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In chapter 25, God instructs Moses how to build the Tabernacle, a place of worship in the wilderness. Notice how it was to be financed. "Take, for me, an offering from every men whose heart makes him willing." Note what was being asked for from these people. Gold, silver, bronze or copper, blue, purple and scarlet cloth, fine linen, goats hair, tanned rams and goats skins, acacia wood, oil for lamps, spices, onyx stones and other semi-precious stones. One might wonder where these people got all of this. Well, the people of Egypt gave it to them when they left.
Then God gives instructions on the Tabernacle and its furnishings. The first was a box to contain the tablets of stone upon which were written the 10 commandants. This box would be called "The Ark". It was to be made of acacia wood; about 3 foot 9 inches by 2 foot 3 inches by 2 foot 3 inches high.
The Ark was to be overlaid with gold inside and out. A gold molding was to go around the outside. Four gold rings were to be made and attached to the feet of the Ark, two on each side. Two wooden poles would slide through these rings for carrying purposes. The Ark remained in existence until after the first Temple was built around 950 BC. (About 500 years.) No one knows what eventually happened to the Ark, some believe one of the conquers of Jerusalem took it; others believe Jeremiah hid it around 580 BC. At any rate, it was not available at the building of the second and third Temple. The Lid of the Ark was called the "Mercy Seat". It to was made of gold with two Cherubim gazing down from each end of the Ark. The Ark was the place where the presence of God was believed to dwell.
Then they were to make a table of acacia wood, 3 feet long, 1 feet wide and 2 feet high. It was to be overlaid with gold and it to would have four rings through which two wooden poles would be placed for carrying. On this table would be placed the "bread of the presence". It consisted of 12 loafs of bread, one for each tribe. The table was always kept set. While the Ark signified Gods presence with them, the table signified their presence with God.
The next to be made was a lamp stand. It was to be made of pure gold. It had three lamps on each side and one in the middle, seven in all, arranged to give light in that part of the Tabernacle called "The Holy Place".
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