Exodus 25:23-30

THE TABLE OF SHEWBREAD.

(23-30) Thou shalt also make a table. — The ark and mercy seat, which covered it, constituted the entire furniture of the inner sanctuary, or “Holy of Holies” (Exodus 40:20). When this had been shown to Moses the next thing to be done was to set before him the furniture of the outer sanctuary, or holy place. This consisted of three articles — (1) The table of shewbread, described in the present passage; (2) the golden candlestick, described in Exodus 25:31; and (3) the altar of incense, described in Exodus 30:1. The “table of shewbread” was a receptacle for the twelve loaves, which were to be “set continually before the Lord” (Leviticus 24:8) as a thank-offering on the part of His people — a perpetual acknowledgment of His perpetual protection and favour. It was to be just large enough to contain the twelve loaves, set in two rows, being a yard long, and a foot and a-half broad. The vessels belonging to the table (Exodus 25:29) were not placed on it.