Tyndale Open Study NotesExodus 38

This section reports on building the courtyard (38:9–20) and its equipment, including the altar of burnt offering and the bronze basin (38:1–7; 38:8).

• The plans for the bronze basin were part of the instructions to the priests (30:17–21; 29:38–30:38). Here, however, the text reports how the basin was built, following a logical order.

• This bronze, which they could polish to look like mirrors, was probably of very high quality. It was suitable for use in God's Tent of Meeting.

The very large amount of metal listed here includes more than one metric ton (about 1,000 kilograms) of gold, almost four metric tons (about 4,000 kilograms) of silver, and two and a half metric tons (about 2,500 kilograms) of bronze.

This large supply shows how eager the Egyptians were to send the Israelites away. The Egyptians gave the Israelites whatever they asked for so that they would leave quickly (see 12:35–36).

Since the tabernacle contained the ark of the covenant (also called the ark of the Testimony), it is called the tabernacle of the Testimony.

• For the earlier discussion of this tax, see 30:11–16. The sanctuary shekel was the standard used to measure other weights accurately.

• 603,550: See study note on 12:37.