Exodus
Teachers
Lesson Summary
In this class, teacher Wendell Welch examined Exodus 37, focusing on the construction of the Tabernacle's sacred furnishings as built by Bezalel and the skilled craftsmen of Israel. Using a replica model, Welch walked the class through each piece of furniture in detail: the Ark of the Covenant (a wooden box covered in pure gold with a mercy seat topped by two golden cherubim), the Table of Showbread (designed for portability with rings and poles), the Golden Lampstand (an intricately hammered piece of pure gold valued at approximately $2.1 million in today's currency), the Altar of Incense, and the Altar of Burnt Offerings. Throughout the lesson, Welch emphasized the practical engineering and structural soundness of each design, such as why rings were placed near the frame for easier carrying. Welch highlighted how God had specifically gifted Bezalel with knowledge, wisdom, and skill to oversee the construction and teach these trades to others. The class discussed the quality of materials used—primarily acacia wood and pure gold—and considered technical questions such as how pure gold (a soft metal) could be hammered and strengthened for these purposes. The teacher drew parallels between the ancient Israelites working together to build the Tabernacle and how modern congregations must work together as the Lord's church to glorify God. The overarching lesson emphasized that just as Moses received detailed instructions on Mount Sinai, seeing those instructions materialize before the people's eyes was significant and inspiring. The construction of the Tabernacle demonstrated how God's people could mature from a loose group into a unified nation working toward a common purpose—a model applicable to congregational unity today.
Key Scriptures
And Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, and a cubit and a half broad, and a cubit and a half high. And he overlaid it with gold, both inside and outside, and made a golden crown upon it round about. And he cast for it four golden rings, and put them upon the four corners of the frames of it; even two rings upon the one side of it, and two rings upon the other side of it. And he made poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold. And he put the poles into the rings, on the sides of the ark, to bear it. And he made the mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long, and a cubit and a half broad. And he made two cherubim of gold, beaten out; of the two ends of the mercy seat made he them. And the cherubim were spread abroad, and looked one upon another; the face of one was toward the mercy seat, and the face of the other also toward the mercy seat. And the cherubim were spread abroad, and looked one upon another; the face of one was toward the mercy seat, and the face of the other also toward the mercy seat.
And he made the table of acacia wood, two cubits long, and a cubit broad, and a cubit and a half high. And he overlaid it with gold, and made thereon a golden crown round about. And he made a border of a palm's breadth round about, and made a golden crown round about the border. And he made for it four rings of gold, and put the rings upon the four corners of the feet of it. The ring was close by the border, to take the staves to bear the table. And he made the staves of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold. And he made the vessels which were upon the table, of gold, even the dishes, and the spoons, and the covers, and the bowls, to pour out drink offerings. And the altar of gold, the table of gold, and the vessels thereof, were by the testimony, even the covenant.
And Bezalel made the lampstand of pure gold, of beaten work, even the lampstand, and its branches, its bowls, its knops, and its flowers, were of one piece. And the lampstand had six branches going out from the sides thereof: three branches of the lampstand out of the one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side. The lampstand was made with its flowers and its knops and its bowls, all of one piece of pure gold. And the lampstand had seven lamps, and the snuffers, and the wick trimmers, were of pure gold. And the lampstand and all its vessels were of one talent of pure gold. And he made the seven lamps, and the snuffers, and the wick trimmers, of pure gold. And he made the lampstand, and all its vessels, of one talent of pure gold.