not remarkable that the dimensions of the original Tabernacle were remembered since they probably became traditional, it is extraordinary that the precise quantities of metal used in its construction should have been known and recorded. The biblical authors certainly knew that detail lends a yarn credibility. Exactitude furthers an impression of absolute truth. Preciseness suggest authority. This is illustrated as well by a record of the exact number of men in the census, 603,550 -- this apparently minus the men Moses had murdered after the Golden Calf incident. As has been pointed out before, this number, or even a fraction of it, would have been, for many reasons, impossible.
3. A talent is equal to 75 pounds. (The menorah was made of a whole talent of gold and would have been a pretty hefty item.)
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