Exodus 27:20-28:43 NIV

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 27:1-21

The Altar of Burnt Offering. The Court of the Tabernacle. The Oil for the Lamps1-8. Altar of Burnt Offering.This is a hollow chest of acacia wood overlaid with bronze, and stands within the court, midway between the outer entrance and the door of the tabernacle.1. The approximate size of the altar is 7½ ft. square and 4½ ft. high: see on Exodus 20:26.2 The horns] The form and significance of these horns are doubtful. They were very important, and seem to have been regarded as the most sacred... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Exodus 27:20

THE OIL FOR THE LAMP.(20) Thou shalt command the children of Israel that they bring thee pure olive oil.—This instruction had been already given (Exodus 25:2; Exodus 25:6), only not with such particularity. “Oil” had been required, but not “pure olive oil beaten.” By this is meant the best possible olive oil—that which was obtained by “beating,” or pounding in a mortar; which was free from various impurities that belonged to the oil crushed out, after the ordinary fashion, in a mill.To cause... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Exodus 27:1-21

CHAPTER XXVII.THE OUTER COURT.Exodus 27:1-21Before describing the tabernacle, its furniture was specified. And so, when giving instructions for the court of the tabernacle, the altar has to be described: "Thou shalt make the altar of acacia wood." The definite article either implies that an altar was taken for granted, a thing of course; or else it points back to chap. Exodus 20:24, which said "An altar of earth shalt thou make." Nor is the acacia wood of this altar at all inconsistent with... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Exodus 27:1-21

CHAPTER 27 The Tabernacle Concluded 1. The altar of brass (Exodus 27:1-8 ) 2. The court of the tabernacle (Exodus 27:9-19 ) 3. The oil for the lamp (Exodus 27:20-21 ) The brazen altar stood at the door of the tabernacle. Later we find in this book the golden altar of incense mentioned. It stood between the golden candlestick and the brazen altar. This altar was likewise of shittim wood. Instead of gold, here was brass, because the altar is the type of the cross where Christ met the... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Exodus 27:20

27:20 And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive {h} beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.(h) Such as comes from the olive, when it is first pressed or beaten. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 27:1-21

THE BRAZEN (OR COPPER) ALTAR (vs.1-8) On entering the courtyard, one would stand immediately before the brazen altar. Then the laver stood between the altar and the tabernacle entrance. This altar (of acacia wood), again speaks of Christ in His pure Humanity. But it was overlaid with brass, or most likely copper, the fiery colored metal, which speaks of Christ also as the perfect expression of the holiness of God. "Our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:29). The altar was square, five... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Exodus 27:1-21

The two chief objects within the Court were the Brazen Altar and the Tabernacle. Sacrificial worship was old, but the local Sanctuary was quite new. The Tabernacle is most frequently called the Tabernacle of the Congregation. A better rendering is supposed to be, "The Tent of Meeting." The Tabernacle was also called "The Tent of the Testimony," in allusion to the fact that it was the depositary of the Tables of the Law. The highest meaning of the structure was expressed by the Ark, which... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Exodus 27:20

Is not this a lively a type of the Holy Ghost in his gifts and graces bestowed upon the church? Who but the Spirit can enlighten the mind of a poor darkened sinner, to give him the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ? Zechariah 4:11-12 . read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Exodus 27:20

Pestle. That it may be as free from dregs as possible; quasi luxurians defluxerit. (Columella xii. 20.) The Hebrew and Septuagint are silent about the pestle. The olives must, however, be a little bruised, before they will yield their oil. (Haydock) --- Always: four of the seven lamps were extinguished every morning. ( Josephus ([Antiquities?] iii. 9); 1 Kings iii. 3.) Hecateus (ap. Eusebuis, pr'e6p. ix. 4) assures us, that a light was kept always burning in the tabernacle. The temple of... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 27:20-21

20,21 The pure oil signified the gifts and graces of the Spirit, which all believers receive from Christ, the good Olive, and without which our light cannot shine before men. The priests were to light the lamps, and tend them. It is the work of ministers, by preaching and expounding the Scriptures, which are as a lamp, to enlighten the church, God's tabernacle upon earth. Blessed be God, this light is not now confined to the Jewish tabernacle, but is a light to lighten the gentiles, and for... read more