Chapter 25 is the beginning of instructions; nothing is built until after all the instructions have been given, which will take a few chapters. Pictured above is one of many artist conceptions of how the ark of the covenant, or ark of the testimony, may have looked. (Notice that is not the same Bible picture I’ve used since March 1st.) The only problem with that image is the height. It’s width and height should be the same, approximately 27 inches. or a little more than two feet. If you have seen Raiders of the Lost Ark that’s a pretty good representation; just don’t buy into all the theology you are presented.

Exodus 25

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

2 “Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: take the offering from every man that gives from his heart willingly.

3 This is the offering that you are to receive from them; gold, and silver, and brass,

4 And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair,

5 And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and acacia wood,

6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,

7 Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.

8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

9 According to all that I show you, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, you shall make it.

10 They shall make an ark of acacia wood: the length shall be two and a half cubits, the breadth one and a half cubits and the height one and a half cubits.

11 You shall overlay it with pure gold, overlay it within and without, and make a gold molding around it.

12 You shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners of it, and two rings shall be on one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it.

13 And make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold.

14 Then put the poles into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be carried with them.

15 The poles shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it.

16 And you will put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you.

17 Make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length of it and a cubit and a half the breadth.

18 And make two cherubim of gold, of hammered work you shall make them, at the two ends of the mercy seat.

19 And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: make the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat.

20 The cherubim shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, facing one another; their faces shall be toward the mercy seat.

21 Set the mercy seat on top of the ark; and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you.

22 And I will meet with you there, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims that are on the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.

23 You shall also make a table of acacia wood: two cubits shall be the length of it, and a cubit the breadth, and a cubit and a half the height.

24 You shall overlay it with pure gold, and make a gold molding all around it.

25 Make for it a border of a hand breadth all around, and make a molding of gold to the border all around.

26 And you shall make four rings of gold for it, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet of it.

27 Over against the border shall the rings be to hold the poles to bear the table.

28 Make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be carried with them.

29 And make the dishes of it, and spoons, and covers, and bowls for the drink offerings: you shall make them of pure gold.

30 And you shall set upon the table shewbread before me always.

31 Make a candlestick of pure gold: of hammered work shall the candlestick be made: its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its knops, and its flowers shall be made of one piece.

32 Six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:

33 There shall be three bowls made like almond blossoms, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almond blossoms in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: it will be this way for the six branches that come out of the candlestick.

34 And in the candlesticks shall be four bowls made like almond blossom with their knops and their flowers.

35 There shall be a knop under the first pair of branches, and a knop under the next pair of branches, and a knop under the third pair of branches, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick.

36 Their knops and their branches shall be of one piece: all of it shall be one hannered work of pure gold.

37 And you shall make the seven lamps for it, and they shall light the lamps that they may light the area in front of it.

38 The tongs and the pans shall be of pure gold.

39 Make it out of a talent of pure gold, with all of these vessels.

40 And see that you make them after their pattern, which was shown to you in the mountain.

See also: ESV, HCSB, NASB and NIV via Bible Gateway.