Exodus 36:20
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Exodus 36:20
20 And he made boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood, standing up.
Chapter Context
Exodus 36 is a narrative with legal sections chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of sacrifice, wisdom, fellowship. Written during the Egyptian bondage and wilderness wandering (c. 1446-1406 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Egypt was the dominant superpower with a complex polytheistic religion and a god-king pharaoh.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-38: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it reveals key aspects of God's character through divine actions and declarations. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Exodus and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Exodus 36:20
20 And he made boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood, standing up.
Analysis
The boards (קְרָשִׁים, kerashim) of shittim wood (acacia) overlaid with gold form the tabernacle's structural frame—humanity (wood) clothed in divinity (gold). Standing upright (עֹמְדִים, omedim), these boards represent believers standing firm in God's house, rooted in divine strength. The dual nature (wood and gold) prefigures Christ's two natures (human and divine) and believers' identity (earthly origin, heavenly standing)—'you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God' (Colossians 3:3).
Historical Context
Each board was approximately 15 feet tall by 2.25 feet wide (10 cubits × 1.5 cubits), made from acacia wood completely overlaid with gold. These boards, fitted into silver sockets, formed three sides of the rectangular tabernacle structure (back and two sides), with curtains forming the entrance.
Reflection
- How do the boards (wood overlaid with gold) standing upright illustrate believers' identity in Christ?
- What does the transformation of desert-grown acacia into gold-covered boards teach about redemption and sanctification?
Cross-References
- Parallel theme: Exodus 25:5