What is the meaning of Exodus 36:24? Context in the flow of Exodus After the detailed instructions given earlier (Exodus 25:8-9; 26:1-30), the craftsmen now begin actual construction (Exodus 36:1-2). Verse 24 records their faithfulness: “They made forty silver bases to put under the twenty frames, two bases for each frame, one under each tenon” (Exodus 36:24). The passage is purely historical yet loaded with enduring significance. The frames, tenons, and bases in plain sight • The “frames” are upright acacia-wood boards overlaid with gold (Exodus 26:15-17). • Each frame has two “tenons” (projecting tabs) at its bottom. • “Bases” are heavy sockets that receive those tenons, locking the frames in place. • Twenty frames form the north side wall; forty silver bases steady them—one socket per tenon (Exodus 26:18-21). Taken literally, the verse describes how God secured the side walls of His dwelling so that the structure would never sag or shift during Israel’s wilderness journey. Why silver? • The silver came from the half-shekel “atonement money” collected from every Israelite (Exodus 30:11-16; 38:25-27). • Silver therefore symbolized ransom and redemption. Peter later reminds believers, “You were redeemed … not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19). • With every glance at the bases, the Israelites saw the cost of their relationship with God: a redeemed people supporting His house. Why forty bases? • Forty in Scripture often marks a period of testing or completion (Genesis 7:17; Exodus 24:18; Matthew 4:2). • The complete set of forty sockets testifies that God’s redemptive provision is sufficient; nothing is missing, nothing left unsupported. Two bases for each frame • Two equal sockets eliminated wobble; the wall stood firm against desert winds. • In New-Covenant terms, our stability rests on a twofold foundation—Christ’s finished work and His unchanging Word (1 Corinthians 3:11; Matthew 7:24-25). • Believers are called “living stones” but must still rest on that dual, immovable footing (1 Peter 2:5-6). Christ foreshadowed in the sockets • Just as the boards could not stand without silver, we cannot stand before God without Christ’s redemptive price (Ephesians 2:19-22). • The hidden sockets carried the weight; similarly, the unseen work of Calvary upholds every aspect of our faith journey (Colossians 1:17). Living out the lesson today • Let redemption steady you—our past, present, and future are anchored in Christ (Hebrews 6:19-20). • Stand in unity—every frame shared the same silver; no board was better than another (Galatians 3:28). • Carry God’s presence—when the Tabernacle traveled, the bases traveled too (Numbers 4:24-26); wherever we go, we bear God’s dwelling within us (2 Corinthians 6:16). summary Exodus 36:24 reports the crafting of forty silver sockets that secured twenty side-wall frames, two sockets per frame. Literally, the verse describes sturdy construction; spiritually, it showcases redemption’s price, completeness, and stabilizing power. The silver—sourced from atonement money—reminds us that Christ’s redeeming work is the unshakeable foundation on which God’s people stand and by which His dwelling among us is made sure. |
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